Jacob spent the night there, and from what he had brought with him, he selected a gift for his brother Esau:
Parallel translations
- WEB He stayed there that night, and took from that which he had with him, a present for Esau, his brother:
- KJV And he lodged there that same night; and took of that which came to his hand a present for Esau his brother;
- NKJV So he lodged there that same night, and took what came to his hand as a present for Esau his brother:
- NASB So he spent the night there. Then he selected from what he had with him a gift for his brother Esau:
- NLT Jacob stayed where he was for the night. Then he selected these gifts from his possessions to present to his brother, Esau:
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jacob spends the night and prepares a generous gift for Esau from his herds. He combines prayer with practical efforts toward reconciliation.
Overview
Having prayed, Jacob now acts, selecting a lavish present to soften Esau's heart. His pairing of prayer and prudent action shows faith working through diligence. The gift reflects Jacob's earnest desire to make peace with the brother he had wronged.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Prov 18:16A man’s gift opens doors for him, and brings him before great men.
- Gen 43:11Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your packs and carry them down as a gift for the man—a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachios and almonds.
- Gen 43:26When Joseph came home, they presented him with the gifts they had brought, and they bowed to the ground before him.
- Prov 19:6Many seek the favor of the prince, and everyone is a friend of the gift giver.
- Prov 17:8A bribe is a charm to its giver; wherever he turns, he succeeds.
- Prov 21:14A gift in secret soothes anger, and a covert bribe pacifies great wrath.
- Gen 42:6Now Joseph was the ruler of the land; he was the one who sold grain to all its people. So when his brothers arrived, they bowed down before him with their faces to the ground.
- Gen 32:20–21You are also to say, ‘Look, your servant Jacob is right behind us.’” For he thought, “I will appease Esau with the gift that is going before me. After that I can face him, and perhaps he will accept me.”
- Gen 18:2And Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.
- Gen 33:10But Jacob insisted, “No, please! If I have found favor in your sight, then receive this gift from my hand. For indeed, I have seen your face, and it is like seeing the face of God, since you have received me favorably.
- 1 Sam 25:8Ask your young men, and they will tell you. So let my young men find favor with you, for we have come on the day of a feast. Please give whatever you can afford to your servants and to your son David.’”
- 1 Sam 25:27Now let this gift your servant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who follow you.
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Christ at the center
From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (3:15), through Abraham's blessing to all nations and Judah's coming ruler, Genesis sows every seed that flowers in Christ — the true offspring, the better Adam, the ram caught for Isaac.
How Genesis 32:13 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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