What Role Did Esau’s Clothing and Goat Skins Play in the Deception?
The deception carried out by Jacob at the urging of his mother Rebekah, is one of the most carefully engineered scenes in Genesis. Because Isaac was old and nearly blind, the success of the deception depended not on visual disguise but on appealing to his other senses—touch, smell, and taste. Two items played a central role in this plan: Esau’s clothing and goat skins. Without them, the deception would have failed.
This article explores the significance of these items, why they were chosen, and how they overcame Isaac’s doubts.
1. Why a Disguise Was Necessary
Isaac intended to give the patriarchal blessing—the spiritual inheritance and covenant promise—to Esau, his favored son (Genesis 27:1–4). Rebekah, however, knew God had chosen Jacob as the heir (Genesis 25:23) and devised a plan for Jacob to impersonate Esau.
But there were two major obstacles:
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Jacob and Esau looked and felt different.
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Esau: hairy, rugged, outdoorsman
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Jacob: smooth-skinned, quiet, stay-at-home
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Isaac relied on his other senses because his eyesight was failing.
Thus, the disguise had to be convincing in texture, smell, and overall impression.
2. Esau’s Clothing: Creating the Smell and Presence of Esau
A. Esau’s Clothing Carried His Distinct Outdoor Scent
Rebekah took “the best garments of Esau her older son” (Genesis 27:15) for Jacob to wear.
These garments were likely:
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infused with Esau’s natural body scent
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smelling of the outdoors, fields, and hunting
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familiar to Isaac, who cherished Esau’s rugged lifestyle
When Jacob approached, Isaac noted:
“The smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the LORD has blessed.” (Genesis 27:27)
This moment was crucial.
The scent of Esau convinced Isaac that the man before him really was his eldest son.
B. The Clothing Symbolized Esau’s Identity
Clothing in the ancient world was more than fabric—it represented:
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status
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personality
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association with a person’s vocation
Esau’s garments signaled:
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the firstborn son
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the hunter
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Isaac’s favorite
By wearing these clothes, Jacob effectively stepped into Esau’s role in the family—even symbolically claiming Esau’s birthright and blessing.
3. The Goat Skins: Mimicking Esau’s Hairiness
A. Esau Was Extremely Hairy—Jacob Was Not
Esau’s physical hairiness was so pronounced that goat skins could realistically imitate it.
Rebekah covered Jacob’s:
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hands
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the smooth part of his neck
(Genesis 27:16)
These were the areas Isaac was most likely to touch when confirming identity.
B. Isaac’s Touch Test Was Critical
Isaac was skeptical when he heard Jacob’s voice:
“The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” (Genesis 27:22)
Isaac relied heavily on touch because:
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His eyesight had failed.
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Esau’s hairiness was a defining trait.
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Physical contact was a natural identity check.
The goat skins passed this test flawlessly.
C. The Texture Removed Isaac’s Doubt
The texture of goat hair on Jacob’s arms and neck overcame Isaac’s hesitation.
Even though the voice troubled him, Isaac trusted the physical confirmation.
This shows how well-crafted the disguise was—simple but incredibly effective.
4. Why These Two Items Were Essential to the Deception
A. They Overpowered Isaac’s Remaining Senses
With eyesight gone, Isaac depended on:
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Touch → goat skins
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Smell → Esau’s garments
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Taste → the prepared dish
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Hearing → the only sense that caused doubt
The combined sensory evidence convinced him.
Only Jacob’s voice remained suspicious, but it was drowned out by the stronger signals of touch and smell.
B. They Allowed Jacob to Step Fully Into Esau’s Identity
Using Esau’s clothing and the goat skins wasn’t just a disguise—it was a symbolic replacement of Esau:
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Jacob wore his clothes → taking Esau’s role
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Jacob mimicked his texture → taking Esau’s body-like traits
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Jacob brought Isaac’s favorite meal → acting as Esau
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Jacob presented himself as the firstborn → claiming the blessing
Each piece played a part in making the deception believable.
5. The Spiritual Symbolism of the Items
Beyond practical deception, the elements had symbolic significance:
Esau’s Clothing
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Represented the firstborn’s privilege
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Jacob “put on” Esau’s blessing
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Symbolized God’s sovereign choice transferring to Jacob
Goat Skins
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Showed the imperfect and deceptive means through which the blessing was obtained
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Foreshadowed Jacob later being deceived by goat blood when Joseph’s tunic was shown to him (Genesis 37:31)
Conclusion: Two Simple Items That Changed History
Esau’s clothing and the goat skins were central to Jacob’s deception of Isaac. They:
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manipulated Isaac’s senses
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gave Jacob the outward identity of Esau
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eliminated Isaac’s doubts
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enabled Jacob to receive the covenant blessing
These items played a decisive role in shifting the line of promise from Esau to Jacob—a moment with profound consequences for the story of Israel.