Genesis 27:11 Jacob answered his mother Rebekah, "Look, my brother Esau is a hairy man, but I am smooth-skinned.

◄ Genesis 27:11 ►

New International Version
Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “But my brother Esau is a hairy man while I have smooth skin.

New Living Translation
“But look,” Jacob replied to Rebekah, “my brother, Esau, is a hairy man, and my skin is smooth.

English Standard Version
But Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “Behold, my brother Esau is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man.

Berean Standard Bible
Jacob answered his mother Rebekah, “Look, my brother Esau is a hairy man, but I am smooth-skinned.

King James Bible
And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man:

New King James Version
And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “Look, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth-skinned man.

New American Standard Bible
But Jacob said to his mother Rebekah, “Behold, my brother Esau is a hairy man and I am a smooth man.

NASB 1995
Jacob answered his mother Rebekah, “Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man and I am a smooth man.

NASB 1977
And Jacob answered his mother Rebekah, “Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man and I am a smooth man.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Jacob answered his mother Rebekah, “Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man.

Amplified Bible
Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “Listen, Esau my brother is a hairy man and I am a smooth [skinned] man.

Christian Standard Bible
Jacob answered Rebekah his mother, “Look, my brother Esau is a hairy man, but I am a man with smooth skin.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Jacob answered Rebekah his mother, “Look, my brother Esau is a hairy man, but I am a man with smooth skin.

American Standard Version
And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man.

Contemporary English Version
"My brother Esau is a hairy man," Jacob reminded her. "And I am not.

English Revised Version
And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Jacob said to his mother Rebekah, "My brother Esau is a hairy man, and my skin is smooth.

Good News Translation
But Jacob said to his mother, "You know that Esau is a hairy man, but I have smooth skin.

International Standard Version
"But look!" Jacob pointed out to his mother Rebekah, "My brother Esau is a hairy man, but I'm smooth skinned.

Majority Standard Bible
Jacob answered his mother Rebekah, “Look, my brother Esau is a hairy man, but I am smooth-skinned.

NET Bible
"But Esau my brother is a hairy man," Jacob protested to his mother Rebekah, "and I have smooth skin!

New Heart English Bible
Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, "Look, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man:

World English Bible
Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And Jacob says to his mother Rebekah, “Behold, my brother Esau [is] a hairy man, and I [am] a smooth man,

Young's Literal Translation
And Jacob saith unto Rebekah his mother, 'Lo, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I a smooth man,

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jacob will say to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother a man of hair, and I a smooth man:

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And he answered her: Thou knowest that Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am smooth.

Catholic Public Domain Version
He answered her: “You know that my brother Esau is a hairy man, and I am smooth.

New American Bible
But Jacob said to his mother Rebekah, “But my brother Esau is a hairy man and I am smooth-skinned!

New Revised Standard Version
But Jacob said to his mother Rebekah, “Look, my brother Esau is a hairy man, and I am a man of smooth skin.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man and I am a smooth man;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Yaquuv said to Raphqa his mother, “Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man and I am a smooth man:

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother: 'Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Jacob said to his mother Rebecca, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I a smooth man.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Jacob's Deception
…10Then take it to your father to eat, so that he may bless you before he dies.” 11Jacob answered his mother Rebekah, “Look, my brother Esau is a hairy man, but I am smooth-skinned. 12What if my father touches me? Then I would be revealed to him as a deceiver, and I would bring upon myself a curse rather than a blessing.”…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Genesis 25:23
and He declared to her: “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.”

Genesis 25:27-28
When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man who stayed at home. / Because Isaac had a taste for wild game, he loved Esau; but Rebekah loved Jacob.

Genesis 26:34-35
When Esau was forty years old, he took as his wives Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite and Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite. / And they brought grief to Isaac and Rebekah.

Genesis 28:6-9
Now Esau learned that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him to Paddan-aram to take a wife there, commanding him, “Do not marry a Canaanite woman,” / and that Jacob had obeyed his father and mother and gone to Paddan-aram. / And seeing that his father Isaac disapproved of the Canaanite women, ...

Genesis 29:25
When morning came, there was Leah! “What have you done to me?” Jacob said to Laban. “Wasn’t it for Rachel that I served you? Why have you deceived me?”

Genesis 37:18-20
Now Joseph’s brothers saw him in the distance, and before he arrived, they plotted to kill him. / “Here comes that dreamer!” they said to one another. / “Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. We can say that a vicious animal has devoured him. Then we shall see what becomes of his dreams!”

Genesis 49:5-7
Simeon and Levi are brothers; their swords are weapons of violence. / May I never enter their council; may I never join their assembly. For they kill men in their anger, and hamstring oxen on a whim. / Cursed be their anger, for it is strong, and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will disperse them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel.

Exodus 20:12
Honor your father and mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

Deuteronomy 21:15-17
If a man has two wives, one beloved and the other unloved, and both bear him sons, but the unloved wife has the firstborn son, / when that man assigns his inheritance to his sons he must not appoint the son of the beloved wife as the firstborn over the son of the unloved wife. / Instead, he must acknowledge the firstborn, the son of his unloved wife, by giving him a double portion of all that he has. For that son is the firstfruits of his father’s strength; the right of the firstborn belongs to him.

1 Samuel 16:7
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.”

1 Kings 2:22
King Solomon answered his mother, “Why do you request Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Since he is my older brother, you might as well request the kingdom for him and for Abiathar the priest and for Joab son of Zeruiah!”

