Genesis 32
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Berean Standard Bible

Genesis 32:3-21

3JacobH3290 sentH7971 messengersH4397 ahead of himH6440 toH413 his brotherH251 EsauH6215 in the landH776 of SeirH8165, the countryH7704 of EdomH123. 4He instructed themH6680, “You are to sayH559H3541 to my masterH113 EsauH6215H3541, ‘Your servantH5650 JacobH3290 saysH559: I have been stayingH1481 withH5973 LabanH3837 and have remained thereH309 untilH5704 nowH6258. 5I haveH1961 oxenH7794, donkeysH2543, flocksH6629, menservantsH5650, and maidservantsH8198. I have sentH7971 this message to informH5046 my masterH113, so that I may findH4672 favorH2580 in your sightH5869.’”

6When the messengersH4397 returnedH7725 toH413 JacobH3290, they saidH559, “We wentH935 toH413 your brotherH251H413 EsauH6215, and nowH1571 he is comingH1980 to meet youH7122—he and fourH702 hundredH3967 menH376 with himH5973.”

7In greatH3966 fearH3372 and distressH3334, JacobH3290 dividedH2673 hisH854 peopleH5971 into twoH8147 campsH4264, as well as the flocksH6629 and herdsH1241 and camelsH1581. 8He thoughtH559, “IfH518 EsauH6215 comesH935 and attacksH5221 oneH259 campH4264, thenH1961 the otherH7604 campH4264 can escapeH6413.”

9Then JacobH3290 declaredH559, “O GodH430 of my fatherH1 AbrahamH85, GodH430 of my fatherH1 IsaacH3327, the LORDH3068 who toldH559 meH413, ‘Go backH7725 to your countryH776 and to your kindredH4138, and I will make you prosperH3190H5973,’ 10I am unworthyH6994 of allH3605 the kindnessH2617H3605 and faithfulnessH571 You have shownH6213H854 Your servantH5650. IndeedH3588, with only my staffH4731 I came acrossH5674 theH2088 JordanH3383, but nowH6258 I have becomeH1961 twoH8147 campsH4264. 11PleaseH4994 deliver meH5337 from the handH3027 of my brotherH251H3027 EsauH6215, forH3588 IH595 am afraid thatH3373 he may comeH6435H935 and attack meH5221 and the mothersH517 andH5921 childrenH1121 with me. 12But YouH859 have saidH559, ‘I will surely make you prosperH3190H5973, and I will makeH7760 your offspringH2233 like the sandH2344 of the seaH3220, too numerousH7230 to countH5608.’”

13Jacob spentH3885 theH1931 nightH3915 thereH8033, and from what he had broughtH935 with himH3027, he selectedH3947H4480 a giftH4503 for his brotherH251 EsauH6215: 14200H3967 female goatsH5795, 20H6242 male goatsH8495, 200H3967 ewesH7353, 20H6242 ramsH352, 1530H7970 milkH3243 camelsH1581 with their youngH1121, 40H705 cowsH6510, 10H6235 bullsH6499, 20H6242 female donkeysH860, and 10H6235 male donkeysH5895. 16He entrusted them toH5414H3027 his servantsH5650 in separateH905 herdsH5739 and toldH559H413 themH5650, “Go onH5674 ahead of meH6440, and keepH7760 some distanceH7305 betweenH996 the herdsH5739H996.”

17He instructedH6680 the one in the leadH7223H559, “WhenH3588 my brotherH251 EsauH6215 meetsH6298 you and asksH7592H559, ‘To whomH4310 do you belongH859, whereH575 are you goingH1980, and whoseH4310 animals are theseH428 before youH6440?’ 18then you are to sayH559, ‘They belong to your servantH5650 JacobH3290. TheyH1931 are a giftH4503, sentH7971 to my lordH113 EsauH6215. And beholdH2009H1571, Jacob is behind usH310.’”

19He alsoH1571 instructedH6680 the secondH8145, the thirdH7992H1571, andH1571 all thoseH3605 followingH1980 behindH310 the herdsH5739H559: “When you meetH4672 EsauH6215, you are to sayH1696 the sameH2088 thingH1697 toH413 himH853. 20You are alsoH1571 to sayH559, ‘LookH2009, your servantH5650 JacobH3290 is right behind usH310.’” ForH3588 he thoughtH559, “I will appeaseH3722 Esau1 with the giftH4503 that is goingH1980 before meH6440. AfterH310 thatH3651 I can faceH7200 himH6440, and perhapsH194 he will acceptH5375 meH6440.2”

21So Jacob’s giftsH4503 wentH5674 on beforeH5921 himH6440, while heH1931 spentH3885 theH1931 nightH3915 in the campH4264.

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Notes

  1. 1. Genesis 32:20 Or I will appease his face ↩
  2. 2. Genesis 32:20 Literally perhaps he will lift up my face ↩

Commentaries on Genesis 32

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