Genesis 32:3-8

3 Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom.
4 He instructed them: “This is what you are to say to my lord Esau: ‘Your servant Jacob says, I have been staying with Laban and have remained there till now.
5 I have cattle and donkeys, sheep and goats, male and female servants. Now I am sending this message to my lord, that I may find favor in your eyes.’ ”
6 When the messengers returned to Jacob, they said, “We went to your brother Esau, and now he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.”
7 In great fear and distress Jacob divided the people who were with him into two groups,[a] and the flocks and herds and camels as well.
8 He thought, “If Esau comes and attacks one group,[b] the group[c] that is left may escape.”

Genesis 32:3-8 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 32

This chapter informs us of Jacob's proceeding on in his journey, and of his being met and guarded by an host of angels, Ge 32:1,2; of his sending messengers to his brother Esau, acquainting him with his increase, and desiring his favour and good will, Ge 32:3-5, who return and report to him, that Esau was coming to him with four hundred men, which put him into a panic, and after devising ways and means for the security of himself; and those with him, at least a part, if not the whole, Ge 32:6-8; then follows a prayer of his to God, pressing his unworthiness of mercies, and his sense of them, imploring deliverance from his brother, and putting the Lord in mind of his promises, Ge 32:9-12; after which we have an account of the wise methods he took for the safety of himself and family, by sending a present to his brother, dividing those who had the charge of it into separate companies, and directing them to move at a proper distance from each other, he, his wives and children, following after, Ge 32:13-23; when they were over the brook Jabbok, he stopped, and being alone, the Son of God in an human form appeared to him, and wrestled with him, with whom Jacob prevailed, and got the blessing, and hence had the name of Israel, Ge 32:24-28; and though he could not get his name, he perceived it was a divine Person he had wrestled with, and therefore called the name of the place Penuel, Ge 32:29-31; the hollow of his thigh being touched by him with whom he wrestled, which put it out of joint, he halted as he went over Penuel, in commemoration of which the children of Israel eat not of that part of the thigh, Ge 32:31,32.

Cross References 14

  • 1. Numbers 21:21; Judges 11:17
  • 2. S Genesis 27:41-42
  • 3. S Genesis 14:6; S Numbers 24:18
  • 4. S Genesis 25:30; S Genesis 36:16; Genesis 36:8,9
  • 5. S Genesis 24:9
  • 6. S Genesis 18:3
  • 7. Genesis 31:41
  • 8. S Genesis 12:16; Genesis 30:43
  • 9. S Genesis 24:9
  • 10. Ge 33:8,10,15; Genesis 34:11; Genesis 47:25,29; Genesis 50:4; Ruth 2:13
  • 11. Genesis 33:1
  • 12. ver 11
  • 13. Genesis 35:3; Psalms 4:1; Psalms 77:2; Psalms 107:6
  • 14. ver 10; Genesis 33:1

Footnotes 3

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