Genesis 32 · Verse 4

Genesis 32:4

And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau; Thy servant Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there until now:
Genesis 32:4, King James Version

Genesis 32:4 in other translations

BSBHe instructed them, “You are to say to my master Esau, ‘Your servant Jacob says: I have been staying with Laban and have remained there until now.
WEBHe commanded them, saying, “This is what you shall tell my lord, Esau: ‘This is what your servant, Jacob, says. I have lived as a foreigner with Laban, and stayed until now.
ASVAnd he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye say unto my lord Esau: Thus saith thy servant Jacob, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed until now:
YLTand commandeth them, saying, ‘Thus do ye say to my lord, to Esau: Thus said thy servant Jacob, With Laban I have sojourned, and I tarry until now;
DARBYAnd he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak to my lord, to Esau: Thy servant Jacob speaks thus — With Laban have I sojourned and tarried until now;
BBEAnd he gave them orders to say these words to Esau: Your servant Jacob says, Till now I have been living with Laban:
WebsterAnd he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak to my lord Esau: Thy servant Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there till now:

What does Genesis 32:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
4. Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau--The purport of the message was that, after a residence of twenty years in Mesopotamia, he was now returning to his native land, that he did not need any thing, for he had abundance of pastoral wealth, but that he could not pass without notifying his arrival to his brother and paying the homage of his respectful obeisance. Acts of civility tend to disarm opposition and soften hatred (Ec 10:4). Thy servant Jacob--He had been made lord over his brethren (compare Ge 27:29). But it is probable he thought this referred to a spiritual superiority; or if to temporal, that it was to be realized only to his posterity. At all events, leaving it to God to fulfil that purpose, he deemed it prudent to assume the most kind and respectful bearing.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau - Jacob acknowledges the superiority of his brother; for the time was not yet come in which it could be said, The elder shall serve the younger.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 32:1-8

Chapter Outline Jacob's vision at Mahanaim, His fear of Esau. (1-8) Jacob's earnest prayer for deliverance, He prepares a present for Esau. (9-23) He wrestles with the Angel. (24-32) Verses 1-8 The angels of God appeared to Jacob, to encourage him with the assurance of the Divine protection. When God designs his people for great trials, he prepares them by great comforts. While Jacob, to whom the promise belonged…

Read the full comment on Genesis 32:1-8 →

Genesis 32:4 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיְצַ֤וvay.Tzavand he commandedH6680
אֹתָם֙'o.Tam<obj.> themH853
לֵאמֹ֔רle.Mor<to> sayingH559
כֹּ֣הkohthusH3541
תֹאמְר֔וּןtom.Runyou will say !H559
לַֽאדֹנִ֖יla.do.Nito lord myH113
לְעֵשָׂ֑וle.'e.Savto EsauH6215
כֹּ֤הkohthusH3541
אָמַר֙'a.Marhe saysH559
עַבְדְּךָ֣'av.de.Khaservant yourH5650
יַעֲקֹ֔בya.'a.KoJacobH3290
עִם\־'im-withH5973
לָבָ֣ןla.VanLabanH3837
גַּ֔רְתִּיGar.tiI have sojournedH1481
וָאֵחַ֖רva.'e.Charand I have delayedH309
עַד\־'ad-untilH5704
עָֽתָּה\׃'A.tahnowH6258

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Genesis 32:4

  • 1 Peter 3:6

    Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

  • 1 Kings 20:32

    So they girded sackcloth on their loins, and put ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, Thy servant Ben–hadad saith, I pray thee, let me live. And he said, Is he yet alive? he is my brother.

  • Genesis 33:8

    And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord.

  • Genesis 32:18

    Then thou shalt say, They be thy servant Jacob’s; it is a present sent unto my lord Esau: and, behold, also he is behind us.

  • Genesis 27:37

    And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto thee, my son?

  • Proverbs 6:3

    Do 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.

  • Luke 14:11

    For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

  • Genesis 4:7

    If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

  • Exodus 32:22

    And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief.

  • Ecclesiastes 10:4

    If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.

  • Genesis 27:29

    Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother’s sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.

  • 1 Samuel 26:17

    And Saul knew David’s voice, and said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
my lord.
5,18; 4:7; 23:6; 27:29,37; 33:8; Ex 32:22; 1Sa 26:17; Pr 6:3; 15:1
Lu 14:11
1Pe 3:6
servant.
1Ki 20:32; Ec 10:4

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Genesis 32:3

    And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom.

  • Genesis 32:4

    And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau; Thy servant Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there until now:

  • Genesis 32:5

    And I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and menservants, and womenservants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight.

Read all of Genesis 32

Genesis 32:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y mandóles diciendo: Así diréis á mi señor Esaú: Así dice tu siervo Jacob: Con Labán he morado, y detenídome hasta ahora;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Jacob envoya devant lui des messagers à Ésaü, son frère, au pays de Séhir, dans la campagne d’Édom;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und er gebot ihnen und sprach: So sollt ihr zu meinem Herrn, zu Esau, sprechen: So spricht dein Knecht Jakob: Bei Laban habe ich mich aufgehalten und bin geblieben bis jetzt;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		præcepitque eis, dicens: Sic loquimini domino meo Esau: Hæc dicit frater tuus Jacob: Apud Laban peregrinatus sum, et fui usque in præsentem diem.