for he said, “If Esau comes to the one company and attacks it, then the company which is left will escape.”
Parallel translations
- WEB and he said, “If Esau comes to the one company, and strikes it, then the company which is left will escape.”
- KJV And said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the other company which is left shall escape.
- BSB He thought, “If Esau comes and attacks one camp, then the other camp can escape.”
- NKJV And he said, “If Esau comes to the one company and attacks it, then the other company which is left will escape.”
- NLT He thought, “If Esau meets one group and attacks it, perhaps the other group can escape.”
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 reasons that if Esau strikes one company, the other can escape. His strategy aims to preserve at least part of his household.
Overview
This contingency reveals both Jacob's fear and his careful foresight in the face of danger. He does not presume upon God's protection but takes responsible measures. Yet, as the next verses show, his deeper resort is to prayer, anchoring his hope in God's covenant promise.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 2
- Gen 33:1–3Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau was coming, and with him four hundred men. He divided the children between Leah, Rachel, and the two servants.
- Matt 10:16“Behold, I send you out as sheep among wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
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 32:8 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.