And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck:

GENESIS 27:16KJV
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Genesis 27:16 (KJV)

What does Genesis 27:16 mean?

Genesis 27:16 describes how Rebekah disguises her son Jacob so that his father Isaac will mistake him for his brother Esau. She puts young goats’ skins on the parts of Jacob that Isaac might touch, making Jacob’s naturally smooth skin feel hairy.

Rebekah’s action answers a specific worry: Jacob had feared that Isaac would feel him and discover the deception. After dressing Jacob in Esau’s clothes, Rebekah covers his hands and neck, completing the disguise before Jacob approaches his father.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 27:16

  • “put” — לָבַשׁ (lavash): This word often means “to dress” or “clothe.” Here it pictures Rebekah fitting the skins onto Jacob as part of his disguise.
  • “smooth” — חֶלְקָה (ḥelqah): The word refers to a smooth part or surface. In this verse, “the smooth of his neck” points to the bare skin that might reveal Jacob’s identity by touch.

Why Genesis 27:16 matters

  • The disguise is meant to fool Isaac’s sense of touch, not just his sight. Isaac’s eyes were weak, and Jacob had warned that his father might feel him (Genesis 27:1, 12).
  • Rebekah takes an active part in the deception. The verse says “she put” the skins on Jacob, showing that she prepares him for the encounter.
  • The skins become important when Isaac checks Jacob. Isaac later feels Jacob’s hands and says that the voice is Jacob’s, but the hands are Esau’s (Genesis 27:22–23).

Where else these words appear

“kids” Hebrew H1423 · used in 16 verses

  • Genesis 27:9 Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth:
  • Exodus 34:26 The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring unto the house of the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk.
  • Judges 14:6 And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done.

“smooth” Hebrew H2513 · used in 25 verses

  • Genesis 33:19 And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem's father, for an hundred pieces of money.
  • 2 Samuel 23:12 But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great victory.
  • Job 24:18 He is swift as the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth: he beholdeth not the way of the vineyards.

“neck” Hebrew H6677 · used in 39 verses

  • Genesis 27:40 And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.
  • Job 39:19 Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?
  • Jeremiah 27:11 But the nations that bring their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him, those will I let remain still in their own land, saith the LORD; and they shall till it, and dwell therein.

“goats” Hebrew H5795 · used in 74 verses

  • Genesis 15:9 And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.
  • Leviticus 16:5 And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.
  • Numbers 29:5 And one kid of the goats for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you: