Genesis 32:20

Genesis 32:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And say ye moreover, Behold, thy servant Jacob is behind us. For he said, I will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept of me.
• New International Version (NIV)And be sure to say, ‘Your servant Jacob is coming behind us.’ ” For he thought, “I will pacify him with these gifts I am sending on ahead; later, when I see him, perhaps he will receive me.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)and you shall say, 'Moreover, your servant Jacob is behind us.'" For he thought, "I may appease him with the present that goes ahead of me, and afterward I shall see his face. Perhaps he will accept me."
• New King James Version (NKJV)and also say, ‘Behold, your servant Jacob is behind us.’ ” For he said, “I will appease him with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face; perhaps he will accept me.”

Context of Genesis 32:20

18then tell him, ‘They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a gift sent to my lord Esau. And look, he is behind us.’” 19He also told the second one, the third, and everyone who was walking behind the animals, “Say the same thing to Esau when you find him. You are also to say, ‘Look, your servant Jacob is right behind us.’” For he thought, “I want to appease Esau with the gift that is going ahead of me. After that, I can face him, and perhaps he will forgive me.” 21So the gift was sent on ahead of him while he remained in the camp that night. 22During the night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two slave women, and his eleven sons, and crossed the ford of Jabbok.

Genesis 32:20 word by word

וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֕ם גַּ֗ם הִנֵּ֛ה עַבְדְּךָ֥ יַעֲקֹ֖ב אַחֲרֵ֑ינוּ כִּֽי־אָמַ֞ר אֲכַפְּרָ֣ה פָנָ֗יו בַּמִּנְחָה֙ הַהֹלֶ֣כֶת לְפָנָ֔י וְאַחֲרֵי־כֵן֙ אֶרְאֶ֣ה פָנָ֔יו אוּלַ֖י יִשָּׂ֥א פָנָֽי׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And say yeאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• moreoverגַּםgam · alsoH1571
• Behold, thy servantעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
• Jacobיַעֲקֹבya‛ăqôb · JacobH3290
• behind usאַחַר'achar · afterH310
• I will appeaseכִּפֶּרkâphar · to atoneH3722
• himפָּנֶהpânîym · face ofH6440
• with the presentמִנְחָהminchâh · offering: giftH4503
• that goethהָלַךְhâlak · to go: wentH1980
• before meפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
• I will seeרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• his faceפָּנֶהpânîym · faceH6440
• peradventure he will acceptנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: kindnessH5375
• of meפָּנֶהpânîym · face: kindnessH6440

Cross-references for Genesis 32:20

• Genesis 43:11Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your packs and take them down to the man as a gift — a little balsam and a little honey, aromatic gum and resin, pistachios and almonds.
• 1 Samuel 25:17Now consider carefully what you should do, because there is certain to be trouble for our master and his entire family. He is such a worthless fool nobody can talk to him!”
• Job 42:8Now take seven bulls and seven rams, go to my servant Job, and offer a burnt offering for yourselves. Then my servant Job will pray for you. I will surely accept his prayer and not deal with you as your folly deserves. For you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has.”
• Proverbs 15:18A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but one slow to anger calms strife.
• Proverbs 16:14A king’s fury is a messenger of death, but a wise person appeases it.
• Proverbs 21:14A secret gift soothes anger, and a covert bribe, fierce rage.
• 1 Samuel 6:5Make images of your tumors and of your mice that are destroying the land. Give glory to Israel’s God, and perhaps he will stop oppressing you, your gods, and your land.
• 1 Kings 20:31His servants said to him, “Consider this: we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. So let’s put sackcloth around our waists and ropes around our heads, and let’s go out to the king of Israel. Perhaps he will spare your life.”
• Jonah 3:9Who knows? God may turn and relent; he may turn from his burning anger so that we will not perish.
• 2 Timothy 2:25instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth.
• Proverbs 6:35He will not be appeased by anything or be persuaded by lavish bribes.

Commentaries on Genesis 32:20

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-32Verses 1-32 - Jacob Wrestles in Prayer 3. מחנים machănāyı̂m Machanaim, “two camps.” 22. יבק yaboq Jabboq; related: בקק bāqaq “gush or gurgle out” or אבק 'ābaq in niphal, “wrestle.” Now Wady Zurka. 29. ישׂראל yı̂śrā'ēl Jisrael, “prince of God.” 31. פניאל penı̂y'ēl = פנוּאל penû'ēl Peniel, Penuel, “face of God.” After twenty years spent in Aram, Jacob now returns to Kenann. As his departure was marked by a great moment in his spiritual life, so he…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-23Verses 9-23 Times of fear should be times of prayer: whatever causes fear, should drive us to our knees, to our God. Jacob had lately seen his guards of angels, but in this distress he applied to God, not to them; he knew they were his fellow-servants, Re 22:9. There cannot be a better pattern for true prayer than this. Here is a thankful acknowledgement of former undeserved favours; a humble confession of unworthiness; a plain statement of his fears and…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13-21Taking a large portion of the wealth God had blessed him with (some 550 animals), Jacob prepared a gift to appease Esau’s anger and gain his favor.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 13-2313-23. took ... a present for Esau--Jacob combined active exertions with earnest prayer; and this teaches us that we must not depend upon the aid and interposition of God in such a way as to supersede the exercise of prudence and foresight. Superiors are always approached with presents, and the respect expressed is estimated by the quality and amount of the gift. The present of Jacob consisted of five hundred fifty head of cattle, of different kinds, such…Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 32:20

• Prayer
• Prudence

In the dictionaries

• Jacob
• Jacob, Israel
• Ask
• Cast
• Deal
• Mercy
• Present
• Touch
• Worthy
• Appease

Commentaries on Genesis 32

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings