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Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Genesis 27:27

he smelled The scent of the "field" forms the starting-point of the Oracle, or Song, of Blessing. The blessing is concerned not with the personal destiny of Jacob, but with the national history of the Israelite people. Cf. the blessing of Jacob on Joseph (Genesis 49:22 ff.). What "the smell of his raiment" had to do with "the goodly raiment" of Genesis 27:15, is not explained.

as the smell of a field Cf. Hosea 14:6, "and his smell as Lebanon." Isaac's words refer to the "field" of Genesis 25:27; Genesis 27:5, the country of the huntsman. Before Isaac's mind rises up the picture of a rich and fruitful land.

which the Lord hath blessed i.e. by fertility. The versions prefix an adjective denoting "plenty" before the word "field." LXX ἀγροῦ πλήρους; Lat. agri pleni.

Isaac's utterance is in poetical form. The two clauses in this verse serve as a prelude to the blessing of Genesis 27:28.

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See also Genesis 27:27 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Genesis 27:27. _THE SMELL OF MY SON_ IS _AS THE SMELL OF A FIELD_] The smell of these garments, the _goodly raiment which had been laid up_ _in the house_, was probably occasioned by some aroma...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    - Isaac Blessing His Sons The life of Isaac falls into three periods. During the first seventy-five years he is contemporary with his father. For sixty-one years more his son Jacob remains under the...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 27 THE STORY OF JACOB AND THE DECEPTION OF REBEKAH AND JACOB _ 1. Esau sent (Genesis 27:1)_ 2. Rebekah's deception (Genesis 27:5) 3. Jacob's deception (Genesis 27:18) 4. Jacob blessed ...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    AT HIS MOTHER'S INSTIGATION, JACOB CHEATS Esau OF HIS FATHER'S BLESSING. Probably compiled from J and E. Since both presuppose it later, both must have told the story. There are doublets which point t...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    HE SMELLED THE SMELL, &C.— It is thought to have been the custom to scent their richer garments with odoriferous flowers and other perfumes, with which they could easily be supplied from Arabia, famed...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    PART THIRTY-NINE THE STORY OF ISAAC: THE TWINS AND THE BLESSING (Genesis 27:1-45) _The Biblical Account 1 And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not se...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _AND HE CAME UNTO HIS FATHER, AND SAID, MY FATHER: AND HE SAID, HERE AM I; WHO ART THOU, MY SON?_ He came unto his father. The scheme planned by the mother was to be executed by the son in the father...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    JACOB BY SUBTILTY OBTAINS THE BLESSING Urged on by his mother, Jacob attempts by unworthy means to secure the blessing of the firstborn with all the privileges it involved. But the wrongdoing of the a...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOD’S ANCIENT PEOPLE GENESIS _ALUN OWEN_ CHAPTER 27 JACOB CHEATS HIS FATHER V1 Isaac was very old. His eyes had become so weak that he could not see. Then he called Esau, who was his older son....

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    EXCURSUS G: UPON THE CHRONOLOGY OF JACOB’S LIFE (Genesis 27) The elaborate calculations of Lightfoot, and most Jewish and Christian commentators, intended to show that when Jacob set out upon his jour...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    AS THE SMELL OF A FIELD. — From the abundance of aromatic plants, the pastures of Palestine are peculiarly fragrant; but Isaac, deceived by the scent of Esau’s own garments, intended probably to contr...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יִּגַּשׁ֙ וַ יִּשַּׁק ־לֹ֔ו וַ יָּ֛רַח

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    JACOB'S FRAUD Genesis 27:1 "The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever."- Psalms 33:11 THERE are some families whose miserable existence is almost entirely made up of malicious plottings and counter-...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    JACOB GETS ESAU'S BLESSING Genesis 27:18 It is better not to attempt to justify Jacob in this act of treachery; but we may learn the deep and helpful lesson, that if God were able to make a saint out...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    From this point the history passes to center largely around Jacob. At the beginning, four persons stand out: Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, and Jacob, and not one of them is admirable. Isaac is even more degen...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    REBEKAH HELPED JACOB GET THE BLESSING Rebekah overheard Isaac's instructions to Esau. She called for Jacob and told him to kill two choice kids from the flocks. She planned to prepare them in a way w...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Plentiful. A word retained by the Samaritan and Septuagint though lost in the Hebrew copies. (Grotius.) --- Hath blessed with abundance of fruit and odoriferous herbs; such as had probably been shut...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Son_2:13; Son_4:12-13; Son_7:11-12. These scriptures prove the spirituality carried on through the whole of this transaction....

