Genesis

Genesis 32:13–20

¹³Jacob spent the night there, and from what he had brought with him, he selected a gift for his brother Esau: ¹⁴200 female goats, 20 male goats, 200 ewes, 20 rams, ¹⁵30 milk camels with their young, 40 cows, 10 bulls, 20 female donkeys, and 10 male donkeys. ¹⁶He entrusted them to his servants in separate herds and told them, “Go on ahead of me, and keep some distance between the herds.”

¹⁷He instructed the one in the lead, “When my brother Esau meets you and asks, ‘To whom do you belong, where are you going, and whose animals are these before you?’ ¹⁸then 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.’”

¹⁹He 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. ²⁰You are also to say, ‘Look, your servant Jacob is right behind us.’” For he thought, “I will appease Esau^b with the gift that is going before me. After that I can face him, and perhaps he will accept me.^c”

Footnotes

b 32:20 Or I will appease his face
c 32:20 Literally perhaps he will lift up my face

Read all of Genesis 32

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Genesis 32:13

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
spent	וַיָּ֥לֶן	way·yā·len	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3885 lodge, pass the night
the	הַה֑וּא	ha·hū	Article; Pronoun - third person masculine singular	H1931 he, she
night	בַּלַּ֣יְלָה	bal·lay·lāh	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3915 twist, night, adversity
there	שָׁ֖ם	šām	Adverb	H8033 there, thither
and from what he had brought	הַבָּ֧א	hab·bā	Article; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go
with him	בְיָד֛וֹ	ḇə·yā·ḏōw	Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H3027 hand
he selected	וַיִּקַּ֞ח	way·yiq·qaḥ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3947 take
a gift	מִנְחָ֖ה	min·ḥāh	Noun - feminine singular	H4503 gift, tribute, offering
for his brother	אָחִֽיו׃	’ā·ḥîw	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H251 brother
Esau	לְעֵשָׂ֥ו	lə·‘ê·śāw	Preposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H6215 Esau

Genesis 32:14

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
200	מָאתַ֔יִם	mā·ṯa·yim	Number - fd	H3967 hundred
female goats	עִזִּ֣ים	‘iz·zîm	Noun - feminine plural	H5795 she-goat
20	עֶשְׂרִ֑ים	‘eś·rîm	Number - common plural	H6242 (a) twenty
male goats	וּתְיָשִׁ֖ים	ū·ṯə·yā·šîm	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural	H8495 he-goat
200	מָאתַ֖יִם	mā·ṯa·yim	Number - fd	H3967 hundred
ewes	רְחֵלִ֥ים	rə·ḥê·lîm	Noun - feminine plural	H7353 ewe
20	עֶשְׂרִֽים׃	‘eś·rîm	Number - common plural	H6242 (a) twenty
rams	וְאֵילִ֥ים	wə·’ê·lîm	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural	H352 ram

Genesis 32:15

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
30	שְׁלֹשִׁ֑ים	šə·lō·šîm	Number - common plural	H7970 thirty
milk	מֵינִיק֛וֹת	mê·nî·qō·wṯ	Verb - Hifil - Participle - feminine plural	H3243 suck
camels	גְּמַלִּ֧ים	gə·mal·lîm	Noun - common plural	H1581 camel
with their young	וּבְנֵיהֶ֖ם	ū·ḇə·nê·hem	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine plural	H1121 son
40	אַרְבָּעִים֙	’ar·bā·‘îm	Number - common plural	H705 forty
cows	פָּר֤וֹת	pā·rō·wṯ	Noun - feminine plural	H6510 heifer, cow
10	עֲשָׂרָ֔ה	‘ă·śā·rāh	Number - masculine singular	H6235 ten
bulls	וּפָרִ֣ים	ū·p̄ā·rîm	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural	H6499 young bull, steer
20	עֶשְׂרִ֔ים	‘eś·rîm	Number - common plural	H6242 (a) twenty
female donkeys	אֲתֹנֹ֣ת	’ă·ṯō·nōṯ	Noun - feminine plural	H860 she-ass
and 10	עֲשָׂרָֽה׃	‘ă·śā·rāh	Number - masculine singular	H6235 ten
male donkeys	וַעְיָרִ֖ם	waʿ·yå̄·rim	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural	H5895 male ass

