Genesis 33 | New International Reader’s Version

New International Reader’s Version

Jacob meets Esau

1 Jacob looked and saw Esau coming with his 400 men! So Jacob separated the children. He put them with Leah, Rachel and the two female servants. 2 He put the servants and their children in front. He put Leah and her children next. And he put Rachel and Joseph last. 3 He himself went on ahead. As he came near his brother, he bowed down to the ground seven times. 4 But Esau ran to meet Jacob. He hugged him and threw his arms around his neck. He kissed him, and they cried for joy. 5 Then Esau looked around and saw the women and children. ‘Who are these people with you?’ he asked. Jacob answered, ‘They are the children God has so kindly given to me.’ 6 Then the female servants and their children came near and bowed down. 7 Next, Leah and her children came and bowed down. Last of all came Joseph and Rachel. They bowed down too. 8 Esau asked, ‘Why did you send all those herds I saw?’ ‘I hoped I could do something to please you,’ Jacob replied. 9 But Esau said, ‘I already have plenty, my brother. Keep what you have for yourself.’ 10 ‘No, please!’ said Jacob. ‘If I’ve pleased you, accept this gift from me. Seeing your face is like seeing the face of God. You have welcomed me so kindly. 11 Please accept the present that was brought to you. God has given me so much. I have everything I need.’ Jacob wouldn’t give in. So Esau accepted it. 12 Then Esau said, ‘Let’s be on our way. I’ll go with you.’ 13 But Jacob said to him, ‘You know that the children are young. You also know that I have to take care of the cows and female sheep that are feeding their little ones. If the animals are driven hard for just one day, all of them will die. 14 So you go on ahead of me. I’ll move along only as fast as the flocks and herds and the children can go. I’ll go slowly until I come to you in Seir.’ 15 Esau said, ‘Then let me leave some of my men with you.’ ‘Why do that?’ Jacob asked. ‘I just hope I’ve pleased you.’ 16 So that day Esau started on his way back to Seir. 17 But Jacob went to Sukkoth. There he built a place for himself. He also made shelters for his livestock. That’s why the place is named Sukkoth. 18 After Jacob came from Paddan Aram, he arrived safely at the city of Shechem in Canaan. He camped where he could see the city. 19 For 100 pieces of silver he bought a piece of land. He got it from Hamor’s sons. Hamor was the father of Shechem. Jacob set up his tent on that piece of land. 20 He also set up an altar there. He named it El Elohe Israel.

English Standard Version

Jacob Meets Esau

1 And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau was coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two female servants. (Ge 32:6) 2 And he put the servants with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all. 3 He himself went on before them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. (Ge 18:2; Ge 42:6; Ge 43:26) 4 But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. (Ge 32:28; Ge 45:14) 5 And when Esau lifted up his eyes and saw the women and children, he said, “Who are these with you?” Jacob said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.” (Ge 48:9; Ps 127:3; Isa 8:18) 6 Then the servants drew near, they and their children, and bowed down. 7 Leah likewise and her children drew near and bowed down. And last Joseph and Rachel drew near, and they bowed down. 8 Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company^[1] that I met?” Jacob answered, “To find favor in the sight of my lord.” (Ge 32:5; Ge 32:16; Ge 33:15) 9 But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.” 10 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. (Ge 18:1; Ge 19:1) 11 Please accept my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” Thus he urged him, and he took it. (2Sa 13:25; 2Sa 13:27; 2Ki 5:15; 2Ki 5:23)

2Sa 13:252Sa 13:272Ki 5:152Ki 5:23

12 Then Esau said, “Let us journey on our way, and I will go ahead of^[2] you.” 13 But Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are frail, and that the nursing flocks and herds are a care to me. If they are driven hard for one day, all the flocks will die. 14 Let my lord pass on ahead of his servant, and I will lead on slowly, at the pace of the livestock that are ahead of me and at the pace of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir.” (Ge 32:3) 15 So Esau said, “Let me leave with you some of the people who are with me.” But he said, “What need is there? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.” (Ge 33:8; Ge 34:11; Ge 47:25; Ru 2:13)

Ge 33:8Ge 34:11Ge 47:25Ru 2:13

16 So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. (Ge 32:3) 17 But Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built himself a house and made booths for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.^[3] (Jos 13:27; Jud 8:5; Ps 60:6) 18 And Jacob came safely^[4] to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, on his way from Paddan-aram, and he camped before the city. (Jos 24:1; Jud 9:1; Ps 60:6; Ac 7:16)

Jos 24:1Jud 9:1Ps 60:6Ac 7:16

19 And from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, he bought for a hundred pieces of money^[5] the piece of land on which he had pitched his tent. (Jos 24:32; Joh 4:5; Ac 7:16) 20 There he erected an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.^[6]