Jacob gave the same instructions to the second and third herdsmen and to all who followed behind the herds: “You must say the same thing to Esau when you meet him.
Parallel translations
- WEB He commanded also the second, and the third, and all that followed the herds, saying, “This is how you shall speak to Esau, when you find him.
- KJV And so commanded he the second, and the third, and all that followed the droves, saying, On this manner shall ye speak unto Esau, when ye find him.
- BSB He also instructed the second, the third, and all those following behind the herds: “When you meet Esau, you are to say the same thing to him.
- NKJV So he commanded the second, the third, and all who followed the droves, saying, “In this manner you shall speak to Esau when you find him;
- NASB Then he commanded also the second and the third, and all those who followed the flocks, saying, “In this way you shall speak to Esau when you find him;
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 gives the same instructions to all his servants driving the herds. He ensures a consistent message of humility reaches Esau.
Overview
Each servant is to deliver the identical respectful greeting as they meet Esau. The repetition guarantees that Esau hears the same conciliatory message again and again. Jacob's thorough preparation underscores how carefully he labored to turn away his brother's potential wrath.
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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 32:19 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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