Jacob and Esau Reconciled
Genesis 33
Jacob meets Esau, bows before him, and the brothers embrace and weep; Esau at first declines Jacob's gifts but is persuaded to accept them. The brothers part peaceably, Esau returning to Seir and Jacob journeying on to Salem in the land of Chanaan, where he buys land, pitches his tent, and builds an altar to the God of Israel.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonNOW when Jacob looked up and saw with his eyes, that lo! Esau his brother was coming and with him four hundred men; thereupon Jacob divided his children to Leia, and Rachel, and the two maids.
BrentonAnd Jacob lifted up his eyes, and beheld, and lo! Esau his brother coming, and four hundred men with him; and Jacob divided the children to Lea and to Rachel, and the two handmaidens.
GreekἈναβλέψας δὲ Ἰακὼβ τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς αὐτοῦ εἶδε· καὶ ἰδοὺ Ἡσαῦ ὁ ἀδελφὸς αὐτοῦ ἐρχόμενος, καὶ τετρακόσιοι ἄνδρες μετʼ αὐτοῦ· καὶ διεῖλεν Ἰακὼβ τὰ παιδία ἐπὶ Λείαν, καὶ ἐπὶ Ῥαχὴλ, καὶ τὰς δύο παιδίσκας.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd 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.
2
ThomsonAnd he put the two maids and their children foremost, and Leia and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph hindmost.
BrentonAnd he put the two handmaidens and their children with the first, and Lea and her children behind, and Rachel and Joseph last.
GreekΚαὶ ἔθετο τὰς δύο παιδίσκας καὶ τοὺς υἱοὺς αὐτῶν ἐν πρώτοις, καὶ Λείαν καὶ τὰ παιδία αὐτῆς ὀπίσω, καὶ Ῥαχὴλ καὶ Ἰωσὴφ ἐσχάτους.
KJVAnd he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost.
JPSAnd he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost.
3
ThomsonAnd he himself went before them; and he made a low obeisance to the ground seven times until he came near to his brother.
BrentonBut he advanced himself before them, and did reverence to the ground seven times, until he drew near to his brother.
GreekΑὐτὸς δὲ προῆλθεν ἔμπροσθεν αὐτῶν· καὶ προσεκύνησεν ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν ἑπτάκις, ἕως τοῦ ἐγγίσαι τῷ ἀδελφῷ αὐτοῦ.
KJVAnd he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
JPSAnd he himself passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
4
ThomsonAnd Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell upon his neck and kissed him and they both wept.
BrentonAnd Esau ran on to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him; and they both wept.
GreekΚαὶ προσέδραμεν Ἡσαῦ εἰς συνάντησιν αὐτῷ· καὶ περιλαβὼν αὐτὸν προσέπεσεν ἐπὶ τὸν τράχηλον αὐτοῦ, καὶ κατεφίλησεν αὐτόν· καὶ ἔκλαυσαν ἀμφότεροι.
KJVAnd Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.
JPSAnd Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him; and they wept.
5
ThomsonAnd when Esau looked up and saw the women and the children he said, What! Are these thine! To which Jacob replied, These are the children with which God hath favoured thy servant.
BrentonAnd Esau looked up and saw the women and the children, and said, What are these to thee? And he said, The children with which God has mercifully blessed thy servant.
GreekΚαὶ ἀναβλέψας Ἡσαῦ εἶδε τὰς γυναῖκας καὶ τὰ παιδία· καὶ εἶπε, τί ταῦτά σοι ἐστίν; ὁ δὲ εἶπε, τὰ παιδία, οἷς ἠλέησεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸν παῖδά σου.
KJVAnd he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant.
JPSAnd he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said: ‘Who are these with thee?’ And he said: ‘The children whom God hath graciously given thy servant.’
6
Thomson—
BrentonAnd the maid-servants and their children drew near and did reverence.
GreekΚαὶ προσήγγισαν αἱ παιδίσκαι καὶ τὰ τέκνα αὐτῶν, καὶ προσεκύνησαν.
KJV—
JPS—
7
Thomsonnext Leia and her children came near and made obeisance; and after that Rachel came near with Joseph;
BrentonAnd Lea and her children drew near and did reverence; and after this drew near Rachel and Joseph, and did reverence.
GreekΚαὶ προσήγγισε Λεία καὶ τὰ τέκνα αὐτῆς, καὶ προσεκύνησαν· καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα προσήγγισε Ῥαχὴλ καὶ Ἰωσὴφ, καὶ προσεκύνησαν.
