And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son:

GENESIS 27:15KJV
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Genesis 27:15 (KJV)

What does Genesis 27:15 mean?

Genesis 27:15 describes how Rebekah took the best clothes belonging to her older son Esau, which she kept in her house, and dressed her younger son Jacob in them. This action was part of Rebekah’s plan to have Jacob impersonate Esau and receive the blessing from their father Isaac.

In this scene, Rebekah is acting secretly to help Jacob deceive Isaac, who is old and nearly blind. By putting Esau’s "goodly raiment" (fine clothing) on Jacob, Rebekah is making Jacob appear and smell more like Esau, since Esau was Isaac’s favored son. This verse sets up the next steps in the story, where Jacob will try to receive the blessing meant for Esau.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 27:15

  • "Goodly" — טוֹב (ṭov, transliterated as "tov") is the word used here, meaning "good" or "best." The verse uses this word to show that Rebekah chose Esau’s finest clothes, not just any garments, highlighting the importance of the deception.
  • "Raiment" — בֶּגֶד (beged, transliterated as "beged") means "garment" or "clothing." The use of this word emphasizes that the clothing was a significant part of Esau’s identity, likely carrying his scent and marking him as the firstborn.
  • "Eldest" — גָּדוֹל (gadol, transliterated as "gadol") means "great" or "older." This word clarifies that Esau is the firstborn son, which is central to the blessing Jacob is about to receive under false pretenses.
  • "Upon" — לָבַשׁ (lavash, transliterated as "lavash") means "to put on" or "clothe." This verb shows the intentional act of dressing Jacob in Esau’s clothes, not just handing them to him.

Why Genesis 27:15 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Rebekah was the one actively directing the deception, not Jacob acting alone, which shapes how readers understand the family dynamics.
  • The detail about the "goodly raiment" shows the lengths to which Rebekah went to make Jacob convincing as Esau, highlighting the seriousness and premeditation of the plan.
  • The verse connects directly to the larger narrative, where the blessing of the firstborn is at stake, and helps explain how Jacob was able to fool Isaac despite their differences.

Where else these words appear

“goodly” Hebrew H2532 · used in 25 verses

  • 1 Samuel 9:20 And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father's house?
  • Jeremiah 3:19 But I said, How shall I put thee among the children, and give thee a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of nations? and I said, Thou shalt call me, My father; and shalt not turn away from me.
  • Daniel 11:8 And shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes, and with their precious vessels of silver and of gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the north.

“Rebekah” Hebrew H7259 · used in 29 verses

  • Genesis 22:23 And Bethuel begat Rebekah: these eight Milcah did bear to Nahor, Abraham's brother.
  • Genesis 24:60 And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them.
  • Genesis 26:35 Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.

“Esau” Hebrew H6215 · used in 82 verses

  • Genesis 25:25 And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.
  • Genesis 28:8 And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father;
  • Genesis 36:13 And these are the sons of Reuel; Nahath, and Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah: these were the sons of Bashemath Esau's wife.

“younger” Hebrew H6996 · used in 100 verses

  • Genesis 1:16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
  • 1 Samuel 16:11 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.
  • 2 Chronicles 34:30 And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the people, great and small: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of the LORD.