Genesis 27:33 - Exposition

And Isaac trembled very exceedingly ,—literally, feared a great fear , to a great degree; shuddered in great terror above measure (Lange). The renderings ἐξέστη δὲ Ἰσαάκ ἔκστασιν μεγάλην σφόδρα ( LXX .), Expavit stupors, et ultra quam credi potest admirans (Vulgate), "wondered with an exceedingly great admiration" (Onkelos), emphasize the patriarch's astonishment, the first even suggesting the idea of a trance or supernatural elevation of the prophetic consciousness; whereas that which is depicted is rather the alarm produced within the patriarch's breast, not so much by the discovery that his plan had been defeated by a woman's wit and a son's craft—these would have kindled indignation rather than fear—as by the awakening conviction not that he had blessed, but that he had been seeking to bless, the wrong person (Calvin, Willet)— and said, Who? where is he — quis est et ubi est? (Jarchi); but rather, who then is he? (Rosenmüller, Kalisch, Lange)—that hath taken venison,—literally, the one hunting prey— that hunted, or has hunted, the part having the force of a perfect— and brought it me, And I have eaten of all before thou earnest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed— thus before Jacob is named he pronounces the Divine sentence that the blessing is irrevocable (Lange).