Then he placed them in the care of his servants, every flock by itself, and said to his servants, “Pass on ahead of me, and put a space between flocks.”
Parallel translations
- WEB He delivered them into the hands of his servants, every herd by itself, and said to his servants, “Pass over before me, and put a space between herd and herd.”
- KJV And he delivered them into the hand of his servants, every drove by themselves; and said unto his servants, Pass over before me, and put a space betwixt drove and drove.
- BSB He entrusted them to his servants in separate herds and told them, “Go on ahead of me, and keep some distance between the herds.”
- NKJV Then he delivered them to the hand of his servants, every drove by itself, and said to his servants, “Pass over before me, and put some distance between successive droves.”
- NLT He divided these animals into herds and assigned each to different servants. Then he told his servants, “Go ahead of me with the animals, but keep some distance between the herds.”
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 arranges the herds in successive droves, spaced apart, in the care of his servants. The staggered approach is designed to soften Esau gradually.
Overview
By sending the gift in waves rather than all at once, Jacob plans for its impact to build as Esau encounters each drove. This thoughtful strategy reveals Jacob's careful, conciliatory mind. His deliberate effort to win favor shows wisdom joined to humility in seeking peace.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Ps 112:5It is well with the man who deals graciously and lends. He will maintain his cause in judgment.
- Matt 10:16“Behold, I send you out as sheep among wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
- Gen 33:8–9Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company which I met?” Jacob said, “To find favor in the sight of my lord.”
- Prov 2:11Discretion will watch over you. Understanding will keep you,
- Isa 28:26For his God instructs him in right judgment, and teaches him.
- Gen 32:20You shall say, ‘Not only that, but behold, your servant, Jacob, is behind us.’” For, he said, “I will appease him with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face. Perhaps he will accept me.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 32:16 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.