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 Living Translation (NLT)After delivering the message, the messengers returned to Jacob and reported, “We met your brother, Esau, and he is already on his way to meet you—with an army of 400 men!”

Context of Genesis 32:6

4And he commanded them, saying, “Speak thus to my lord Esau, ‘Thus your servant Jacob says: “I have dwelt with Laban and stayed there until now. 5I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, and male and female servants; and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find favor in your sight.” ’ ” 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.” 7So Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people that were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two companies. 8And he said, “If Esau comes to the one company and attacks it, then the other company which is left will escape.”

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 32:8And he said, “If Esau comes to the one company and attacks it, then the other company which is left will escape.”
• Genesis 27:40By your sword you shall live, And you shall serve your brother; And it shall come to pass, when you become restless, That you shall break his yoke from your neck.”
• Genesis 33:1Now 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.
• Amos 5:19It will be as though a man fled from a lion, And a bear met him! Or as though he went into the house, Leaned his hand on the wall, And a serpent bit 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
• Four Hundred
• Ask
• Cast
• Deal
• Mercy
• Present
• Touch
• Worthy

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