Genesis 33:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then the servants drew near, they and their children, and bowed down.

NIV: Then the female servants and their children approached and bowed down.

NASB: Then the slave women came forward with their children, and they bowed down.

CSB: Then the slaves and their children approached him and bowed down.

NLT: Then the servant wives came forward with their children and bowed before him.

KJV: Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves.

NKJV: Then the maidservants came near, they and their children, and bowed down.

Jacob's wives and children have been arranged behind him in three or four distinct groups, presumably with space between them (Genesis 33:1–3). Jacob's intent behind this was probably to place his favored wife and son at the back, so they'd have the best chance to escape in the event that Esau was still intent on revenge (Genesis 27:41–45).

The first to approach Esau are Jacob's two servant wives with their children. These are Bilhah and Zilpah, originally given to Jacob's wives as wedding gifts by their father, Laban (Genesis 29:24, 28). Due to rivalry and competition between sisters Leah and Rachel, these two also became mothers of Jacob's children (Genesis 30:3, 9). All of them bow before Esau, as Jacob had likely instructed them to do.

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.

Accessed 4/29/2024 8:37:32 AM