Then Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother (A)in the land of Seir, (B)the [a]country of Edom. And he commanded them, saying, (C)“Speak thus to my lord Esau, ‘Thus your servant Jacob says: “I have dwelt with Laban and stayed there until now. (D)I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, and male and female servants; and I have sent to tell my lord, that (E)I may find favor in your sight.” ’ ”

Then the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and (F)he also is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.”

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 32:3 Lit. field

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

And he commanded them, Say this to my lord Esau: Your servant Jacob says this: I have been living temporarily with Laban and have stayed there till now.

And I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, menservants, and women servants; and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find mercy and kindness in your sight.

And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to your brother Esau; and now he is [on the way] to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.

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Jacob Sends Gifts to Esau

Then Jacob sent messengers ahead to his brother, Esau, who was living in the region of Seir in the land of Edom. He told them, “Give this message to my master Esau: ‘Humble greetings from your servant Jacob. Until now I have been living with Uncle Laban, and now I own cattle, donkeys, flocks of sheep and goats, and many servants, both men and women. I have sent these messengers to inform my lord of my coming, hoping that you will be friendly to me.’”

After delivering the message, the messengers returned to Jacob and reported, “We met your brother, Esau, and he is already on his way to meet you—with an army of 400 men!”

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