THEOSISJohn Chrysostom
By speaking these words, she succeeded in dispelling the fear within her son.
Genesis 27:14Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers
He went, and brought, and gave them to his mother. She dressed meats, such as she knew his father liked.
וַיֵּ֙לֶךְ֙ וַיִּקַּ֔ח וַיָּבֵ֖א לְאִמּ֑וֹ וַתַּ֤עַשׂ אִמּוֹ֙ מַטְעַמִּ֔ים כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר אָהֵ֥ב אָבִֽיו׃
The Church Fathers on this verse
2 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Vissarion (Nechaev)
Jacob was not quick to embrace his mother's suggestion. He expressed concerns to her, noting that Esau was ‘hairy,’ meaning he was covered in hair, as he had been since birth (Genesis 25:25). Jacob was rightly apprehensive that if he presented himself to their blind father Isaac as Esau, Isaac would easily detect the deceit through touch, leading to a curse rather than a blessing. However, Rebekah responded to Jacob, stating, ‘Your oath is upon me,’ confident that an oath would prove unnecessary and that God's divine will would ensure that the younger son would take precedence over the older. Her faith was ultimately rewarded; Isaac mistook Jacob for Esau and granted him the blessing. Rebekah's scheme was successful, yet she faced divine consequences.
Read more (137 words)
To remind her that deceit for a righteous cause is still wrongdoing, God ordained that shortly after Jacob received his blessing, she would have to send him away. He left for a foreign land where he would spend two decades enduring the trials associated with Esau's wives. This separation robbed her of the solace she could have found in her beloved son’s presence, leading to her passing before his return. Following Rebekah's counsel, Jacob selected two ‘gentle young and choice goats’ from the herd. She then covered his hands and neck with their fur and prepared a meal for Isaac using the meat. It is likely that not all of the goats’ meat was needed for the meal—only the choicest portions. Additionally, some seasoning may have been added to give the meal a flavor reminiscent of game.
Cross references
Passages read together with this verse.
- Gen 27:31And brought in to his father meats, made of what he had taken in hunting, saying: Arise, my father, and eat of thy son's venison; that thy soul may bless me.
- Gen 27:4Make me a savoury meat thereof, as thou knowest I like, and bring it that I may eat: and my soul may bless thee, before I die.
- Ps 141 (140):4
- Gen 27:9And go thy way to the flock, bring me two kids of the best, that I may make of them meat for thy father, such as he gladly eateth.
- Luke 21:34And take heed to yourselves, lest perhaps your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness and the cares of this life: and that day come upon you suddenly.
- Gen 27:17And she gave him the savoury meat, and delivered him bread that she had baked.
- Gen 27:7Bring me of thy hunting, and make me meats that I may eat, and bless thee in the sight of the Lord, before I die.
- Prov 23:2And put a knife to thy throat, if it be so that thou have thy soul in thy own power.