And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
Parallel translations
- WEB He himself passed over in front of them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
- BSB But Jacob himself went on ahead and bowed to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.
- NKJV Then he crossed over before them and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
- NASB But he himself passed on ahead of them and bowed down to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
- NLT Then Jacob went on ahead. As he approached his brother, he bowed to the ground seven times before 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 goes ahead of his family and bows to the ground seven times as he nears Esau. His sevenfold bow expresses deep humility and submission.
Overview
Jacob leads from the front, placing himself first in the path of danger, and bows repeatedly in homage to his brother. The sevenfold prostration was a gesture of profound respect, reversing the dominance he had once sought. His humility before the brother he wronged embodies a repentant, reconciling spirit.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Gen 42:6And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph’s brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth.
- Luke 14:11For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
- Gen 18:2And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,
- Gen 43:26And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves to him to the earth.
- John 10:4And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
- Prov 6:3Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.
- Eccl 10:4If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
- John 10:15As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
- John 10:11–12I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
- 1 Sam 2:5They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.
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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 33:3 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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