KJVAnd Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves.
JPSAnd Leah also and her children came near, and bowed down; and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed down.
8
Thomsonand when they had made obeisance he said, What is the meaning of all those droves which I met? And Jacob said, That thy servant may find favour in the sight of thee my lord.
BrentonAnd he said, What are these things to thee, all these companies that I have met? And he said, That thy servant might find grace in thy sight, my lord.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπε, τί ταῦτά σοι ἐστὶν, πᾶσαι αἱ παρεμβολαὶ αὗται, αἷς ἀπήντηκα; ὁ δὲ εἶπεν, ἵνα εὕρῃ ὁ παῖς σου χάριν ἐναντίον σου, κύριε.
KJVAnd he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord.
JPSAnd he said: ‘What meanest thou by all this camp which I met?’ And he said: ‘To find favour in the sight of my lord.’
9
ThomsonWhereupon Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep thou thine own.
BrentonAnd Esau said, I have much, my brother; keep thine own.
GreekΕἶπε δὲ Ἡσαῦ, ἔστι μοι πολλὰ, ἀδελφέ· ἔστω σοι τὰ σά.
KJVAnd Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself.
JPSAnd Esau said: ‘I have enough; my brother, let that which thou hast be thine.’
10
ThomsonBut Jacob replied, If I have found favour in thy sight, receive these presents at my hands, because I have seen thy face as one would see the face of God; and thou wilt oblige me.
BrentonAnd Jacob said, If I have found grace in thy sight, receive the gifts through my hands; therefore have I seen thy face, as if any one should see the face of God, and thou shalt be well-pleased with me.
GreekΕἶπε δὲ Ἰακὼβ, εἰ εὓρον χάριν ἐναντίον σου, δέξαι τὰ δῶρα διὰ τῶν ἐμῶν χειρῶν· ἕνεκεν τούτου εἶδον τὸ πρόσωπόν σου, ὡς ἄν τις ἴδοι πρόσωπον Θεοῦ, καὶ εὐδοκήσεις με.
KJVAnd Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me.
JPSAnd Jacob said: ‘Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found favour in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand; forasmuch as I have seen thy face, as one seeth the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me.
11
ThomsonReceive these my blessings which I have brought thee; because God hath dealt bountifully with me, and is all things to me. So he pressed him and he took them.
BrentonReceive my blessings, which I have brought thee, because God has had mercy on me, and I have all things; and he constrained him, and he took them.
GreekΛάβε τὰς εὐλογίας μου, ἃς ἤνεγκά σοι, ὅτι ἠλέησέ με ὁ Θεὸς, καὶ ἔστι μοι πάντα· καὶ ἐβιάσατο αὐτὸν, καὶ ἔλαβε.
KJVTake, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it.
JPSTake, I pray thee, my gift that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.’ And he urged him, and he took it.
12
ThomsonThen he said, Let us depart and march on straightway.
BrentonAnd he said, Let us depart, and proceed right onward.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν, ἀπάραντες πορευσώμεθα ἐπʼ εὐθεῖαν.
KJVAnd he said, Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before thee.
JPSAnd he said: ‘Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before thee.’
13
ThomsonBut Jacob said to him, My lord perceiveth that the children are tender, and the sheep and cows with me have just had young. If therefore I over drive them one day, all the cattle will die.
BrentonAnd he said to him, My lord knows, that the children are very tender, and the flocks and the herds with me are with young; if then I shall drive them hard one day, all the cattle will die.
GreekΕἶπε δὲ αὐτῷ, ὁ κύριός μου γινώσκει, ὅτι τὰ παιδία ἁπαλώτερα, καὶ τὰ πρόβατα καὶ αἱ βόες λοχεύονται ἐπʼ ἐμέ· ἐὰν οὖν καταδιώξω αὐτὰ ἡμέραν μίαν, ἀποθανοῦνται πάντα τὰ κτήνη.
KJVAnd he said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die.
JPSAnd he said unto him: ‘My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and that the flocks and herds giving suck are a care to me; and if they overdrive them one day, all the flocks will die.
14
ThomsonLet my lord go on before his servant, and I will recruit them on the way by a leisurely march as fast as the young can walk, until I come to my lord at Seir.
BrentonLet my lord go on before his servant, and I shall have strength on the road according to the ease of the journey before me, and according to the strength of the children, until I come to my lord to Seir.
