Esau, however, ran to him and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept.
Parallel translations
- WEB Esau ran to meet him, embraced him, fell on his neck, kissed him, and they wept.
- KJV And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.
- NKJV But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.
- NASB Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.
- NLT Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept.
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
Esau runs to embrace Jacob, falls on his neck, kisses him, and they weep together. The feared confrontation becomes a tender reconciliation.
Overview
Against all of Jacob's fears, Esau responds with warm forgiveness and brotherly affection. God has gone before to soften Esau's heart, turning potential vengeance into a tearful reunion. This reconciliation of estranged brothers displays the grace of God who makes peace and restores broken relationships.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Gen 45:14–15Then Joseph threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin wept as they embraced.
- Ps 34:4I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.
- Luke 15:20So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.
- Gen 32:28Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men, and you have prevailed.”
- Gen 45:2But he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household soon heard of it.
- Gen 46:29Joseph prepared his chariot and went there to meet his father Israel. Joseph presented himself to him, embraced him, and wept profusely.
- Acts 20:37They all wept openly as they embraced Paul and kissed him.
- Gen 43:30Joseph hurried out because he was moved to tears for his brother, and he went to a private room to weep.
- Prov 16:7When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even the man’s enemies live at peace with him.
- Job 2:12When they lifted up their eyes from afar, they could barely recognize Job. They began to weep aloud, and each man tore his robe and threw dust in the air over his head.
- Neh 1:11O Lord, may Your ear be attentive to my prayer and to the prayers of Your servants who delight to revere Your name. Give Your servant success this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” (At that time I was the cupbearer to the king.)
- Gen 43:34When the portions were served to them from Joseph’s table, Benjamin’s portion was five times larger than any of the others. So they feasted and drank freely with Joseph.
- Prov 21:1The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases.
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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 33:4 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.