Add parallel Print Page Options

Jacob Meets Esau

33 Then Jacob lifted up his eyes and saw, and behold, (A)Esau was coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children [a]among Leah and Rachel and the two servant-women. And he put the servant-women and their children first, and Leah and her children after them, and Rachel and Joseph after them. But he himself passed on ahead of them and (B)bowed down to the ground seven times, until he (C)came near to his brother.

Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and (D)fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. And he lifted up his eyes and saw the women and the children and said, “[b]Who are these with you?” And he said, “(E)The children whom God has graciously given your servant.” Then the servant-women came near [c]with their children, and they bowed down. Leah likewise came near with her children, and they bowed down; and afterward Joseph came near with Rachel, and they bowed down. And he said, “What do you mean by (F)all [d]these camps which I have met?” And he said, “(G)To find favor in the sight of my lord.” But Esau said, “(H)I have plenty, my brother; let what you have be your own.” 10 And Jacob said, “No, please, if now I have found favor in your sight, then take my present from my hand, [e]for I see your face as one sees the face of God, and you have received me favorably. 11 Please take my (I)blessing which has been brought to you, (J)because God has dealt graciously with me and because I have [f]everything.” Thus he urged him, and he took it.

12 Then [g]Esau said, “Let us take our journey and go, and I will go before you.” 13 But he said to him, “My lord knows that the children are weak and that the flocks and herds which are nursing are [h]a care to me. And if they are driven hard one day, all the flocks will die. 14 Please let my lord pass on before his servant, and I will lead on slowly, according to the pace of the cattle that are before me and according to the pace of the children, until I come to my lord at (K)Seir.”

15 Then Esau said, “Please let me leave with you some of the people who are with me.” But he said, “Why do this? (L)Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.” 16 So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. 17 But Jacob journeyed to [i](M)Succoth and built for himself a house and made booths for his livestock; therefore the place is named Succoth.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 33:1 Or to
  2. Genesis 33:5 Or What relation are these to you?
  3. Genesis 33:6 Lit they and
  4. Genesis 33:8 Lit this camp
  5. Genesis 33:10 Lit for therefore I have seen your face like seeing God’s face
  6. Genesis 33:11 Lit all
  7. Genesis 33:12 Lit he
  8. Genesis 33:13 Lit upon me
  9. Genesis 33:17 Lit booths

Jacob Meets Esau

33 Now Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming toward him with four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two slave women. He put the slaves and their children first, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last. He himself went on ahead and bowed to the ground(A) seven times until he approached his brother.

But Esau ran to meet him, hugged him, threw his arms around him, and kissed him. Then they wept.(B) When Esau looked up and saw the women and children, he asked, “Who are these with you?”

He answered, “The children God has graciously given your servant.”(C) Then the slaves and their children approached him and bowed down. Leah and her children also approached and bowed down, and then Joseph and Rachel approached and bowed down.

So Esau said, “What do you mean by this whole procession[a] I met?” (D)

“To find favor with you, my lord,”(E) he answered.

“I have enough, my brother,” Esau replied. “Keep what you have.”

10 But Jacob said, “No, please! If I have found favor with you, take this gift from me. For indeed, I have seen your face, and it is like seeing God’s face, since you have accepted me. 11 Please take my present that was brought to you, because God has been gracious to me and I have everything I need.” So Jacob urged him until he accepted.

12 Then Esau said, “Let’s move on, and I’ll go ahead of you.”

13 Jacob replied, “My lord knows that the children are weak, and I have nursing flocks and herds. If they are driven hard for one day, the whole herd will die. 14 Let my lord go ahead of his servant. I will continue on slowly, at a pace suited to the livestock and the children, until I come to my lord at Seir.”

15 Esau said, “Let me leave some of my people with you.”

But he replied, “Why do that? Please indulge me,[b] my lord.”(F)

16 That day Esau started on his way back to Seir, 17 but Jacob went to Succoth. He built a house for himself and shelters for his livestock; that is why the place was called Succoth.[c](G)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 33:8 Lit camp
  2. 33:15 Lit May I find favor in your eyes
  3. 33:17 = Stalls or Huts