Genesis 33:1-8

Jacob Meets Esau

1 Then Jacob lifted 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 maids.
2 He put the maids and their children in front, and Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last.
3 But he himself passed on ahead of them and 2bowed down to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
4 Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, and 3fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.
5 He lifted his eyes and saw the women and the children, and said, "Who are these with you?" So he said, "4The children whom God has graciously given your servant."
6 Then the maids came near with their children, and they bowed down.
7 Leah likewise came near with her children, and they bowed down; and afterward Joseph came near with Rachel, and they bowed down.
8 And he said, "What do you mean by 5all this company which I have met?" And he said, "6To find favor in the sight of my lord."

Genesis 33:1-8 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. Genesis 32:6
  • 2. Genesis 42:6; Genesis 43:26
  • 3. Genesis 45:14, 15
  • 4. Genesis 48:9; Psalms 127:3; Isaiah 8:18
  • 5. Genesis 32:13-16
  • 6. Genesis 32:5

Footnotes 6

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