Genesis 32:6

Genesis 32:6 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him.
• New International Version (NIV)When the messengers returned to Jacob, they said, “We went to your brother Esau, and now he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, "We came to your brother Esau, and he is coming to meet you, and there are four hundred men with him."
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and he also is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.”

Context of Genesis 32:6

4Jacob told his men, ‘This is what you must say to my master Esau: Your servant Jacob says, “I have been staying with Laban until now. 5I have cows, donkeys, sheep and goats. I have male and female servants. Now I am sending this message to my lord so that you will be happy with me.” ’ When the men returned, they said to Jacob, ‘We went to your brother Esau. Now he is coming to meet you and he has 400 men with him.’ 7Jacob was very frightened and upset when he heard this. So he separated his people into two groups. He also separated his animals. 8He thought, ‘If Esau attacks one group, the other group may run away safely.’

Genesis 32:6 word by word

וַיָּשֻׁ֙בוּ֙ הַמַּלְאָכִ֔ים אֶֽל־יַעֲקֹ֖ב לֵאמֹ֑ר בָּ֤אנוּ אֶל־אָחִ֙יךָ֙ אֶל־עֵשָׂ֔ו וְגַם֙ הֹלֵ֣ךְ לִקְרָֽאתְךָ֔ וְאַרְבַּע־מֵא֥וֹת אִ֖ישׁ עִמּֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And the messengersמַלְאָךְmal'âk · messengerH4397
• returnedשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
• to Jacobיַעֲקֹבya‛ăqôb · JacobH3290
• sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• We cameבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• to thy brotherאָח'âch · brother: male-siblingH251
• Esauעֵשָׂו‛êώâv · EsauH6215
• and also he comethהָלַךְhâlak · to go: comeH1980
• to meet theeקִרְאָהqir'âh · befallH7125
• and four hundredמֵאָהmê'âh mê'yâh · hundredH3967
• menאִישׁ'îysh · manH376

Cross-references for Genesis 32:6

• Genesis 32:8He thought, ‘If Esau attacks one group, the other group may run away safely.’
• Genesis 27:40You will have to fight to get the things that you need. You will serve your brother as your master. But when you choose to turn against him, you will become free from his power over you.’
• Genesis 33:1Jacob looked up. He saw Esau with 400 men coming towards him. So he separated his children into groups. Some went with Leah, some went with Rachel, and some went with his two female servants.
• Amos 5:19Nobody will escape! It will be like a man who runs away from a lion, but then he meets a bear! When he goes into his house to be safe, he puts his hand on a wall and a snake bites him!

Commentaries on Genesis 32:6

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6Esau - cometh - and four hundred men with him - Jacob, conscious that he had injured his brother, was now apprehensive that he was coming with hostile intentions, and that he had every evil to fear from his displeasure. Conscience is a terrible accuser. It was a fine saying of a heathen, Hic murus aheneus esto, Nil conscire sibi, nulla pallescere culpa. Hor. Ep., l. i., E. i., v. 60. Be this thy brazen bulwark of defense, Still to preserve thy conscious…Read the comment
• 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
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 66. The messengers returned to Jacob--Their report left Jacob in painful uncertainty as to what was his brother's views and feelings. Esau's studied reserve gave him reason to dread the worst. Jacob was naturally timid; but his conscience told him that there was much ground for apprehension, and his distress was all the more aggravated that he had to provide for the safety of a large and helpless family.Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 32:6

• Prudence

In the dictionaries

• Esau
• Jacob
• Jacob, Israel
• Four Hundred
• Ask
• Cast
• Deal
• Mercy
• Present
• Touch

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