GreekΠροελθέτω ὁ κύριός μου ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ παιδὸς αὐτοῦ· ἐγὼ δὲ ἐνισχύσω ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ κατὰ σχολὴν τῆς πορεύσεως τῆς ἐναντίον μου, καὶ κατὰ πόδα τῶν παιδαρίων, ἕως τοῦ ἐλθεῖν με πρὸς τὸν κύριόν μου εἰς Σηείρ.
KJVLet my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir.
JPSLet my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant; and I will journey on gently, according to the pace of the cattle that are before me and according to the pace of the children, until I come unto my lord unto Seir.’
15
ThomsonThen Esau said, Let me leave with thee some of the people who are with me. To which Jacob replied, What need is there? It is sufficient that I have found favour in the sight of thee, my lord.
BrentonAnd Esau said, I will leave with thee some of the people who are with me. And he said, Why so? it is enough that I have found favour before thee, my lord.
GreekΕἶπε δὲ Ἡσαῦ, καταλείψω μετὰ σοῦ ἀπὸ τοῦ λαοῦ τοῦ μετʼ ἐμοῦ· ὁ δὲ εἶπεν, ἱνατί τοῦτο; ἱκανὸν ὅτι εὗρον χάριν ἐναντίον σου, κύριε.
KJVAnd Esau said, Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me. And he said, What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my lord.
JPSAnd Esau said: ‘Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me.’ And he said: ‘What needeth it? let me find favour in the sight of my lord.’
16
ThomsonSo Esau set out that day on his return to Seir
BrentonAnd Esau returned on that day on his journey to Seir.
GreekἈπέστρεψε δὲ Ἡσαῦ ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ εἰς τὴν ὁδὸν αὐτοῦ εἰς Σηείρ.
KJVSo Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir.
JPSSo Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir.
17
Thomsonand Jacob marched on to Booths, and there built houses for himself and booths for his cattle, for which cause he called the name of that place Booths.
BrentonAnd Jacob departs to his tents; and he made for himself there habitations, and for his cattle he made booths; therefore he called the name of that place, Booths.
GreekΚαὶ Ἰακὼβ ἀπαίρει εἰς σκηνὰς, καὶ ἐποίησεν ἑαυτῷ ἐκεῖ οἰκίας, καὶ τοῖς κτήνεσιν αὐτοῦ ἐποίησε σκηνάς· διὰ τοῦτο ἐκάλεσε τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ τόπου ἐκείνου, Σκηναί.
KJVAnd Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.
JPSAnd Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him a house, and made booths for his cattle. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.
18
ThomsonAnd when Jacob came from Syrian Mesopotamia he went to Salem a city of the Sekimites which is in the land of Chanaan, and encamped before the city,
BrentonAnd Jacob came to Salem, a city of Secima, which is in the land of Chanaan, when he departed out of Mesopotamia of Syria, and took up a position in front of the city.
GreekΚαὶ ἦλθεν Ἰακὼβ εἰς Σαλὴμ, πόλιν Σηκίμων, ἥ ἐστιν ἐν γῇ Χαναὰν, ὅτε ἐπανῆλθεν ἐκ τῆς Μεσοποταμίας Συρίας· καὶ παρενέλαβε κατὰ πρόσωπον τῆς πόλεως.
KJVAnd Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padanaram; and pitched his tent before the city.
JPSAnd Jacob came in peace to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Paddan-aram; and encamped before the city.
19
Thomsonand purchased of Emmor, the father of Sychem, the part of the field where he had pitched his tent for a hundred lambs
BrentonAnd he bought the portion of the field, where he pitched his tent, of Emmor the father of Sychem, for a hundred lambs.
GreekΚαὶ ἐκτήσατο τὴν μερίδα τοῦ ἀγροῦ, οὗ ἔστησεν ἐκεῖ τὴν σκηνὴν αὐτοῦ, παρὰ Ἐμμὼρ πατρὸς Συχὲμ, ἑκατὸν ἀμνῶν.
KJVAnd he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for an hundred pieces of money.
JPSAnd he bought the parcel of ground, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred pieces of money.
20
Thomsonand he erected there an altar and invoked the God of Israel.
BrentonAnd he set up there an altar, and called on the God of Israel.
GreekΚαὶ ἔστησεν ἐκεῖ θυσιαστήριον, καὶ ἐπεκαλέσατο τὸν Θεὸν Ἰσραήλ.
KJVAnd he erected there an altar, and called it EleloheIsrael.
JPSAnd he erected there an altar, and called it El-elohe-Israel.