Genesis 32:9

9 Jacob said, "O ¹God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O LORD, who said to me, '²Return to your country and to your relatives, and I will prosper you,'

Genesis 32:9 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 32:9

And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my
father Isaac
In this distress he does not consult the teraphim Rachel had taken from her father; nor does he call upon the hosts of angels that had just appeared to him, to help, protect, and guard him; but to God only, the God of his fathers, who had promised great things to them, and had done great things for them; who was their God in covenant, as he was his also, though he makes no mention of it, and who was heir of the promises made to them, the birthright and blessing being entailed upon him: the Lord which saidst unto me, return unto thy country, and to thy
kindred;
the same God had appeared to him, when in Laban's house, and bid him return to his own country, and father's house; in obedience to which command he was now on his journey thither, and being in the way of his duty, and acting according to the will of God, though he had no dependence on, nor put any confidence in anything done by him, as appears by what follows; yet he hoped God of his grace and goodness would have a regard unto him, as he was doing what he was directed to by him, and especially since he had made the following gracious promise: and I will deal well with thee:
bestow good things on thee, both temporal and spiritual, and among the former, preservation from evils and dangers is included.

Genesis 32:9 In-Context

7 Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and the herds and the camels, into two companies;

8 for he said, "If Esau comes to the one company and attacks it, then the company which is left will escape."

9 Jacob said, "O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O LORD , who said to me, 'Return to your country and to your relatives, and I will prosper you,'

10 I am unworthy of all the lovingkindness and of all the faithfulness which You have shown to Your servant; for with my staff only I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two companies.

11 "Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, that he will come and attack me and the mothers with the children.

Cross References

• 1. Genesis 28:13; Genesis 31:42
• 2. Genesis 28:15; Genesis 31:3, 13

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "do good with you"