Genesis 33:1

Genesis 33:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And 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.
• New International Version (NIV)Jacob looked up and there was Esau, coming with his four hundred men; so he divided the children among Leah, Rachel and the two female servants.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau was coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two female servants.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now Jacob lifted his eyes and looked, and there, Esau was coming, and with him were four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two maidservants.

Context of Genesis 33:1

Jacob 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. 2He put his female servants and their children at the front of the group. Then came Leah and her children. But Jacob put his son Joseph with Rachel at the back of the group. 3Jacob himself went in front of these groups. He bent down to the ground to respect Esau. He did this seven times as he came nearer to his brother.

Genesis 33:1 word by word

וַיִּשָּׂ֨א יַעֲקֹ֜ב עֵינָ֗יו וַיַּרְא֙ וְהִנֵּ֣ה עֵשָׂ֣ו בָּ֔א וְעִמּ֕וֹ אַרְבַּ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת אִ֑ישׁ וַיַּ֣חַץ אֶת־הַיְלָדִ֗ים עַל־לֵאָה֙ וְעַל־רָחֵ֔ל וְעַ֖ל שְׁתֵּ֥י הַשְּׁפָחֽוֹת׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Jacobיַעֲקֹבya‛ăqôb · JacobH3290
• lifted upנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: lookH5375
• his eyesעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eyeH5869
• and lookedרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• and, behold, Esauעֵשָׂו‛êώâv · EsauH6215
• cameבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• and with him fourאַרְבַּע'arba‛ 'arbâ‛âh · fourH702
• hundredמֵאָהmê'âh mê'yâh · hundredH3967
• menאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• And he dividedחָצָהchâtsâh · to divideH2673
• the childrenיֶ֫לֶדyeled · youthH3206
• unto Leahלֵאָהlê'âh · LeahH3812
• and unto Rachelרָחֵלrâchêl · RachelH7354
• and unto the twoשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
• handmaidsשִׁפְחָהshiphchâh · maidservantH8198

Cross-references for Genesis 33:1

• Genesis 27:41Because Isaac had blessed Jacob, Esau hated his younger brother Jacob. Esau said quietly, ‘My father will die soon. When we have buried his body, I will kill my brother.’
• Genesis 32:6When 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.’
• Genesis 32:7Jacob was very frightened and upset when he heard this. So he separated his people into two groups. He also separated his animals.

Commentaries on Genesis 33:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men - It has been generally supposed that Esau came with an intention to destroy his brother, and for that purpose brought with him four hundred armed men. But, 1. There is no kind of evidence of this pretended hostility. 2. There is no proof that the four hundred men that Esau brought with him were at all armed. 3. But there is every proof that he acted towards his brother Jacob with all openness and candour…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-20Verses 1-20 - Jacob and Esau Meet 17. סכת sûkkôth Sukkoth, “booths,” consisting of poles forming a roof covered with branches, leaves, or grass. 19. חמור chămôr Chamor, “ass, red, heap.” קשׂיטה qeśı̂yṭâh Qesitah, weighed or measured. ̓̀ Amnos Septuagint and Onkelos Jacob has a friendly interview with Esau, and re-+enters Kenaan. Genesis 33:1-3 Jacob, upon seeing Esau approach with his four hundred men, advances with circumspection and lowly…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The friendly meeting of Jacob and Esau. (1-16) Jacob comes to Succoth and Shalem, He builds an altar. (17-20) Verses 1-16 Jacob, having by prayer committed his case to God, went on his way. Come what will, nothing can come amiss to him whose heart is fixed, trusting in God. Jacob bowed to Esau. A humble, submissive behaviour goes far towards turning away wrath. Esau embraced Jacob. God has the hearts of all men in his hands, and can turn them when and how…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-2God had changed Jacob's identity (32:27–28), but he had not yet learned to live in line with his new name. He still showed favoritism (treating some family members better than others), which can divide families. He arranged his family and possessions according to their importance to him. He placed the servant wives and their children in front, where they would face danger first. Leah and her children were behind them. Rachel and Joseph were at the back…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-111. behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men--Jacob having crossed the ford and ranged his wives and children in order--the dearest last, that they might be the least exposed to danger--awaited the expected interview. His faith was strengthened and his fears gone (Psa 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).Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 33:1

• Conscience
• Esau
• Prayer

In the dictionaries

• Esau
• Jacob
• Leah
• Rachel
• Jacob, Israel
• Four Hundred
• Blessing
• Lead
• Overdrive
• Prayer

Commentaries on Genesis 33

• 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
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings