Genesis 33:3
in Genesis 33But Jacob himself went on ahead and bowed to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And he himself passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
KJV
And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
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This verse in Genesis 33
Commentary
4 notes on this verseA commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
The members of his family did the same. This was a token of profound respect, and, though very marked, it would appear natural; for Esau being the elder brother, was, according to the custom of the East, entitled to respectful treatment from his younger brother.
This site's exposition
bowed to the ground seven times
on Genesis 33:3-4
Isaac's blessing had put Esau's family on the ground before Jacob. The man who took that blessing at Genesis 27 is the one bowing seven times, before the brother he took it from. Esau runs to him, embraces him, puts his arms around his neck and kisses him, and they both weep. Wesley notes that God holds the hearts of men and turned this one before a word was spoken.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
And he passed over before them,....
Unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him, ch. iv. Note, (1.) The way to recover peace where it has been broken is to do our duty, and pay our respects, upon all occasions, as if it had never been broken. It is the remembering and repeating of matters that separates friends and perpetuates the separation.
The words behind it
11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְה֖וּא | vehu' | and he | H1931 → | 1879 times |
| עָבַ֣ר | ʾavar | he passed on | H5674 → | 556 times |
| לִפְנֵיהֶ֑ם | lifneihem | <to> before them | H6440 → | 2123 times |
| וַיִּשְׁתַּ֤חוּ | vaiyishtachu | and he bowed down | H7812 → | 172 times |
| אַ֙רְצָה֙ | ʾartzah | [the] ground towards | H776 → | 2504 times |
| שֶׁ֣בַע | sheva' | seven | H7651 → | 394 times |
| פְּעָמִ֔ים | peamim | times | H6471 → | 118 times |
| עַד־ | ʾad- | until | H5704 → | 1261 times |
| גִּשְׁתּ֖וֹ | gishto | drew near he | H5066 → | 125 times |
| עַד־ | ʾad- | to | H5704 → | 1261 times |
| אָחִֽיו׃ | ʾachiv | brother his | H251 → | 630 times |
וְה֖וּאand he
vehu'H1931 →1879 times
עָבַ֣רhe passed on
ʾavarH5674 →556 times
לִפְנֵיהֶ֑ם<to> before them
lifneihemH6440 →2123 times
וַיִּשְׁתַּ֤חוּand he bowed down
vaiyishtachuH7812 →172 times
אַ֙רְצָה֙[the] ground towards
ʾartzahH776 →2504 times
שֶׁ֣בַעseven
sheva'H7651 →394 times
פְּעָמִ֔יםtimes
peamimH6471 →118 times
עַד־until
ʾad-H5704 →1261 times
גִּשְׁתּ֖וֹdrew near he
gishtoH5066 →125 times
עַד־to
ʾad-H5704 →1261 times
אָחִֽיו׃brother his
ʾachivH251 →630 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
Luke 14:11For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
it leads to
- Luke 18:14
I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
- Matthew 23:12
For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
- Proverbs 29:23
A man’s pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor.
- James 4:6
But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
- 1 Peter 5:5
Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
- Luke 18:14
Through
John 10:4When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 1:30
The LORD your God, who goes before you, will fight for you, just as you saw Him do for you in Egypt
- John 10:16
I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them in as well, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock and one shepherd.
- Deuteronomy 1:30
Through
Genesis 18:2And Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.
it leads to
- Hebrews 13:2
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.
- Hebrews 13:2
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Genesis
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.