Genesis 32:4
2 When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is the camp of God.” So he named that place Mahanaim.
3 Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom.
He 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.
5 I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, menservants, and maidservants. I have sent this message to inform my master, so that I may find favor in your sight.’”
6 When 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.”
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
- He 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.
- KJV
- 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:
- WEB
- He 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.
- ASV
- And 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:
- DARBY
- And 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;
- BLB
- And he commanded them, saying, “Thus you⁺ shall say to my lord, to Esau, thus says your servant Jacob: ‘With Laban I have sojourned and I have delayed until now.
- ÅB
- Og han befalte dem og sa: Slik skal dere si til min herre Esau: Så sier din tjener Jakob: Jeg har oppholdt meg hos Laban og vært der helt til nå,
- OTB
- Han instruerte dem: “Dette skal dere si til min herre Esau: ‘Din tjener Jakob melder: Jeg har bodd hos Laban og blitt der til nå.
- B1930
- Og han bød dem og sa: Således skal I si til min herre Esau: Så sier din tjener Jakob: Jeg har opholdt mig hos Laban og vært der helt til nu,
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
1 Peter 3:6
just as Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him lord. And you are her children if you do what is right and refuse to give way to fear.
Read in context1 Kings 20:32
So with sackcloth around their waists and ropes around their heads, they went to the king of Israel and said, “Your servant Ben-hadad says, ‘Please spare my life.’” And the king answered, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.”
Read in contextGenesis 33:8
“What do you mean by sending this whole company to meet me?” asked Esau. “To find favor in your sight, my lord,” Jacob answered.
Read in contextGenesis 32:18
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.’”
Read in contextGenesis 27:37
But Isaac answered Esau: “Look, I have made him your master and given him all his relatives as servants; I have sustained him with grain and new wine. What is left that I can do for you, my son?”
Read in contextProverbs 6:3
then do this, my son, to free yourself, for you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands: Go, humble yourself, and press your plea with your neighbor.
Read in contextLuke 14:11
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Read in contextGenesis 4:7
If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you refuse to do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires you, but you must master it.”
Read in context