Genesis 33: Esau's embrace
Esau embraces Jacob instead of attacking him, and Jacob returns safely to Canaan and worships at Shechem.
Where Genesis 33 sits
- In the story
- Act III, Promise: Genesis 12–50; Job
- In the Bible
- Old Testament · The Law · chapter 33 of 50 in Genesis
- In Genesis
- Isaac's line: Jacob, 25:19–35:29 · part of One family
- Before
- Genesis 32: Wrestling at Peniel
- After
- Genesis 34: Dinah and Shechem
Genesis 33 summary
Jacob sees Esau coming with four hundred men, arranges his family, and goes ahead bowing seven times; Esau runs to meet him, embraces and kisses him, and they weep. Jacob urges his gift on Esau, saying that seeing his face is like seeing the face of God, and calls it, in the Hebrew, his blessing. Declining to travel with Esau, Jacob moves on to Succoth and then comes safely to Shechem in Canaan, where he buys a piece of land and builds an altar called God, the God of Israel.
Genesis 33 in context
- Speaking
- Moses, narrating; Jacob and Esau speak
- Written for
- Israel, living beside Edom, learning that God turned a brother's anger to peace
- Around it
- Follows the night at Peniel (ch. 32); trouble at Shechem follows (ch. 34)
How Genesis 33 points to Christ
Jacob's parcel at Shechem is the field near which Jesus later sits by Jacob's well (John 4:5–6)
The sections of Genesis 33
- Esau runs to meet him33:1–11
Jacob bows seven times, Esau runs to embrace him, and Jacob presses his gift on Esau, calling it (in Hebrew) his blessing.
- Parting ways33:12–17
Jacob declines to travel with Esau, promising to follow to Seir, but goes to Succoth instead.
- An altar at Shechem33:18–20
Jacob arrives safely at Shechem in Canaan, buys a plot of land, and builds an altar named El-Elohe-Israel.
Read Genesis 33
Jacob Meets Esau
1Now Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming toward him with four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two maidservants. 2He put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph at the rear. 3But Jacob himself went on ahead and bowed to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.
4Esau, however, ran to him and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept.
5When Esau looked up and saw the women and children, he asked, “Who are these with you?”
Jacob answered, “These are the children God has graciously given your servant.” 6Then the maidservants and their children approached and bowed down. 7Leah and her children also approached and bowed down, and then Joseph and Rachel approached and bowed down.
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.
9“I already have plenty, my brother,” Esau replied. “Keep what belongs to you.”
10But Jacob insisted, “No, please! If I have found favor in your sight, then receive this gift from my hand. For indeed, I have seen your face, and it is like seeing the face of God, since you have received me favorably. 11Please accept my gift that was brought to you, because God has been gracious to me and I have all I need.” So Jacob pressed him until he accepted.
12Then Esau said, “Let us be on our way, and I will go ahead of you.”
13But Jacob replied, “My lord knows that the children are frail, and I must care for sheep and cattle that are nursing their young. If they are driven hard for even a day, all the animals will die. 14Please let my lord go ahead of his servant. I will continue on slowly, at a comfortable pace for the livestock and children, until I come to my lord at Seir.”
15“Let me leave some of my people with you,” Esau said.
But Jacob replied, “Why do that? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.”
16So that day Esau started on his way back to Seir, 17but Jacob went on to Succoth, where he built a house for himself and shelters for his livestock; that is why the place was called Succoth.
Jacob Settles in Shechem
18After Jacob had come from Paddan-aram, he arrived safely at the city of Shechem in the land of Canaan, and he camped just outside the city. 19And the plot of ground where he pitched his tent, he purchased from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred pieces of silver. 20There he set up an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.
Berean Standard Bible, 20 verses. The BSB is in the public domain.
Around Genesis 33
Also in Isaac's line: Jacob
- Genesis 25
- Genesis 26
- Genesis 27
- Genesis 28
- Genesis 29
- Genesis 30
- Genesis 31
- Genesis 32
- Genesis 34
- Genesis 35
Places
- Succoth
- Shechem
Read alongside
- Genesis 32:30 Peniel, the face of God, the night before.
- Joshua 24:32 Joseph's bones buried in the plot Jacob bought at Shechem.
- John 4:5–6 Sychar, near the parcel Jacob gave Joseph; Jacob's well.
How Genesis 33 connects
- Blessing · Genesis 33:11 · “Please accept my gift” (in Hebrew, “my blessing”): Jacob gives a blessing to the brother whose blessing he took (ch. 27).
- Land · Genesis 33:18–20 · Back in the land, as promised (28:15); land bought at Shechem (Josh 24:32).
Doctrines Genesis 33 teaches
- Providence · Genesis 33:4; Proverbs 16:7
- Worship and the Lord's Day · Genesis 33:20
Questions on Genesis 33
In the Hebrew of 33:11 Jacob calls his gift his “blessing”; what earlier theft does that recall?
Show the answer
Jacob’s theft of Esau’s blessing in chapter 27, when Esau cried that his brother “has taken my blessing” (27:36). Now Jacob presses his blessing on Esau until he accepts it (33:11).
Where does Jacob buy land and build an altar on his return?
Show the answer
At Shechem in Canaan. Jacob buys the plot where he pitched his tent from the sons of Hamor for a hundred pieces of silver and sets up an altar called El-Elohe-Israel (33:18–20).
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