Genesis 32:8

Genesis 32:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the other company which is left shall escape.
• New International Version (NIV)He thought, “If Esau comes and attacks one group, the group that is left may escape.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)thinking, "If Esau comes to the one camp and attacks it, then the camp that is left will escape."
• New King James Version (NKJV)And he said, “If Esau comes to the one company and attacks it, then the other company which is left will escape.”

Context of Genesis 32:8

6And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and furthermore he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.” 7Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people who were with him, and the flocks, the herds, and the camels, into two companies; for he said, “If Esau comes to the one company and attacks it, then the company which is left will escape.” 9Then Jacob said, “God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, Lord, who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your relatives, and I will make you prosper,’ 10I am unworthy of all the favor and of all the faithfulness, which You have shown to Your servant; for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two companies.

Genesis 32:8 word by word

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר אִם־יָב֥וֹא עֵשָׂ֛ו אֶל־הַמַּחֲנֶ֥ה הָאַחַ֖ת וְהִכָּ֑הוּ וְהָיָ֛ה הַמַּחֲנֶ֥ה הַנִּשְׁאָ֖ר לִפְלֵיטָֽה׃Read the interlinear

• for he saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Ifאִם'im · ifH518
• Esauעֵשָׂו‛êώâv · EsauH6215
• comesבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• to the oneאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
• companyמַחֲנֶהmachăneh · campH4264
• attacksנָכָהnâkâh · to smiteH5221
• which is leftשָׁאַרshâ'ar · to remainH7604
• will escapeפְּלֵיטָהpelêyţâh pelêţâh · survivorH6413

Cross-references for Genesis 32:8

• Genesis 33:1Then Jacob raised 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 slave women.
• Matthew 10:16“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be as wary as serpents, and as innocent as doves.

Commentaries on Genesis 32:8

• 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. 7-8Jacob divided his company into two groups or camps (Hebrew makhanoth, related to "Mahanaim" in 32:2). This was because he was afraid. Jacob remembered Esau's character and his threat to kill him (see 25:25; 27:41).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 32:8

• Prudence
• Strategy

In the dictionaries

• Esau
• Ask
• Cast
• Deal
• Mercy
• Present
• Touch
• Worthy
• Archaeology; Archaeology and Criticism
• Cistern; Well; Pool; Aqueduct

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