Genesis 32:4
in Genesis 32He instructed them, “You are to say to my master Esau, ‘Your servant Jacob says: I have been staying with Laban and have remained there until now.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye say unto my lord Esau: Thus saith thy servant Jacob, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed until now:
KJV
And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau; Thy servant Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there until now:
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This verse in Genesis 32
Commentary
6 notes on this verseThus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau - Jacob acknowledges the superiority of his brother; for the time was not yet come in which it could be said, The elder shall serve the younger.
This site's exposition
Jacob sent messengers ahead of him
on Genesis 32:3-5
The Hebrew word for messenger is the word used of the angels in verse 1, and Gill notes that these are Jacob's own servants. Jacob has them say “to my master Esau” and name himself “Your servant Jacob.” Isaac's blessing at Genesis 27:29 had set Esau's family under him. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown read him as leaving that promise with God.
This site's exposition
I have been staying with Laban
Staying is the Hebrew gur, to live as a foreigner in another man's country. Jacob tells his master Esau that his years with Laban were a foreigner's stay. Abraham called himself a foreigner among the Hittites at Genesis 23:4.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
And he commanded them,....
This he knew would (if any thing) recommend him to Esau's good opinion. And, (3.) He courts his favour: I have sent, that I might find grace in thy sight. Note, It is no disparagement to those that have the better cause to become petitioners for reconciliation, and to sue for peace as well as right.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Thy servant Jacob--He had been made lord over his brethren (compare Ge 27:29). But it is probable he thought this referred to a spiritual superiority; or if to temporal, that it was to be realized only to his posterity. At all events, leaving it to God to fulfil that purpose, he deemed it prudent to assume the most kind and respectful bearing.
The words behind it
17 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיְצַ֤ו | vaytzav | and he commanded | H6680 → | 494 times |
| אֹתָם֙ | ʾotam | <obj.> them | H853 → | 10935 times |
| לֵאמֹ֔ר | lemor | <to> saying | H559 → | 5305 times |
| כֹּ֣ה | koh | thus | H3541 → | 577 times |
| תֹאמְר֔וּן | tomrun | you will say ! | H559 → | 5305 times |
| לַֽאדֹנִ֖י | ladoni | to lord my | H113 → | 333 times |
| לְעֵשָׂ֑ו | leesav | to Esau | H6215 → | 97 times |
| כֹּ֤ה | koh | thus | H3541 → | 577 times |
| אָמַר֙ | ʾamar | he says | H559 → | 5305 times |
| עַבְדְּךָ֣ | ʾavdekha | servant your | H5650 → | 799 times |
| יַעֲקֹ֔ב | yaako | Jacob | H3290 → | 350 times |
| עִם־ | ʾim- | with | H5973 → | 1050 times |
| לָבָ֣ן | lavan | Laban | H3837 → | 55 times |
| גַּ֔רְתִּי | garti | I have sojourned | H1481 → | 97 times |
| וָאֵחַ֖ר | vaechar | and I have delayed | H309 → | 17 times |
| עַד־ | ʾad- | until | H5704 → | 1261 times |
| עָֽתָּה׃ | ʾatah | now | H6258 → | 433 times |
וַיְצַ֤וand he commanded
vaytzavH6680 →494 times
אֹתָם֙<obj.> them
ʾotamH853 →10935 times
לֵאמֹ֔ר<to> saying
lemorH559 →5305 times
כֹּ֣הthus
kohH3541 →577 times
תֹאמְר֔וּןyou will say !
tomrunH559 →5305 times
לַֽאדֹנִ֖יto lord my
ladoniH113 →333 times
לְעֵשָׂ֑וto Esau
leesavH6215 →97 times
כֹּ֤הthus
kohH3541 →577 times
אָמַר֙he says
ʾamarH559 →5305 times
עַבְדְּךָ֣servant your
ʾavdekhaH5650 →799 times
יַעֲקֹ֔בJacob
yaakoH3290 →350 times
עִם־with
ʾim-H5973 →1050 times
לָבָ֣ןLaban
lavanH3837 →55 times
גַּ֔רְתִּיI have sojourned
gartiH1481 →97 times
וָאֵחַ֖רand I have delayed
vaecharH309 →17 times
עַד־until
ʾad-H5704 →1261 times
עָֽתָּה׃now
ʾatahH6258 →433 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Peter 3:6just as Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him lord. And you are her children if you do what is right and refuse to give way to fear.
it leads to
- Genesis 18:12
So she laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?”
- Romans 9:7–9
Nor because they are Abraham’s descendants are they all his children. On the contrary, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.”
- Daniel 3:16–18
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
- Isaiah 57:11
Whom have you dreaded and feared, so that you lied and failed to remember Me or take this to heart? Is it not because I have long been silent that you do not fear…
- Acts 4:19
But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than God.
- Genesis 18:12
Through
Genesis 33:8“What do you mean by sending this whole company to meet me?” asked Esau. “To find favor in your sight, my lord,” Jacob answered.
it leads to
- Genesis 32:5
I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, menservants, and maidservants. I have sent this message to inform my master, so that I may find favor in your sight.’”
- Genesis 32:13–20
Jacob spent the night there, and from what he had brought with him, he selected a gift for his brother Esau:
- Genesis 32:5
Through
1 Samuel 26:17Then Saul recognized David’s voice and asked, “Is that your voice, David my son?” “It is my voice, my lord and king,” David said.
it leads to
- 1 Samuel 24:16
When David had finished saying these things, Saul called back, “Is that your voice, David my son?” Then Saul wept aloud
- 1 Samuel 24:16
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Genesis
Who and where
2 names in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.