Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands;
Parallel translations
- WEB Then Jacob was greatly afraid and was distressed. He divided the people who were with him, and the flocks, and the herds, and the camels, into two companies;
- BSB In great fear and distress, Jacob divided his people into two camps, as well as the flocks and herds and camels.
- NKJV So Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people that were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two companies.
- NASB Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people who were with him, and the flocks, the herds, and the camels, into two companies;
- NLT Jacob was terrified at the news. He divided his household, along with the flocks and herds and camels, into two groups.
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
Gripped by fear, Jacob divides his people and flocks into two companies. He plans so that if one is attacked, the other may survive.
Overview
Jacob's distress is real, yet he responds with prudent action, dividing his camp as a precaution. His planning shows that trusting God does not preclude wise human effort. The verse honestly portrays a believer's fear alongside his practical faith, a tension familiar to God's people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 19
- Gen 35:3And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went.
- Acts 14:22Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
- Isa 28:26For his God doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach him.
- Gen 32:11Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children.
- Ps 31:13For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.
- Ps 142:4I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.
- Matt 10:16Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
- Matt 8:26And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
- Exod 14:10And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD.
- Ps 18:4–5The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.
- 2 Tim 3:12Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
- Ps 61:2From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
- 2 Cor 1:8–10For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:
- Prov 2:11Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:
- John 16:33These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
- Ps 55:4–5My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
- 2 Cor 1:4Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
- Ps 107:6Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.
- Ps 112:5A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.
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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 32:7 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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