She also put the skins of the young goats on his handsIn this passage, Rebekah is helping Jacob deceive his father, Isaac, into giving him the blessing meant for Esau. The use of goat skins is significant, as it highlights the lengths to which Rebekah and Jacob are willing to go to deceive Isaac. The skins are used to mimic Esau's hairy hands, as described earlier in
Genesis 25:25. This act of deception is a pivotal moment in the narrative, showcasing the theme of deceit and its consequences, which is a recurring theme throughout the Bible. The use of animal skins also foreshadows the sacrificial system that will be established later in the Mosaic Law, where goats and other animals are used for atonement.
and on the smooth part of his neck.
The smoothness of Jacob's skin is contrasted with Esau's hairiness, emphasizing the physical differences between the two brothers. This detail is crucial for the deception to succeed, as Isaac relies on touch due to his failing eyesight. The neck is a vulnerable and intimate part of the body, symbolizing the closeness and trust that is being violated in this act of deception. This moment can be seen as a type of Christ, where the innocent (Jacob, in this case) takes on the appearance of another to receive a blessing. However, unlike Christ, who takes on humanity's sin to bring salvation, Jacob's deception brings about familial strife and division. This act also connects to the broader biblical theme of the younger sibling receiving the blessing, as seen with Joseph and David, pointing to God's sovereignty and the unexpected ways He fulfills His promises.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
RebekahThe wife of Isaac and mother of Esau and Jacob. She orchestrates the deception of Isaac to secure the blessing for Jacob.
2.
JacobThe younger son of Isaac and Rebekah, who is persuaded by his mother to deceive his father and receive the blessing meant for Esau.
3.
IsaacThe aging and blind patriarch who intends to bless his elder son Esau but is deceived by Jacob.
4.
EsauThe elder son of Isaac and Rebekah, who is the rightful recipient of the blessing but is supplanted by Jacob.
5.
The Skins of the Young GoatsUsed by Rebekah to disguise Jacob as Esau, highlighting the lengths to which deception is employed.
Teaching Points
The Consequences of DeceptionDeception, even with seemingly good intentions, leads to long-term consequences and family discord. Believers are called to live truthfully and trust in God's timing and methods.
God's Sovereignty in Human AffairsDespite human manipulation, God's sovereign plan unfolds. This encourages believers to trust in God's ultimate control over life's circumstances.
The Importance of IntegrityJacob's account serves as a reminder of the importance of integrity. Christians are encouraged to pursue honesty and righteousness in their dealings with others.
Family Dynamics and FavoritismThe favoritism shown by Isaac and Rebekah towards their sons leads to division. Believers are reminded to practice fairness and love within family relationships.
The Role of Faith in Uncertain TimesIsaac's blessing, despite the deception, is an act of faith. Christians are encouraged to maintain faith in God's promises, even when circumstances are unclear.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Genesis 27:16?
2.Why did Rebekah use "the skins of the young goats" on Jacob's hands?
3.How does Genesis 27:16 illustrate the consequences of deception within families?
4.What other biblical stories involve deception and its impact on relationships?
5.How can we ensure honesty in our family interactions today?
6.What lessons can we learn about trust and integrity from Genesis 27:16?
7.Why did Rebekah deceive Isaac in Genesis 27:16?
8.How does Genesis 27:16 reflect on family dynamics and favoritism?
9.What does Genesis 27:16 reveal about the nature of deception?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Genesis 27?
11.What was the appearance of biblical people?
12.How could Isaac be so easily deceived by Jacob’s voice and skin when blessing him (Genesis 27:21–22)?
13.Does this account conflict with other biblical passages that condemn lying yet here seem to permit it (Genesis 27:6-17)?
14.What was Moses' Tabernacle?What Does Genesis 27:16 Mean
She also• “She” refers to Rebekah, knowingly orchestrating the plan to secure the blessing for Jacob (Genesis 27:5–10).
• Her additional actions build on her earlier instructions—showing deliberate follow-through rather than a passing suggestion (Genesis 27:13–14).
