Genesis 33 KJV
Jacob Meets Esau
Genesis Chapter 33: Jacob Meets Esau
Jacob's repeated address of Esau as 'my lord' (verses 8, 13, 14, 15) directly inverts the patriarchal blessing from Genesis 27, where Isaac declared Jacob would be lord over his brother, marking a narrative reversal achieved through humility rather than deception.
1nd Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids.
2 And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost.
3 And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
4 And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.
5 And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant.
6 Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves.
7 And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves.
8 And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord.
9 And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself.
10 And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me.
11 Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it.
12 And he said, Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before thee.
13 And he said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die.
14 Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir.
15 And Esau said, Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me. And he said, What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my lord.
16 So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir.
17 And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.
18 And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padanaram; and pitched his tent before the city.
19 And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechemโs father, for an hundred pieces of money.
20 And he erected there an altar, and called it EleloheIsrael.
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Did You Know?
Jacob's repeated address of Esau as 'my lord' (verses 8, 13, 14, 15) directly inverts the patriarchal blessing from Genesis 27, where Isaac declared Jacob would be lord over his brother, marking a narrative reversal achieved through humility rather than deception.
Jacob's declaration that seeing Esau's face was 'as though I had seen the face of God' (verse 10) deliberately echoes his Peniel encounter in chapter 32, theologically framing human reconciliation as a reflection of divine encounter and mercy.
Esau's initial refusal of the massive gift (verse 9) followed by acceptance transforms the offering from mere appeasement into a ritual-like exchange, with 'minchah' language evoking sacrificial themes that resolve the earlier birthright conflict without violence.
Despite the emotional reunion, Jacob declines Esau's offer to travel together and instead journeys to Succoth while Esau returns to Seir (verses 16-17), subtly foreshadowing the enduring separation between Israel and Edom attested in later historical texts.
The chapter's closing altar dedication to 'El-elohe-Israel' (verse 20) represents Jacob's first public act of worship under his new identity, signifying the integration of his personal divine encounters into a communal confession of faith.
Commentary & Study Notes Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871) ยท Public Domain behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men โ Jacob having crossed the ford and ranged his wives and children in order โ the dearest last, that they might be the least exposedโฆ
Classic verse-by-verse commentary on Genesis 33 from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown (1871). Covers: Kindness of jacob and esau; The parting.
- 1
- behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men โ Jacob having crossed the ford and ranged his wives and children in order โ the dearest last, that they might be the least exposed to danger โ awaited the expected interview. His faith was strengthened and his fears gone (Ps 27:3). Having had power to prevail with God, he was confident of the same power with man, according to the promise (compare Ge 32:28).
- 3
- he bowed himself... seven times โ The manner of doing this is by looking towards a superior and bowing with the upper part of the body brought parallel to the ground, then advancing a few steps and bowing again, and repeating his obeisance till, at the seventh time, the suppliant stands in the immediate presence of his superior. The members of his family did the same. This was a token of profound respect, and, though very marked, it would appear natural; for Esau being the elder brother, was, according to the custom of the East, entitled to respectful treatment from his younger brother. His attendants would be struck by it, and according to Eastern habits, would magnify it in the hearing of their master.
Read all 11 notes on Genesis 33 โ