Genesis 32:20
18 then you are to say, ‘They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a gift, sent to my lord Esau. And behold, Jacob is behind us.’”
19 He also instructed the second, the third, and all those following behind the herds: “When you meet Esau, you are to say the same thing to him.
You are also to say, ‘Look, your servant Jacob is right behind us.’” For he thought, “I will appease Esau with the gift that is going before me. After that I can face him, and perhaps he will accept me.”
21 So Jacob’s gifts went on before him, while he spent the night in the camp.
22 During the night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maidservants, and his eleven sons, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok.
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- You are also to say, ‘Look, your servant Jacob is right behind us.’” For he thought, “I will appease Esau with the gift that is going before me. After that I can face him, and perhaps he will accept me.”
- KJV
- And say ye moreover, Behold, thy servant Jacob is behind us. For he said, I will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept of me.
- WEB
- You shall say, ‘Not only that, but behold, your servant, Jacob, is behind us.’” For, he said, “I will appease him with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face. Perhaps he will accept me.”
- ASV
- and ye shall say, Moreover, behold, thy servant Jacob is behind us. For he said, I will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept me.
- DARBY
- And, moreover, ye shall say, Behold, thy servant Jacob is behind us. For he said, I will propitiate him with the gift that goes before me, and afterwards I will see his face: perhaps he will accept me.
- BLB
- And you⁺ shall say also, ‘Behold, your servant Jacob [is] behind us.’” For he said, “I will cover his face with the gift that goes before my face, and after that I will see his face; perhaps he will lift up my face.”
- ÅB
- Dere skal si: Snart kommer din tjener Jakob selv etter. For han tenkte: Jeg vil forsone ham ved den gave som jeg sender foran meg, og siden vil jeg selv trede fram for ham; kanskje han vil ta nådig imot meg.
- OTB
- Og vær sikker på å si: ‘Din tjener Jakob kommer bak oss.’” For han tenkte: “Jeg vil blidgjøre ham med disse gavene jeg sender i forveien; deretter, når jeg ser ham, vil han kanskje akseptere meg.”
- B1930
- I skal si: Snart kommer din tjener Jakob selv efter. For han tenkte: Jeg vil forsone ham ved den gave som jeg sender foran mig, og siden vil jeg selv trede frem for ham; kanskje han vil ta nådig imot mig.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Job 42:8–9
So now, take seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. Then My servant Job will pray for you, for I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken accurately about Me, as My servant Job has.”
Read in contextProverbs 21:14
A gift in secret soothes anger, and a covert bribe pacifies great wrath.
Read in contextProverbs 16:14
The wrath of a king is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it.
Read in context2 Timothy 2:25
He must gently reprove those who oppose him, in the hope that God may grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.
Read in contextGenesis 43:11
Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your packs and carry them down as a gift for the man—a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachios and almonds.
Read in context1 Samuel 6:5
Make images of your tumors and of the rats that are ravaging the land. Give glory to the God of Israel, and perhaps He will lift His hand from you and your gods and your land.
Read in context1 Kings 20:31
Then the servants of Ben-hadad said to him, “Look now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful. Let us go out to the king of Israel with sackcloth around our waists and ropes around our heads. Perhaps he will spare your life.”
Read in contextProverbs 6:35
He will not be appeased by any ransom, or persuaded by lavish gifts.
Read in context