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    Having already shown the position of Isaac, I resume briefly with the remark that he stands before us clearly as the representative of the Son, and this too as dead, risen, and in heaven. All will und...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    27._See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field_. The allegory of Ambrose on this passage is not displeasing to me. Jacob, the younger brother, is blessed under the person of the elder; the ga...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Jacob's history now begins [1]. Heir of the promises, and valuing them, he uses means to have them, evil and low in character. God answers his faith, and chastens his evil and unbelief. God could have...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND HE CAME NEAR, AND KISSED HIM,.... Jacob came near and kissed Isaac his father: AND HE SMELLED THE SMELL OF HIS RAIMENT; which being not like the smell of a sheep coat, but of a field, might give...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son [is] as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed: Ver. 27. _As t...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _He smelled the smell of his raiment_ Probably scented with odoriferous flowers and other perfumes, with which they could easily be supplied from Arabia, famed for aromatic herbs. _The smell of my son...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Isaac sendeth Esau for venison. 5 Rebekah instructeth Iacob to obtaine the blessing. 15 Iacob vnder the person of Esau obteineth it. 30 Esau bringeth venison. 33 Isaac trembleth. 34 Esau compla...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    And he came near, and kissed him; and he smelled the smell of his raiment which the strategy of Rebekah had placed on him, since their odor was that of the fields and of the chase; and BLESSED HIM, AN...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Isaac Blesses Jacob...

  • Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures

    SIXTH SECTION _Isaac’s preference for the natural first-born, and Esau. Rebekah and Jacob steal from him the theocratic blessing. Esau’s blessing. Esau’s hostility to Jacob. Rebekah’s preparation for...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    JACOB DECEIVES HIS FATHER In spite of Esau's wrong marriages, and in spite of God's word that Isaac's older son would serve the younger (ch.25:23). Isaac was ready to confer his chief blessing on Esa...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    18-29 Jacob, with some difficulty, gained his point, and got the blessing. This blessing is in very general terms. No mention is made of the distinguishing mercies in the covenant with Abraham. This...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    Which is full of odoriferous herbs, and flowers, and fruits, and spices, with some of which Esau's garments might be perfumed in the chest wherein they were laid, as the manner now is. These garments...

  • Notes on the Pentateuch by Charles Henry Mackintosh

    These Chapter s present to us the history of Jacob at least, the principal scenes in that history. The Spirit of God here sets before us the deepest instruction, first, as to God's purpose of infinite...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Genesis 27:27 near H5066 (H8799) kissed H5401 (H8799) smelled H7306 (H8686) smell H7381 clothing H899 blessed...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘And he said, “Bring it near to me and I will eat of my son's venison that my soul may bless you.” And he brought it near to him, and he ate, and he brought him wine, and he drank.' Now he calls on hi...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Genesis 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, her...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Fraudulent methods of Jacob in getting Isaac's blessing. Remorse of Esau. CHARACTERS: Isaac, Esau, Jacob, Rebekah. CONCLUSION: Human nature in prone to scheme to bring about what God would...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Genesis 27:1. _Isaac was old;_ in the hundred and thirty-seventh year of his age, the very year in which his brother Ishmael died. Jacob and Esau were also in their seventy-seventh year; but Isaac liv...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine_ ISAAC BLESSING JACOB I. WITH TEMPORAL BLESSINGS. 1. A fertile soil. 2. Abundance of provision. 3. P...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— Genesis 27:27. And blessed him.] The blessing (Genesis 27:27) is in the form of poetic parallelism.— GENESIS 27:28. THE DEW OF HEAVEN, AND THE FATNESS OF THE EARTH.] In Palestine the...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION GENESIS 27:15 AND REBEKAH TOOK GOODLY RAIMENT OF HER ELDEST SON ESAU,—literally, the _robes of Esau her son the elder—the desirable_,_ _i.e. the handsome ones. The בֶּגֶד was an outer garm...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Shall we turn now in our Bibles to Genesis chapter twenty-seven? Now it came to pass, when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    blessed. Hebrews 11:20 the smell of a field. Song of Solomon 2:13 Song of Solomon 4:11 Song of Solomon 7:12

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    He kissed him; in token of particular affection to him. Those that are blessed of God are kissed with the kisses of his mouth, and they do by love and loyalty kiss the son, Psalms 2:12 Psalms 2:1. He...

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