Genesis 32:5
in Genesis 32I 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.’”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
and I have oxen, and asses, and flocks, and men-servants, and maid-servants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find favor in thy sight.
KJV
And I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and menservants, and womenservants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight.
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This verse in Genesis 32
Commentary
4 notes on this verseThis site's exposition
Jacob sent messengers ahead of him
on Genesis 32:3-5
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, and Jamieson, Fausset and Brown read him as leaving that promise with God.
This site's exposition
I have oxen, donkeys, flocks
The list tells Esau that Jacob comes home with means of his own and needs nothing of Isaac's estate. Find favor in your sight returns three times when the brothers meet, at 33:8, 10 and 15. Jacob asks for favor and claims nothing.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
And I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and menservants, and womenservants,....
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 words behind it
13 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַֽיְהִי־ | vayhi- | and it be[longs] | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| לִי֙ | li | to <the> me | ||
| שׁ֣וֹר | shor | ox[en] | H7794 → | |
| וַחֲמ֔וֹר | vachamor | and donkey[s] | H2543 → | 96 times |
| צֹ֖אן | tzon | flock[s] | H6629 → | 274 times |
| וְעֶ֣בֶד | veeved | and [male] servant[s] | H5650 → | 799 times |
| וְשִׁפְחָ֑ה | veshifchah | and female servant[s] | H8198 → | 63 times |
| וָֽאֶשְׁלְחָה֙ | vaeshlechah | and I have sent ! | H7971 → | 845 times |
| לְהַגִּ֣יד | lehagid | to tell | H5046 → | 370 times |
| לַֽאדֹנִ֔י | ladoni | to lord my | H113 → | 333 times |
| לִמְצֹא־ | limtzo'- | to find | H4672 → | 455 times |
| חֵ֖ן | chen | favor | H2580 → | 69 times |
| בְּעֵינֶֽיךָ׃ | beeineikha | in view your | H5869 → | 887 times |
וַֽיְהִי־and it be[longs]
vayhi-H1961 →3559 times
לִי֙to <the> me
li
שׁ֣וֹרox[en]
shorH7794 →
וַחֲמ֔וֹרand donkey[s]
vachamorH2543 →96 times
צֹ֖אןflock[s]
tzonH6629 →274 times
וְעֶ֣בֶדand [male] servant[s]
veevedH5650 →799 times
וְשִׁפְחָ֑הand female servant[s]
veshifchahH8198 →63 times
וָֽאֶשְׁלְחָה֙and I have sent !
vaeshlechahH7971 →845 times
לְהַגִּ֣ידto tell
lehagidH5046 →370 times
לַֽאדֹנִ֔יto lord my
ladoniH113 →333 times
לִמְצֹא־to find
limtzo'-H4672 →455 times
חֵ֖ןfavor
chenH2580 →69 times
בְּעֵינֶֽיךָ׃in view your
beeineikhaH5869 →887 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
Genesis 33:15“Let me leave some of my people with you,” Esau said. But Jacob replied, “Why do that? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.”
it leads to
- Ruth 2:13
“My lord,” she said, “may I continue to find favor in your eyes, for you have comforted and spoken kindly to your maidservant, though I am not like one of your servant girls.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Ruth 2:13
Through
Genesis 30:43Thus Jacob became exceedingly prosperous. He owned large flocks, maidservants and menservants, and camels and donkeys.
it leads to
- Genesis 24:35
“The LORD has greatly blessed my master, and he has become rich. He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, menservants and maidservants, camels and donkeys.
- Genesis 26:13–14
and he became richer and richer, until he was exceedingly wealthy.
- Genesis 30:30
Indeed, you had very little before my arrival, but now your wealth has increased many times over. The LORD has blessed you wherever I set foot. But now, when may I also provide for…
- Genesis 13:2
And Abram had become extremely wealthy in livestock and silver and gold.
- Genesis 33:11
Please accept my gift that was brought to you, because God has been gracious to me and I have all I need.” So Jacob pressed him until he accepted.
- Genesis 24:35
Through
2 Samuel 16:4So the king said to Ziba, “All that belongs to Mephibosheth is now yours!” “I humbly bow before you,” said Ziba. “May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king!”
it leads to
- Proverbs 18:17
The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.
- Proverbs 18:13
He who answers a matter before he hears it—this is folly and disgrace to him.
- Proverbs 18:17
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Genesis
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) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.