Psalm 51:5
Surely I was brought forth in iniquity; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.

Proverbs 10:1
The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother.

Proverbs 28:24
He who robs his father or mother, saying, “It is not wrong,” is a companion to the man who destroys.

Jeremiah 9:4
“Let everyone guard against his neighbor; do not trust any brother, for every brother deals craftily, and every friend spreads slander.

Treasury of Scripture

And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man:

hairy man.

Genesis 25:25
And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.

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Genesis 27

1. Isaac sends Esau for venison.
6. Rebekah instructs Jacob to obtain the blessing.
14. Jacob, feigning to be Esau, obtains it.
30. Esau brings venison.
33. Isaac trembles.
34. Esau complains, and by importunity obtains a blessing.
41. He threatens Jacob's life.
42. Rebekah disappoints him, by sending Jacob away.

Berean Study Bible

Jacob answered his mother Rebekah
This phrase highlights the familial relationship and the dynamics at play. Jacob, whose name in Hebrew (יַעֲקֹב, Ya'akov) can mean "he grasps the heel" or "supplanter," is responding to his mother, Rebekah. Rebekah, whose name in Hebrew (רִבְקָה, Rivkah) means "to tie firmly" or "a noose," is orchestrating a plan to secure the blessing for Jacob. This interaction underscores the theme of family influence and the fulfillment of God's prophecy to Rebekah that "the older will serve the younger" (Genesis 25:23). The Hebrew culture placed significant emphasis on the mother's role in guiding and shaping the future of her children, and Rebekah's actions reflect her belief in God's promise.

Look
The word "look" is a call for attention and consideration. In Hebrew, the word used is often "הִנֵּה" (hinneh), which means "behold" or "see." It is a term that invites the listener to pay close attention to what follows. Jacob is drawing Rebekah's attention to a significant obstacle in their plan. This word sets the stage for the contrast between Jacob and Esau, emphasizing the physical differences that could potentially thwart their scheme.

my brother Esau
Esau, whose name in Hebrew (עֵשָׂו, Esav) is related to the word "hairy" or "rough," is Jacob's twin brother. The mention of "my brother Esau" serves to remind the reader of the sibling rivalry that has been a central theme since their birth. Esau, as the firstborn, was entitled to the birthright and blessing, yet Jacob, through Rebekah's guidance, seeks to obtain it. This phrase also highlights the tension and complexity of their relationship, which is a recurring motif throughout the narrative.

is a hairy man
The description of Esau as "a hairy man" is significant in the context of the story. The Hebrew word for "hairy" is "שָׂעִיר" (sa'ir), which not only describes Esau's physical appearance but also connects to his identity and destiny. In ancient Near Eastern culture, physical traits were often seen as indicative of one's character or fate. Esau's hairiness is a distinguishing feature that sets him apart from Jacob and becomes a critical element in the deception that follows.

but I am a smooth man
Jacob's self-description as "a smooth man" contrasts sharply with Esau's hairiness. The Hebrew word for "smooth" is "חָלָק" (chalak), which can also mean "slippery" or "deceptive." This contrast not only highlights the physical differences between the brothers but also foreshadows the cunning and deceptive nature of Jacob's actions. The smoothness of Jacob's skin becomes a pivotal point in the narrative, as it necessitates the use of goat skins to mimic Esau's hairiness, further illustrating the lengths to which Rebekah and Jacob will go to secure the blessing.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 11. - And Jacob (who was not yet such an adept at trickery as he afterwards became, and who, if he had no scruples of conscience in either imposing on a senile parent or despoiling an open-hearted brother, was yet averse to being detected in his frauds, as deceivers usually are) said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man (vide Genesis 25:25) and I am a smooth man - חָלָק, smooth (opposed to שָׂעִיר," hairy); the primary idea of which is to cut off the hair. Cf. χかいαあるふぁλらむだκかっぱός χかいάλらむだιいおたξくしー κかっぱόλらむだαあるふぁξくしー γがんまλらむだυうぷしろんκかっぱός, γがんまλらむだοおみくろんῖος γがんまλらむだίσχρος; glacies, glaber, gladius, glisco; gluten, glatt, gleiten, glas - all of which convey the notion of smoothness (vide Gesenius, p. 283).

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Jacob
יַעֲקֹ֔ב (ya·‘ă·qōḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3290: Jacob -- a son of Isaac, also his desc

answered
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

his mother
אִמּ֑וֹ (’im·mōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 517: A mother, )

Rebekah,
רִבְקָ֖ה (riḇ·qāh)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 7259: Rebekah -- wife of Isaac

“Look,
הֵ֣ן (hên)
Interjection
Strong's 2005: Lo! behold!

my brother
אָחִי֙ (’ā·ḥî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 251: A brother, )

Esau
עֵשָׂ֤ו (‘ê·śāw)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6215: Esau -- oldest son of Isaac

is a hairy
שָׂעִ֔ר (śā·‘ir)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 8163: Shaggy, a he-goat, a faun

man,
אִ֣ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

but I am
וְאָנֹכִ֖י (wə·’ā·nō·ḵî)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 595: I

smooth-skinned.
חָלָֽק׃ (ḥā·lāq)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2509: Smooth

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OT Law: Genesis 27:11 Jacob said to Rebekah his mother Behold (Gen. Ge Gn)