Genesis 33:4-14

4 Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, and 1fell 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, "2The 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 3all this company which I have met?" And he said, "4To find favor in the sight of my lord."
9 But Esau said, "5I have plenty, my brother; let what you have be your own."
10 Jacob said, "No, please, if now I have found favor in your sight, then take my present from my hand, for I see your face as one sees the face of God, and you have received me favorably.
11 "Please take my 6gift which has been brought to you, 7because God has dealt graciously with me and because I have plenty." Thus he urged him and he took it.
12 Then Esau said, "Let us take our journey and go, and I will go before you."
13 But he said to him, "My lord knows that the children are frail and that the flocks and herds which are nursing are a care to me. And if they are driven hard one day, all the flocks will die.
14 "Please let my lord pass on before his servant, and I will proceed at my leisure, according to the pace of the cattle that are before me and according to the pace of the children, until * I come to my lord at 8Seir."

Genesis 33:4-14 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 45:14, 15
  • 2. Genesis 48:9; Psalms 127:3; Isaiah 8:18
  • 3. Genesis 32:13-16
  • 4. Genesis 32:5
  • 5. Genesis 27:39, 40
  • 6. 1 Samuel 25:27
  • 7. Genesis 30:43
  • 8. Genesis 32:3

Footnotes 7

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