Genesis 32:16

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
He entrusted them to	וַיִּתֵּן֙	way·yit·tên	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5414 give, put, set
his servants	עֲבָדָ֔יו	‘ă·ḇā·ḏāw	Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singular	H5650 slave, servant
in separate	לְבַדּ֑וֹ	lə·ḇad·dōw	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H905 separation
herds	עֵ֥דֶר	‘ê·ḏer	Noun - masculine singular	H5739 flock, herd
and told	וַ֤יֹּאמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
them	עֲבָדָיו֙	‘ă·ḇā·ḏāw	Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singular	H5650 slave, servant
Go on	עִבְר֣וּ	‘iḇ·rū	Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural	H5674 pass over, through, by, pass on
ahead of me	לְפָנַ֔י	lə·p̄ā·nay	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine plural construct; first person common singular	H6440 face, before
and keep	תָּשִׂ֔ימוּ	tā·śî·mū	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural	H7760 put, place, set
some distance	וְרֶ֣וַח	wə·re·waḥ	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular	H7305 space, interval
between	בֵּ֥ין	bên	Preposition	H996 interval, space between
the herds	עֵ֖דֶר	‘ê·ḏer	Noun - masculine singular	H5739 flock, herd

Genesis 32:17

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
He instructed	וַיְצַ֥ו	way·ṣaw	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H6680 lay charge (upon), give charge (to), charge, command, order
the one in the lead	הָרִאשׁ֖וֹן	hā·ri·šō·wn	Article; Adjective - masculine singular	H7223 former, first, chief
When	כִּ֣י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
my brother	אָחִ֗י	’ā·ḥî	Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H251 brother
Esau	עֵשָׂ֣ו	‘ê·śāw	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H6215 Esau
meets	יִֽפְגָּשְׁךָ֞	yip̄·gå̄·šə·ḵå̄	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular; second person masculine singular	H6298 meet, encounter
you and asks	וִשְׁאֵֽלְךָ֙	wiš·ʾē·lə·ḵå̄	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular; second person masculine singular	H7592 ask, inquire
To whom	לְמִי־	lə·mî-	Preposition-l; Interrogative	H4310 who?
do you belong	אַ֙תָּה֙	’at·tāh	Pronoun - second person masculine singular	H859 thou
where	וְאָ֣נָה	wə·’ā·nāh	Conjunctive waw; Interrogative	H575 where?
are you going	תֵלֵ֔ךְ	ṯê·lêḵ	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular	H1980 go, come, walk
and whose	וּלְמִ֖י	ū·lə·mî	Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l; Interrogative	H4310 who?
animals are these	אֵ֥לֶּה	’êl·leh	Pronoun - common plural	H428 these
before you	לְפָנֶֽיךָ׃	lə·p̄ā·ne·ḵā	Preposition-l; Noun - common plural construct; second person masculine singular	H6440 face, before

Genesis 32:18

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
then you are to say	וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֙	wə·’ā·mar·tā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
They belong to your servant	לְעַבְדְּךָ֣	lə·‘aḇ·də·ḵā	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H5650 slave, servant
Jacob	לְיַעֲקֹ֔ב	lə·ya·‘ă·qōḇ	Preposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3290 Jacob
They	הִוא֙	hî	Pronoun - third person feminine singular	H1931 he, she
are a gift	מִנְחָ֥ה	min·ḥāh	Noun - feminine singular	H4503 gift, tribute, offering
sent	שְׁלוּחָ֔ה	šə·lū·ḥāh	Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singular	H7971 send
to my lord	לַֽאדֹנִ֖י	la·ḏō·nî	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H113 lord
Esau	לְעֵשָׂ֑ו	lə·‘ê·śāw	Preposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H6215 Esau
And behold	וְהִנֵּ֥ה	wə·hin·nêh	Conjunctive waw; Interjection	H2009 lo! behold!
is behind us	אַחֲרֵֽינוּ׃	’a·ḥă·rê·nū	Preposition; first person common plural	H310 behind

