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Genesis 32:8

Esau
Fear

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.

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;

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

9 And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee:

10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands.

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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 thought, “If Esau comes and attacks one camp, then the other camp can escape.”
KJV
And said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the other company which is left shall escape.
WEB
He said, “If Esau comes to the one company, and strikes it, then the company which is left will escape.”
ASV
and he said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the company which is left shall escape.
DARBY
And he said, If Esau come to the one troop and smite it, then the other troop which is left shall escape.
BLB
and he said, “If Esau comes to the one camp and strikes it, then the remaining camp shall be for an escape.”
ÅB
For han tenkte: Om Esau kommer til den ene leir og slår den, da kan den leir som er igjen, få berge seg unna.
OTB
Han resonnerte: “Hvis Esau angriper den ene gruppen, kan den andre gruppen unnslippe.”
B1930
For han tenkte: Om Esau kommer til den ene leir og slår den, da kan den leir som er igjen, få berge sig unda.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Genesis 33:1–3

    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.

    Read in context

  • Matthew 10:16

    Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

    Read in context