Genesis 32:4

4 instructing them, "Thus you shall say to my lord Esau: Thus says your servant Jacob, "I have lived with Laban as an alien, and stayed until 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 and when Jacob saw them he said, "This is God's camp!" So he called that place Mahanaim.

3 Jacob sent messengers before him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom,

4 instructing them, "Thus you shall say to my lord Esau: Thus says your servant Jacob, "I have lived with Laban as an alien, and stayed until now;

5 and I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, male and female slaves; and I have sent to tell my lord, in order that I may find favor in your sight.' "

6 The messengers returned to Jacob, saying, "We came to your brother Esau, and he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him."