Genesis 32:19

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
He also	גַּ֣ם	gam	Conjunction	H1571 also, moreover, yea
instructed	וַיְצַ֞ו	way·ṣaw	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H6680 lay charge (upon), give charge (to), charge, command, order
the second	הַשֵּׁנִ֗י	haš·šê·nî	Article; Number - ordinal masculine singular	H8145 second
the third	הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֔י	haš·šə·lî·šî	Article; Number - ordinal masculine singular	H7992 third
and	גַּ֚ם	gam	Conjunction	H1571 also, moreover, yea
all those	כָּל־	kāl-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
following	הַהֹ֣לְכִ֔ים	ha·hō·lə·ḵîm	Article; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural	H1980 go, come, walk
behind	אַחֲרֵ֥י	’a·ḥă·rê	Preposition	H310 behind
the herds	הָעֲדָרִ֖ים	hā·‘ă·ḏā·rîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H5739 flock, herd
When you meet	בְּמֹצַאֲכֶ֖ם	bə·mō·ṣa·’ă·ḵem	Preposition-b; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; second person masculine plural	H4672 attain to, find
Esau	עֵשָׂ֔ו	‘ê·śāw	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H6215 Esau
you are to say	תְּדַבְּר֣וּן	tə·ḏab·bə·rūn	Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine plural; Paragogic nun	H1696 speak
the same	הַזֶּה֙	haz·zeh	Article; Pronoun - masculine singular	H2088 this, that
thing	כַּדָּבָ֤ר	kad·dā·ḇār	Preposition-k, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H1697 speech, word
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
him	אֹתֽוֹ׃	’ō·ṯōw	Direct object marker; third person masculine singular	H853 mark of the accusative

Genesis 32:20

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
You are also	גַּ֗ם	gam	Conjunction	H1571 also, moreover, yea
to say	וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֕ם	wa·’ă·mar·tem	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural	H559 utter, say
Look	הִנֵּ֛ה	hin·nêh	Interjection	H2009 lo! behold!
your servant	עַבְדְּךָ֥	‘aḇ·də·ḵā	Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H5650 slave, servant
Jacob	יַעֲקֹ֖ב	ya·‘ă·qōḇ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3290 Jacob
is right behind us	אַחֲרֵ֑ינוּ	’a·ḥă·rê·nū	Preposition; first person common plural	H310 behind
For	כִּֽי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
he thought	אָמַ֞ר	’ā·mar	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
I will appease	אֲכַפְּרָ֣ה	’ă·ḵap·pə·rāh	Verb - Piel - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular	H3722 cover over (figurative), pacify, make propitiation
with the gift	בַּמִּנְחָה֙	bam·min·ḥāh	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - feminine singular	H4503 gift, tribute, offering
that is going	הַהֹלֶ֣כֶת	ha·hō·le·ḵeṯ	Article; Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular	H1980 go, come, walk
before me	לְפָנָ֔י	lə·p̄ā·nāy	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine plural construct; first person common singular	H6440 face, before
After	וְאַחֲרֵי־	wə·’a·ḥă·rê-	Conjunctive waw; Preposition	H310 behind
that	כֵן֙	ḵên	Adverb	H3651 right, veritable, honest
I can face	אֶרְאֶ֣ה	’er·’eh	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular	H7200 see
him	פָנָ֔יו	p̄ā·nāw	Noun - common plural construct; third person masculine singular	H6440 face, before
and perhaps	אוּלַ֖י	’ū·lay	Adverb	H194 peradventure, perhaps
he will accept	יִשָּׂ֥א	yiś·śā	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5375 lift, take, carry
me	פָנָֽי׃	p̄ā·nāy	Noun - masculine plural construct; first person common singular	H6440 face, before