Genesis 33

King James Version

Full text for Genesis Chapter 33

1¶ 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.

2And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost.

3And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.

4And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.

5¶ And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who [are] those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant.

6Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves.

7And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves.

8And he said, What [meanest] thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, [These are] to find grace in the sight of my lord.

9And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself.

10And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me.

11Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took [it].

12And he said, Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before thee.

13And he said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children [are] tender, and the flocks and herds with young [are] with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die.

14Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir.

15And Esau said, Let me now leave with thee [some] of the folk that [are] with me. And he said, What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my lord.

16¶ So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir.

17And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.

18And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which [is] in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padanaram; and pitched his tent before the city.

19And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem's father, for an hundred pieces of money.

20And he erected there an altar, and called it Elelohe-Israel.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Jacob, fearing his brother Esau, arranged his family and bowed seven times upon their meeting. Contrary to Jacob's fears, Esau ran to embrace him, and they wept together in reconciliation. Jacob insisted Esau accept a gift, and after declining to travel together due to his tender family and flocks, Jacob journeyed to Succoth and then to Shalem, where he built an altar to God.

Medium Summary

As Jacob approached Esau, he strategically arranged his family and bowed seven times to the ground, demonstrating humility. Esau, however, responded with unexpected warmth, running to embrace Jacob, falling on his neck, and kissing him, leading to a tearful reunion. Jacob presented his family to Esau, explaining they were God's gracious gifts, and offered a large drove of animals as a present to find grace. Though Esau initially refused, Jacob urged him to accept, stating that seeing Esau's face was like seeing the face of God. Jacob politely declined Esau's offer to travel together or leave men, citing the tenderness of his children and flocks. Esau then departed for Seir, while Jacob journeyed to Succoth, building a dwelling, and subsequently arrived at Shalem in Canaan. There, he purchased land and erected an altar, naming it Elelohe-Israel, signifying God as the God of Israel.

Long Summary

Upon seeing Esau approaching with four hundred men, Jacob strategically divided his family, placing the handmaids and their children foremost, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost. He then went ahead of them, bowing himself to the ground seven times as he drew near to his brother, demonstrating profound deference. Unexpectedly, Esau ran to meet Jacob, embraced him, fell on his neck, and kissed him, and both brothers wept, signifying a powerful moment of reconciliation. Esau inquired about the women and children, to which Jacob replied they were the children God had graciously given his servant. The handmaids, Leah, and Rachel, along with their children, each came forward and bowed before Esau. Esau then questioned the purpose of the large drove of animals Jacob had sent ahead, and Jacob explained they were a present intended to find grace in his lord's sight. Esau initially declined the gift, stating he had enough, but Jacob earnestly urged him to accept it, declaring that seeing Esau's face was like seeing the face of God, and that he had found favor. Esau eventually took the "blessing" Jacob offered. Esau proposed they travel together, with him leading the way. However, Jacob respectfully declined, explaining that his children were tender, and his flocks with young could not endure being overdriven, lest they perish. He suggested Esau go ahead, and he would lead his company gently, according to the pace of the cattle and children, until he reached Esau in Seir. Esau then offered to leave some of his men with Jacob, but Jacob again declined, stating there was no need as he had found grace. Consequently, Esau returned that day to Seir. Jacob, instead of following directly, journeyed to Succoth, where he built a house for himself and booths for his cattle, giving the place its name. Finally, Jacob traveled to Shalem, a city of Shechem in the land of Canaan, pitching his tent before the city. He purchased a parcel of land from the children of Hamor, Shechem's father, for a hundred pieces of money. On this purchased land, Jacob erected an altar, which he named Elelohe-Israel, signifying "God, the God of Israel," marking his establishment and worship in the Promised Land.

Core Concepts

  • ReconciliationThe unexpected and emotional reunion between Jacob and Esau, where Esau's initial hostile appearance gives way to a tearful embrace and forgiveness, demonstrating the healing of a long-standing familial rift.
  • Humility and DeferenceJacob's actions of bowing seven times and referring to Esau as "my lord," despite his own prosperity, illustrate his profound humility and desire to appease his brother.
  • Divine ProvidenceJacob repeatedly attributes his family and possessions to God's gracious provision, acknowledging God's hand in his blessings and in the successful outcome of his encounter with Esau.
  • The Gift as a BlessingJacob insists Esau accept his present, calling it a "blessing," emphasizing that it is a token of reconciliation and a symbol of God's gracious dealing with him, rather than mere payment.
  • Strategic TravelJacob's careful planning for his family's safety, refusing to overwork his tender children and young livestock, highlights his pastoral wisdom and concern for his household.
  • Establishment in CanaanJacob's journey to Succoth and then to Shalem, where he purchases land and builds an altar, signifies his re-establishment in the land of Canaan and his commitment to worship God there.
  • Elelohe-IsraelThe naming of the altar "God, the God of Israel" marks a significant theological declaration by Jacob, affirming his personal relationship with God and God's covenant with him as the patriarch of Israel.