Genesi 32:6

6 E i messi se ne ritornarono a Giacobbe, e gli dissero: Noi siamo andati ad Esaù, tuo fratello; ed egli altresì ti viene incontro, menando seco quattrocent’uomini.

Genesi 32:6 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 32:6

And the messengers returned to Jacob
After they had delivered their message, with the answer they brought back: saying, we came to thy brother Esau;
which, though not expressed, is implied in these words, and is still more manifest by what follows: and also he cometh to meet thee;
and pay a friendly visit, as they supposed: and four hundred men with him;
partly to show his grandeur, and partly out of respect to Jacob, and to do honour to him; though some think this was done with an ill design upon him, and which indeed seems probable; and it is certain Jacob so understood it, as is evident by the distress it gave him, and by the methods he took for his safety, and by the gracious appearance of God unto him, and the strength he gave him on this occasion, not only to pray to and wrestle with him, but to prevail both with God and men, as the following account shows. The Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem call these four hundred men leaders or generals of armies, which is not probable; they were most likely Esau's subjects, his tenants and servants.

Genesi 32:6 In-Context

4 E diede loro quest’ordine: Dite così ad Esaù, mio signore: Così ha detto il tuo servitore Giacobbe: Io sono stato forestiere appo Labano, e vi son dimorato infino ad ora.

5 Ed ho buoi, ed asini, e pecore, e servi, e serve; e mando significandolo al mio signore, per ritrovar grazia appo te.

6 E i messi se ne ritornarono a Giacobbe, e gli dissero: Noi siamo andati ad Esaù, tuo fratello; ed egli altresì ti viene incontro, menando seco quattrocent’uomini.

7 E Giacobbe temette grandemente, e fu angosciato; e spartì la gente ch’era seco, e le gregge, e gli armenti, e i cammelli in due schiere.

8 E disse: Se Esaù viene ad una delle schiere, e la percuote, l’altra scamperà.