Genesis 33:1-10

Jacob Meets Esau

1 And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, 1Esau was coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two female servants.
2 And he put the servants with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all.
3 He himself went on before them, 2bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
4 3But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him 4and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.
5 And when Esau lifted up his eyes and saw the women and children, he said, "Who are these with you?" Jacob said, 5"The children whom God has graciously given your servant."
6 Then the servants drew near, they and their children, and bowed down.
7 Leah likewise and her children drew near and bowed down. And last Joseph and Rachel drew near, and they bowed down.
8 Esau said, "What do you mean by 6all this company[a] that I met?" Jacob answered, 7"To find favor in the sight of my lord."
9 But Esau said, "I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself."
10 Jacob said, "No, please, if I have found favor in your sight, then accept my present from my hand. 8For I have seen your face, which is like seeing the face of God, and you have accepted me.

Genesis 33:1-10 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 33

In this chapter we find Esau meeting Jacob in a friendly manner, contrary to his fears and expectation, having set his family in order in case of the worst, Ge 33:1-4; putting questions to Jacob concerning the women and children with him, who make their obeisance to him as Jacob had done before, Ge 33:5-7; and concerning the drove he met, which was a present to him, and which he refused at first to take, but at the urgency of Jacob accepted of it, Ge 33:8-11; proposing to travel with him, unto which Jacob desired to be excused, he, with the women, children, and flocks, not being able to keep pace with him, Ge 33:12-14, and to leave some of his men with him to guard him, which Jacob judged unnecessary, upon which they parted friendly, Ge 33:15,16; and the chapter is concluded with an account of Jacob's journey, first to Succoth, then to Shalem, where he pitched his tent, bought a field and built an altar, Ge 33:17-20.

Cross References 8

  • 1. Genesis 32:6
  • 2. Genesis 18:2; Genesis 42:6; Genesis 43:26
  • 3. Genesis 32:28
  • 4. Genesis 45:14
  • 5. Genesis 48:9; Psalms 127:3; Isaiah 8:18
  • 6. Genesis 32:16
  • 7. ver. 15; Genesis 32:5
  • 8. Genesis 18:1; Genesis 19:1

Footnotes 1

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.