Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they 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.
- BSB Esau, however, ran to him and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept.
- NKJV But 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 45:14–15He fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck, and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck.
- Ps 34:4I sought Yahweh, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.
- Luke 15:20“He arose, and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
- Gen 32:28He said, “Your name will no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have fought with God and with men, and have prevailed.”
- Gen 45:2He wept aloud. The Egyptians heard, and the house of Pharaoh heard.
- Gen 46:29Joseph prepared his chariot, and went up to meet Israel, his father, in Goshen. He presented himself to him, and fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while.
- Acts 20:37They all wept a lot, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him,
- Gen 43:30Joseph hurried, for his heart yearned over his brother; and he sought a place to weep. He entered into his room, and wept there.
- Prov 16:7When a man’s ways please Yahweh, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
- Job 2:12When they lifted up their eyes from a distance, and didn’t recognize him, they raised their voices, and wept; and they each tore his robe, and sprinkled dust on their heads toward the sky.
- Neh 1:11Lord, I beg you, let your ear be attentive now to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants, who delight to fear your name; and please prosper your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” Now I was cup bearer to the king.
- Gen 43:34He sent portions to them from before him, but Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as any of theirs. They drank, and were merry with him.
- Prov 21:1The king’s heart is in Yahweh’s hand like the watercourses. He turns it wherever he desires.
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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.