Genesis 32 · Verse 6

Genesis 32:6

And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him.
Genesis 32:6, King James Version

Genesis 32:6 in other translations

BSBWhen the messengers returned to Jacob, they said, “We went to your brother Esau, and now he is coming to meet you—he and four hundred men with him.”
WEBThe messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau. He is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.”
ASVAnd the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and moreover he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him.
YLTAnd the messengers turn back unto Jacob, saying, ‘We came in unto thy brother, unto Esau, and he also is coming to meet thee, and four hundred men with him;'
DARBYAnd the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother, to Esau; and he also is coming to meet thee, and four hundred men with him.
BBEWhen the servants came back they said, We have seen your brother Esau and he is coming out to you, and four hundred men with him.
WebsterAnd the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he is coming to meet thee, and four hundred men with him.

What does Genesis 32:6 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
6. The messengers returned to Jacob--Their report left Jacob in painful uncertainty as to what was his brother's views and feelings. Esau's studied reserve gave him reason to dread the worst. Jacob was naturally timid; but his conscience told him that there was much ground for apprehension, and his distress was all the more aggravated that he had to provide for the safety of a large and helpless family.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 6 Esau - cometh - and four hundred men with him - Jacob, conscious that he had injured his brother, was now apprehensive that he was coming with hostile intentions, and that he had every evil to fear from his displeasure. Conscience is a terrible accuser. It was a fine saying of a heathen, Hic murus aheneus esto, Nil conscire sibi, nulla pallescere culpa. Hor. Ep., l. i., E. i., v. 60. Be this thy brazen bulwark of defense, Still to preserve thy conscious innocence, Nor e'er turn pale with guilt. Francis. In other words, He that has a good conscience has a brazen wall for his defense; for a guilty conscience needs no accuser; sooner or later it will tell the truth, and not only make the man turn pale who has it, but also cause him to tremble even while his guilt is known only to himself and God. It does not appear that Esau in this meeting had any hostile intention, but was really coming with a part of his servants or tribe to do his brother honor. If he had had any contrary intention, God had removed it; and the angelic host which Jacob met with before might have inspired him with sufficient confidence in God's protection. But we find that when he needed faith most, he appears to have derived but little benefit from its influence, partly from the sense he had of the injury he had done to his brother, and partly from not attending sufficiently to the assurance which God had given him of his gracious protection.

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 32:6 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.

וַיָּשֻׁ֙בוּ֙vai.ya.Shu.vuand they returnedH7725
הַמַּלְאָכִ֔יםha.mal.'a.Khimthe messengersH4397
אֶֽל\־'el-toH413
יַעֲקֹ֖בya.'a.KoJacobH3290
לֵאמֹ֑רle.Mor<to> sayingH559
בָּ֤אנוּBa.nuwe wentH935
אֶל\־'el-toH413
אָחִ֙יךָ֙'a.Chi.khabrother yourH251
אֶל\־'el-toH413
עֵשָׂ֔ו'e.SavEsauH6215
וְגַם֙ve.Gamand alsoH1571
הֹלֵ֣ךְho.Lekh[he is] comingH1980
לִקְרָֽאתְךָ֔lik.ra.te.Chato meet youH7122
וְאַרְבַּע\־ve.'ar.ba'-and fourH702
מֵא֥וֹתme.'othundred<s>H3967
אִ֖ישׁ'ishmanH376
עִמּֽוֹ\׃i.Mo[are] with himH5973

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

Cross references for Genesis 32:6

  • Genesis 33:1

    And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids.

  • Amos 5:19

    As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.

  • Genesis 32:11

    Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children.

  • Genesis 27:40-41

    And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck. And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.

  • Genesis 32:8

    And said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the other company which is left shall escape.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
and four.
8,11; 27:40,41; 33:1; Am 5:19

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

Context

  • 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.

  • Genesis 32:6

    And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him.

  • Genesis 32:7

    Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands;

Read all of Genesis 32

Genesis 32:6 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y los mensajeros volvieron á Jacob, diciendo: Vinimos á tu hermano Esaú, y él también viene á recibirte, y cuatrocientos hombres con él.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		et j’ai des bœufs, et des ânes, du menu bétail, et des serviteurs et des servantes; et je l’ai envoyé annoncer à mon seigneur, afin de trouver grâce à tes yeux.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und die Boten kehrten zu Jakob zurück und sprachen: Wir sind zu deinem Bruder, zu Esau, gekommen, und er zieht dir auch entgegen und vierhundert Mann mit ihm.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Reversique sunt nuntii ad Jacob, dicentes: Venimus ad Esau fratrem tuum, et ecce properat tibi in occursum cum quadringentis viris.