Genesis 33:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: He himself went on before them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.

NIV: He himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.

NASB: But he himself passed on ahead of them and bowed down to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.

CSB: He himself went on ahead and bowed to the ground seven times until he approached his brother.

NLT: Then Jacob went on ahead. As he approached his brother, he bowed to the ground seven times before him.

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

NKJV: Then he crossed over before them and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.

Jacob ran away from Esau years ago to avoid his vengeful wrath (Genesis 27:41–45). He has already split his caravan in case of violence (Genesis 32:7–8). He has sent lavish gifts ahead to Esau (Genesis 32:13–15). Jacob has even arranged his immediate family in what seems to be an order of preference, with his most treasured wife and son at the rear (Genesis 33:1–2). As this verse shows, Jacob intends to approach Esau first, which might explain the formation in which he organized his loved ones. If Esau attacks, it will be Jacob who is killed first, and the rest might have a chance to flee.

At long last, Jacob presents himself to his brother, going before his carefully arranged wives and children. He interrupts his forward progress seven times to bow low, all the way to the ground, before Esau. In ancient times, a servant may have bowed seven times to show respect to his lord. Jacob has done all he can to repeatedly make clear to Esau that he sees himself as the servant and Esau as the lord.

In point of fact, Jacob holds both birthright and blessing (Genesis 25:29–34; 27:28–29). He may feel he holds these illegitimately and wishes to show Esau that he will honor him as the superior, instead. Or, he might simply be expressing apology and humility to someone he's wronged.

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.