Genesis 33 · Verse 3

Genesis 33:3

And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
Genesis 33:3, King James Version

Genesis 33:3 in other translations

BSBBut Jacob himself went on ahead and bowed to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.
WEBHe himself passed over in front of them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
ASVAnd he himself passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
YLTAnd he himself passed over before them, and boweth himself to the earth seven times, until his drawing nigh unto his brother,
DARBYAnd he passed on before them, and bowed to the earth seven times, until he came near to his brother.
BBEAnd he himself, going before them, went down on his face to the earth seven times till he came near his brother.
WebsterAnd he passed on before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, till he came near to his brother.

What does Genesis 33:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
3. he bowed himself ... seven times--The manner of doing this is by looking towards a superior and bowing with the upper part of the body brought parallel to the ground, then advancing a few steps and bowing again, and repeating his obeisance till, at the seventh time, the suppliant stands in the immediate presence of his superior. The members of his family did the same. This was a token of profound respect, and, though very marked, it would appear natural; for Esau being the elder brother, was, according to the custom of the East, entitled to respectful treatment from his younger brother. His attendants would be struck by it, and according to Eastern habits, would magnify it in the hearing of their master.

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

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 33:1-16

Jacob, having by prayer committed his case to God, went on his way. Come what will, nothing can come amiss to him whose heart is fixed, trusting in God. Jacob bowed to Esau. A humble, submissive behaviour goes far towards turning away wrath. Esau embraced Jacob. God has the hearts of all men in his hands, and can turn them when and how he pleases. It is not in vain to trust in God, and to call upon him in the day of…

Read the full comment on Genesis 33:1-16 →

Genesis 33:3 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.

וְה֖וּאve.Hu'and heH1931
עָבַ֣ר'a.Varhe passed onH5674
לִפְנֵיהֶ֑םlif.nei.Hem<to> before themH6440
וַיִּשְׁתַּ֤חוּvai.yish.Ta.chuand he bowed downH7812
אַ֙רְצָה֙'ar.tzah[the] ground towardsH776
שֶׁ֣בַעShe.va'sevenH7651
פְּעָמִ֔יםpe.'a.MimtimesH6471
עַד\־'ad-untilH5704
גִּשְׁתּ֖וֹgish.Todrew near heH5066
עַד\־'ad-toH5704
אָחִֽיו\׃'a.Chivbrother hisH251

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

Cross references for Genesis 33:3

  • Genesis 42:6

    And 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 14:11

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

  • Genesis 18:2

    And 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,

  • Genesis 43:26

    And 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.

  • Ecclesiastes 10:4

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

  • John 10:15

    As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

  • 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.

  • John 10:4

    And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

  • John 10:11-12

    I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

  • 1 Samuel 2:5

    They 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.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
passed.
Joh 10:4,11,12,15
bowed.
18:2; 42:6; 43:26; Pr 6:3; Ec 10:4; Lu 14:11
seven times.
1Sa 2:5

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

Context

  • Genesis 33:2

    And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost.

  • Genesis 33:3

    And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.

  • Genesis 33:4

    And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.

Read all of Genesis 33

Genesis 33:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y él pasó delante de ellos, é inclinóse á tierra siete veces, hasta que llegó á su hermano.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et il passa devant eux, et se prosterna en terre par sept fois, jusqu’à ce qu’il soit proche de son frère.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Er aber ging vor ihnen her und beugte sich siebenmal zur Erde nieder, bis er nahe zu seinem Bruder kam.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et ipse progrediens adoravit pronus in terram septies, donec appropinquaret frater ejus.