Isaac has heard Jacob’s voice and is not sure who he is; so he decides to use his sense of touch on Jacob.

Come near, that I may feel you, my son: Isaac directs Jacob to approach him or come close to him. Good News Translation “Please” represents the Hebrew particle of entreaty that accompanies the verb. We may also say, for example, “Please come here” or “Please step near me.” Feel translates the same verb as used in verse 12.

To know whether you are really my son Esau or not: this may also be rendered, for example, “then I will know for sure that you are my son Esau.” In some languages this is better expressed as a separate sentence: “I want to make sure that you are my son Esau.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .