Genesis 33:10 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Jacob said, "No, please, if I have found favor in your sight, then accept my present from my hand. For I have seen your face, which is like seeing the face of God, and you have accepted me.

NIV: "No, please!" said Jacob. "If I have found favor in your eyes, accept this gift from me. For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably.

NASB: Jacob said, 'No, please, if now I have found favor in your sight, then accept my gift from my hand, for I see your face as one sees the face of God, and you have received me favorably.

CSB: But Jacob said, "No, please! If I have found favor with you, take this gift from me. For indeed, I have seen your face, and it is like seeing God’s face, since you have accepted me.

NLT: But Jacob insisted, 'No, if I have found favor with you, please accept this gift from me. And what a relief to see your friendly smile. It is like seeing the face of God!

KJV: And 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.

NKJV: And Jacob said, “No, please, if I have now found favor in your sight, then receive my present from my hand, inasmuch as I have seen your face as though I had seen the face of God, and you were pleased with me.

Esau has told Jacob to keep his perhaps overly generous gift of 550 animals (Genesis 32:13–17). Esau insists he has enough. Some of this refusal might have been cultural custom: to make a show of refusing a gift as a sign of humility. Then again, Esau really doesn't need Jacob's livestock. Even though his blessing was far, far less than the one stolen by Jacob (Genesis 27:38–40), he is still a powerful and successful man. His approach to Jacob, after all, was one accompanied by some 400 men (Genesis 32:6).

Now Jacob insists. He urges Esau to keep the gift as evidence that Jacob has found favor in Esau's sight. The specific Hebrew words used by Jacob in this statement are min'hāt 'ani, meaning "my gift." In the following verse, however, Jacob will refer to this present as bir'kāt 'ani, meaning "my blessing." This may be Jacob's way of implying that he means to share his stolen blessing with his twin brother (Genesis 27:19–29).

Jacob describes his feelings of extreme gratitude for having been accepted by Esau. In fact, Jacob says that seeing Esau's face is like seeing the face of God. In this particular phrase, it's unlikely Jacob means to flatter his brother. Just hours before this, Jacob has come face-to-face with God (Genesis 32:22–32). Seeing joy and acceptance on Esau's face may have served as evidence for Jacob that God was at work on his behalf even in the face of Esau. Jacob viewed Esau's acceptance of him as God's protection.

Genesis 33:1–11 describes the long awaited meeting between Jacob and Esau. Jacob maintains his attitude as Esau's cautious servant throughout, though Esau himself embraces his twin warmly and they weep together at their reunion. Esau hesitates, but Jacob insists his brother receive the enormous gift of livestock he has given. Esau does so. The two will part on good terms.

All the preparations to meet Esau have been made. Jacob has both the promise of the Lord's protection and a plan. Now the moment comes. Jacob approaches, repeatedly bowing low, until Esau finally runs to embrace and kiss his brother. They weep together. Esau meets Jacob's family. Though he initially refuses Jacob's enormous gift, Jacob urges him to take it as a sign of Esau's favor for him. Jacob soon buys land and sets up camp outside the city of Shechem, building an altar to the Lord there.

Jacob has just left a miraculous encounter with God, which left him with a new name and a limp (Genesis 32). When finally faced with meeting Esau, he is pleasantly surprised. Esau runs to Jacob to hug and kiss him. They weep together. After meeting Jacob's family, Esau tries to refuse Jacob's enormous gift. Jacob insists, saying that seeing Esau's face is as seeing the face of God. Jacob, refuses to travel back to Seir and instead journeys to Shechem. This sets up a tragic instance of assault and revenge, involving Jacob's daughter, Dinah.

The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. The book also presents the establishment of Israel, God's chosen people. Many of the principles given in other parts of Scripture depend on the basic ideas presented here in the book of Genesis. Within the framework of the Bible, Genesis explains the bare-bones history of the universe leading up to the captivity of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the book of Exodus.