Genesis 27:1-3
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The text highlights Isaac's dimming eyesight, which isn't just a sign of his age but a divinely orchestrated element that sets the stage for the transfer of the patriarchal blessing. This physical failing allows for deception, ultimately emphasizing that God's purposes can be accomplished even through human weakness and error.
When Isaac was old and his eyes were dim so that he could not see, he called Esau his older son and said to him, “My son”; and he answered, “Here I am.” He said, “Behold, I am old; I do not know the day of my death. Now then, take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Isaac, now very old and nearly blind, calls his favored son Esau, intending to bestow upon him the patriarchal blessing and inheritance. This act is significant because it concerns the continuation of God's covenant promises, which had previously been passed from Abraham to Isaac, and now Isaac intends to pass them to his firstborn son, Esau, despite a divine oracle that indicated the younger, Jacob, would rule over him.
Isaac's vision is failing, but his spiritual sight isn't entirely gone. What was he trying to accomplish as he called for his favorite son?
A Father's Final Charge
At this point in his life, Isaac is old – some estimates place him around 117 years old. His eyesight is failing, a common sign of advanced age, but it also serves a crucial purpose in the unfolding narrative. It's not just physical dimness; it's a divine allowance, paving the way for a pivotal moment.
Isaac's intention is clear: he wants to bestow the patriarchal blessing upon his eldest son, Esau. This isn't just a father's well-wishes; it carries the weight of a divine promise, a covenant passed down from Abraham, encompassing not only the land of Canaan but also the lineage through which the Messiah would come. In calling for Esau, Isaac intends to secure this spiritual inheritance for him, reflecting his strong paternal affection for his favorite son.
Esau's immediate answer, 'Here I am,' seems simple, but what does it reveal about his relationship with his father and his readiness for what's to come?
A Son's Readiness
When Isaac calls out to his eldest son, Esau's response is immediate and seemingly dutiful: 'Here I am.' This brief exchange is more than just politeness; it reveals a great deal about their dynamic.
Esau's Character: Esau is described as Isaac's favorite son, and his promptness suggests a degree of deference and willingness to engage with his father's requests. He's depicted as a man of action, skilled in hunting, and likely accustomed to his father's approval. This moment shows him responding to a call that he likely anticipates is about the significant patriarchal blessing.
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The Weight of the Call: The context implies that Isaac is preparing to pass on the covenant blessings. Esau's ready 'Here I am' suggests he is, at least outwardly, prepared to receive whatever his father intends to bestow. However, as the narrative unfolds, we see that Esau's understanding and valuing of this blessing are vastly different from what it truly entails, particularly compared to his brother Jacob.
Understand the original words
ben · Hebrew Noun
Commonly used as a term of endearment, responsibility, and legal connection. It signifies a familial bond where the father maintains authority and the son carries the hope of the family line and inheritance.
tsayid · Hebrew Noun
In the patriarchal narrative, this often involves taking wild animals for food; however, it also carries connotations of strength, prowess, and the provision of sustenance necessary for survival and the honoring of household customs.
hinneni · Hebrew Adverb/Interjection
A phrase used in ancient Hebrew to indicate immediate readiness and total availability to receive a command, often appearing in contexts of obedience to God or a superior.
The dimming eyes of Isaac are a powerful symbol of how human plans can falter, yet God's sovereign purposes, revealed in prophecy, will always prevail. This event highlights the tension between human deception and divine election.
c. 1800 BC
Abraham receives promise of numerous descendants
God promises Abraham a vast lineage and the land of Canaan, establishing a covenant that would pass through his chosen heir.
c. 1750 BC
Isaac is born
Isaac, the son of promise, is born to Abraham and Sarah, signifying the continuation of God's covenant.
c. 1728 BC
Isaac marries Rebekah
Isaac, around 40 years old, marries Rebekah, who would later bear twin sons.
c. 1727 BC
Esau and Jacob are born
Rebekah gives birth to twins, Esau and Jacob. God had revealed to her that 'the elder will serve the younger.'
c. 1690 BC
Esau sells his birthright
Esau, returning from the field famished, carelessly sells his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew.
c. 1611 BC— this verse
Isaac prepares to bless Esau
Now old and nearly blind, Isaac intends to bestow the patriarchal blessing and covenant promises upon his favorite son, Esau.
c. 1611 BC
Jacob deceives Isaac and receives blessing
Through his mother Rebekah's plan, Jacob impersonates Esau and obtains the intended patriarchal blessing from Isaac.
This passage directly references the divine election of Jacob over Esau, highlighting that God's choice is not based on human merit but on His sovereign will, which is a key theme in the narrative beginning with Isaac's dimming eyes.
Hebrews 12:16-17This passage speaks directly of Esau's sorrow and tears when he could not regain the forfeited blessing, underscoring the irreversible consequences of despising spiritual inheritance, a stark parallel to Esau's reaction after Isaac's blessing.
Genesis 25:23This verse contains God's prophetic declaration to Rebekah about her sons before they were born: 'Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples born of you shall be divided; the elder shall serve the younger.' This oracle sets the stage for the events in Genesis 27, showing the divine plan behind Jacob's succession.
Genesis 48:10-19This passage shows Jacob, now old and with dimming eyes like Isaac, blessing his grandsons Ephraim and Manasseh, and intentionally crossing his hands to give the greater blessing to the younger. This echoes the very situation Isaac found himself in, demonstrating a recurring pattern of God's faithfulness in blessing the younger son.
calvinGenesis 27:1-46: "And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I."
And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it
Ribca autem audiebat, dum loqueretur Ishac ad Esau filium suum: et perrexit Esau in agrum, ut venaretur venationem, ut afferret.
And Rebekah spake unto Jacob h…
pooleGenesis 27:1: "And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I."
Isaac being aged, sends Esau for venison, that he might eat thereof, and bless him, Genesis 27:1-4 . Esau obeys his father, Genesis 27:5 . Rebekah hearing it, tells Jacob, Genesis 27:6,7 . Her contrivance and advice to him to intercept the blessing, Genesis 27:8-10 . Jacob is afraid of a…
The text highlights Isaac's dimming eyesight, which isn't just a sign of his age but a divinely orchestrated element that sets the stage for the transfer of the patriarchal blessing. This physical failing allows for deception, ultimately emphasizing that God's purposes can be accomplished even through human weakness and error.
Isaac, now very old and nearly blind, calls his favored son Esau, intending to bestow upon him the patriarchal blessing and inheritance. This act is significant because it concerns the continuation of God's covenant promises, which had previously been passed from Abraham to Isaac, and now Isaac intends to pass them to his firstborn son, Esau, despite a divine oracle that indicated the younger, Jacob, would rule over him.
Isaac, now very old and nearly blind, calls his favored son Esau, intending to bestow upon him the patriarchal blessing and inheritance. This act is significant because it concerns the continuation of God's covenant promises, which had previously been passed from Abraham to Isaac, and now Isaac intends to pass them to his firstborn son, Esau, despite a divine oracle that indicated the younger, Jacob, would rule over him.
"When Isaac was old and his eyes were dim so that he could not see, he called Esau his older son and said to him, “My son”; and he answered, “Here I am.” He said, “Behold, I am old; I do not know the day of my death. Now then, take your wea…" — The text highlights Isaac's dimming eyesight, which isn't just a sign of his age but a divinely orchestrated element that sets the stage for the transfer of the patriarchal blessing. This physical fa…
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Last reviewed October 2026
