Genesis 32:4

4 He gave them these orders: "Say this to my master Esau. This is the message of your servant Jacob: ‘I've lived as an immigrant with Laban, where I've stayed till now.

Genesis 32:4 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 32:4

And he commanded them
Being his servants: saying, thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau;
being not only a lord of a country, but his eldest brother, and whom he chose to bespeak in this manner, to soften his mind, and incline it to him; and that he might see he did not pique himself upon the birthright and blessing he had obtained; and as if these were forgotten by him, though hereby he does not give up his right in them: thy servant Jacob saith thus,
expressing great humility and modesty; for though his father Isaac by his blessing had made him lord over Esau, the time was not come for this to take place, his father not being yet dead; and besides, was to have its accomplishment not in his own person, but in his posterity: I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there until now;
had been a sojourner and a servant in Laban's family for twenty years past, and had had an hard master, and therefore could not be the object of his brother's envy, but rather of his pity and compassion.

Genesis 32:4 In-Context

2 When Jacob saw them, he said, "This is God's camp," and he named that sacred place Mahanaim.
3 Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau, toward the land of Seir, the open country of Edom.
4 He gave them these orders: "Say this to my master Esau. This is the message of your servant Jacob: ‘I've lived as an immigrant with Laban, where I've stayed till now.
5 I own cattle, donkeys, flocks, men servants, and women servants. I'm sending this message to my master now to ask that he be kind.'"
6 The messengers returned to Jacob and said, "We went out to your brother Esau, and he's coming to meet you with four hundred men."
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