• Rebekah’s initiative echoes the prophecy she remembered from years earlier: “The older shall serve the younger” (Genesis 25:23). She acts, believing God’s word must come to pass, even while choosing a deceptive path.
put the skins• The phrase highlights practical preparation; she is not trusting chance but crafting tangible evidence.
• Scripture often records people using physical props in deceptive strategies, such as the Gibeonites’ worn-out sacks and wineskins (Joshua 9:4–5) or Joab’s staged mourning to influence David (2 Samuel 14:2–3).
• Though God can work through human schemes, these examples underline that the ends never justify sinful means (Proverbs 12:22).
of the young goats• The same two young goats that made Isaac’s meal (Genesis 27:9) now furnish their skins—one animal serving food, the other disguise.
• Goats routinely appear in everyday patriarchal life for meat and hide (Genesis 38:17;Leviticus 7:23–24). Their ready availability made the plan immediately doable.
• The choice of “young” goats ensured softer, more pliable skins, easier for quick tailoring to Jacob’s limbs.
on his hands• Isaac expected Esau’s hairy arms (Genesis 25:25). Covering Jacob’s “smooth skin” (Genesis 27:11) addressed the most obvious difference.
• The tactile test mattered because Isaac’s eyesight had failed (Genesis 27:1). Rebekah anticipates this sensory check before it happens.
• When Isaac later says, “The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau” (Genesis 27:22), the ruse proves effective.
and on the smooth part of his neck• A quick embrace or kiss (common in blessing rituals,Genesis 27:26–27) would bring Isaac’s hand to Jacob’s neck. Rebekah covers that spot too.
• Every potential point of contact is prepared, paralleling Satan’s strategy of covering every angle (2 Corinthians 11:3).
• Despite meticulous planning, the act remains deceitful; yet God will later confront Jacob with his own name—“Deceiver”—at Peniel (Genesis 32:27–28), proving that divine purposes overrule human failings.
summaryRebekah’s decision to clothe Jacob’s hands and neck with goat skins shows deliberate, detailed deception designed to exploit Isaac’s blindness and tactile expectations. While the plan succeeds humanly, its very craftiness highlights humanity’s propensity to sin even while pursuing God’s foretold outcomes.Genesis 27:16 reminds us that God’s sovereignty prevails, but personal integrity still matters; He later refines Jacob through trials, proving that blessings never excuse deceit.
(16)
The skins of the kids.--In hot countries the coats of animals are far less thick and coarse than in cold climates, and some species of Oriental goats are famous for their soft, silky wool. But in those cases in which men have their bodies covered with hair, it is by no means of a delicate texture. In
Song of Solomon 4:1 Solomon's hair is compared to that of a flock of goats.
Verse 16. -
And she put the skins of the kids of the goats - not European, but Oriental camel-goats, whose wool is black, silky, of a much finer texture than that of the former, and sometimes used as a substitute for human hair (cf.
Song of Solomon 4:1);
vide on this subject Rosenmüller's 'Scholia,' and commentaries generally -
upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck - thus cautiously providing against detection, in case, anything occurring to arouse the old man's suspicions, he should seek, as in reality he did, to test the accuracy of his now dim sight and dull hearing by the sense of touch.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
She also putהִלְבִּ֖ישָׁה(hil·bî·šāh)Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 3847:Wrap around, to put on a, garment, clothethe skinsעֹרֹת֙(‘ō·rōṯ)Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 5785:Skin, hide, leatherof the youngגְּדָיֵ֣י(gə·ḏā·yê)Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1423:A kid (a young goat)goatsהָֽעִזִּ֔ים(hā·‘iz·zîm)Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 5795:Female goatonעַל־(‘al-)Preposition
Strong's 5921:Above, over, upon, againsthis handsיָדָ֑יו(yā·ḏāw)Noun - fdc | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3027:A handand onוְעַ֖ל(wə·‘al)Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 5921:Above, over, upon, againstthe smooth partחֶלְקַ֥ת(ḥel·qaṯ)Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 2513:Smoothness, flattery, an allotmentof his neck.צַוָּארָֽיו׃(ṣaw·wā·rāw)Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6677:The back of the neck
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OT Law: Genesis 27:16 She put the skins of the kids (Gen. Ge Gn)