Genesis 33:8-18

8 Esau said, "What do you mean by 1all this company[a] that I met?" Jacob answered, 2"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. 3For I have seen your face, which is like seeing the face of God, and you have accepted me.
11 Please accept my 4blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough." Thus he 5urged him, and he took it.
12 Then Esau said, "Let us journey on our way, and I will go ahead of[b] you."
13 But Jacob said to him, "My lord knows that the children are frail, and that the nursing flocks and herds are a care to me. If they are driven hard for one day, all the flocks will die.
14 Let my lord pass on ahead of his servant, and I will lead on slowly, at the pace of the livestock that are ahead of me and at the pace of the children, until I come to my lord 6in Seir."
15 So Esau said, "Let me leave with you some of the people who are with me." But he said, "What need is there? 7Let me find favor in the sight of my lord."
16 So Esau returned that day on his way to 8Seir.
17 But Jacob journeyed to 9Succoth, and built himself a house and made booths for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.[c]
18 And Jacob came safely[d] to the city of 10Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, on his way from Paddan-aram, and he camped before the city.

Genesis 33:8-18 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 10

  • 1. Genesis 32:16
  • 2. ver. 15; Genesis 32:5
  • 3. Genesis 18:1; Genesis 19:1
  • 4. 2 Kings 5:15
  • 5. [2 Samuel 13:25, 27; 2 Kings 5:23]
  • 6. Genesis 32:3
  • 7. ver. 8; Genesis 34:11; Genesis 47:25; Ruth 2:13
  • 8. Genesis 32:3
  • 9. Joshua 13:27; Judges 8:5; Psalms 60:6
  • 10. Joshua 24:1; Judges 9:1; Psalms 60:6; Acts 7:16

Footnotes 4

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