Genesis 32:17

KJV1611 – Modern English

And he commanded the first, saying, When Esau my brother meets you, and asks you, saying, Whose are you? and where are you going? and whose are these ahead of you?

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיִּתֵּן֙ בְּיַד־עֲבָדָ֔יו עֵ֥דֶר עֵ֖דֶר לְבַדּ֑וֹ וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֶל־עֲבָדָיו֙ עִבְר֣וּ לְפָנַ֔י וְרֶ֣וַח תָּשִׂ֔ימוּ בֵּ֥ין עֵ֖דֶר וּבֵ֥ין עֵֽדֶר׃

Transliteration

wə-yittēn in-hand-of-servants-his ʿēder ʿēder separately wə-yōʾmer to-servants-his ʿibrû before-me and-rewaḥ tāśîmû between ʿēder and-between ʿēder.

Grammar Details

• *wə-yittēn*: waw consecutive + Qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - and he gave
• *ʿēder*: masculine singular noun - flock, herd
• *wə-yōʾmer*: waw consecutive + Qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - and he said
• *ʿibrû*: Qal imperative, masculine plural - pass over, cross over
• *rewaḥ*: masculine singular noun - space, interval
• *tāśîmû*: Qal imperfect, 2nd masculine plural - you shall put

Word Meanings

• *yittēn*: to give, to put, to set
• *ʿēder*: flock, herd, drove
• *yōʾmer*: to say, to command, to tell
• *ʿibrû*: pass over, cross over, go ahead
• *rewaḥ*: space, interval, breathing room
• *tāśîmû*: to put, to place, to set

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  He placed each herd in the care of his servants, and he instructed them, 'Go ahead of me and keep some distance between the herds.'

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my brother meeteth thee, and asketh thee, saying, Whose art thou? and whither goest thou? and whose are these before thee?

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my brother meeteth thee, and asketh thee, saying, Whose art thou? and whither goest thou? and whose are these before thee?

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my brother meeteth thee, and asketh thee, saying, Whose art thou? and whither goest thou? and whose are these before thee?

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  And he comaunded the formest sayngeWhe Esau my brother meteth the ad axeth the saynge: whose seruaute art thou and whither goost thou and whose ar these that goo before ye:

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  and commaunded the first and sayde: When my brother Esau meteth the, and axeth the: Whose art thou? & whyther goest thou? and whose are these that thou dryuest before the?

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And he commanded the formost, saying, If Esau my brother meete thee, and aske thee, saying, Whose seruant art thou? And whither goest thou? And whose are these before thee?

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And he commaunded the formost, saying: If Esau my brother meete thee, and aske thee, saying, whose art thou? and whyther goest thou? and whose are these that go before thee?

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my brother meeteth thee, and asketh thee, saying, Whose [art] thou? and whither goest thou? and whose [are] these before thee?

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  He commanded the foremost, saying, "When Esau, my brother, meets you, and asks you, saying, 'Whose are you? Where are you going? Whose are these before you?'

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And he commandeth the first, saying, `When Esau my brother meeteth thee, and hath asked thee, saying, Whose `art' thou? and whither goest thou? and whose `are' these before thee?

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my brother meeteth thee, and asketh thee, saying, Whose art thou? and whither goest thou? and whose are these before thee?

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my brother meeteth thee, and asketh thee, saying, Whose art thou? and whither goest thou? and whose are these before thee?

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And he gave orders to the first, saying, When my brother Esau comes to you and says, Whose servant are you, and where are you going, and whose are these herds?

• World English Bible (2000)

  He commanded the foremost, saying, "When Esau, my brother, meets you, and asks you, saying, 'Whose are you? Where are you going? Whose are these before you?'

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  He instructed the servant leading the first herd,“When my brother Esau meets you and asks,‘To whom do you belong? Where are you going? Whose herds are you driving?’

Referenced Verses

• Gen 33:3 : 3 And he passed over in front of them and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.