Genesis 33:15-20

15 So Esau said, "Let me leave with you some of the people who are with me." But he said, "What need is there? 1Let me find favor in the sight of my lord."
16 So Esau returned that day on his way to 2Seir.
17 But Jacob journeyed to 3Succoth, and built himself a house and made booths for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.[a]
18 And Jacob came safely[b] to the city of 4Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, on his way from Paddan-aram, and he camped before the city.
19 And from the sons of 5Hamor, Shechem's father, 6he bought for a hundred pieces of money[c] the piece of land on which he had pitched his tent.
20 There he erected an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.[d]

Genesis 33:15-20 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 6

  • 1. ver. 8; Genesis 34:11; Genesis 47:25; Ruth 2:13
  • 2. Genesis 32:3
  • 3. Joshua 13:27; Judges 8:5; Psalms 60:6
  • 4. Joshua 24:1; Judges 9:1; Psalms 60:6; Acts 7:16
  • 5. Acts 7:16
  • 6. Joshua 24:32; John 4:5

Footnotes 4

  • [a]. Succoth means booths
  • [b]. Or peacefully
  • [c]. Hebrew a hundred qesitah; a unit of money of unknown value
  • [d]. El-Elohe-Israel means God, the God of Israel
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.