God’s Word Translation
Genesis 32:3
3Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in Seir, the country of Edom.
Genesis 32:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom.
- New International Version (NIV)Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother in the land of Seir, the country of Edom,
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother in the land of Seir, the country of Edom.
Context of Genesis 32:3
1As Jacob went on his way, God’s angels met him. 2When he saw them, Jacob said, “This is God’s camp!” He named that place Mahanaim [Two Camps]. Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in Seir, the country of Edom. 4He commanded them to give this message to Esau, “Sir, this is what Jacob has to say, ‘I’ve been living with Laban and have stayed until now. 5I have cattle and donkeys, sheep and goats, and male and female slaves. I’ve sent ⌞these messengers⌟ to tell you ⌞this news⌟ in order to win your favor.’ ”
Read all of Genesis 32Genesis 32:3 word by word
וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח יַעֲקֹ֤ב מַלְאָכִים֙ לְפָנָ֔יו אֶל־עֵשָׂ֖ו אָחִ֑יו אַ֥רְצָה שֵׂעִ֖יר שְׂדֵ֥ה אֱדֽוֹם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And Jacobיַעֲקֹבya‛ăqôb · JacobH3290
- sentשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: departH7971
- messengersמַלְאָךְmal'âk · messengerH4397
- before himפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
- to Esauעֵשָׂו‛êώâv · EsauH6215
- his brotherאָח'âch · brother: male-siblingH251
- unto the landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- of Seirשֵׂעִירώê‛îyr · SeirH8165
- the countryשָׂדֶהώâdeh ώâday · land: countryH7704
- of Edomאֱדוֹם'ĕdôm 'ĕdôm · EdomH123
Cross-references for Genesis 32:3
- Malachi 3:1“I’m going to send my messenger, and he will clear the way ahead of me. Then the Lord you are looking for will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the promise will come. He is the one you want,” says the Lord of Armies.
- Luke 9:52He sent messengers ahead of him. They went into a Samaritan village to arrange a place for him to stay.
- Luke 14:31“Or suppose a king is going to war against another king. He would first sit down and think things through. Can he and his 10,000 soldiers fight against a king with 20,000 soldiers?
- Genesis 14:6and the Horites in the hill country of Seir, going as far as El Paran on the edge of the desert.
- Genesis 33:14Go ahead of me, sir. I will slowly and gently guide the herds that are in front of me at their pace and at the children’s pace until I come to you in Seir.”
- Genesis 36:6Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, all the members of his household, his possessions, all his cattle, and everything he had accumulated in Canaan and went to another land away from his brother Jacob.
- Deuteronomy 2:5Don’t start a fight with them, because I’m not giving you any of their land—not even enough to stand on. I’ve given Esau’s descendants the region of Mount Seir as their property.
- Joshua 24:4To Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I gave Esau the mountains in Seir as his own. However, Jacob and his sons went to Egypt.
- Genesis 25:30So Esau said to Jacob, “Let me have the whole pot of red stuff to eat—that red stuff—I’m exhausted.” This is why he was called Edom.
Commentaries on Genesis 32:3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Jacob sent messengers - מלאכים malachim, the same word which is before translated angels. It is very likely that these messengers had been sent some time before he had this vision at Mahanaim, for they appear to have returned while Jacob encamped at the brook Jabbok, where he had the vision of angels; see Genesis 32:6, Genesis 32:23. The land of Seir, the country of Edom - This land, which was, according to Dr. Wells, situated on the south of the Dead…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
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-5Apparently inspired by the vision of angels (32:1, Hebrew mal’akim), Jacob sent messengers (mal’akim) into Edom to meet Esau.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3-323. Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau--that is, "had sent." It was a prudent precaution to ascertain the present temper of Esau, as the road, on approaching the eastern confines of Canaan, lay near the wild district where his brother was now established. land of Seir--a highland country on the east and south of the Dead Sea, inhabited by the Horites, who were dispossessed by Esau or his posterity (De 11:12). When and in what circumstances he had…Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 32:3
In the dictionaries
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
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