Genesis 32:4

KJV1611 – Modern English

And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall you speak to my lord Esau; Your servant Jacob says this, I have lived with Laban, and stayed there until now:

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח יַעֲקֹ֤ב מַלְאָכִים֙ לְפָנָ֔יו אֶל־עֵשָׂ֖ו אָחִ֑יו אַ֥רְצָה שֵׂעִ֖יר שְׂדֵ֥ה אֱדֽוֹם׃

Transliteration

wə-yišlaḥ yaʿăqōb malʾākîm before-him to-ʿēśāw brother-his, land-of śēʿîr śədēh ʾĕdôm.

Grammar Details

• *wə-yišlaḥ*: waw consecutive + Qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - and he sent
• *malʾākîm*: masculine plural noun - messengers/angels
• *ʿēśāw*: proper noun - Esau
• *śēʿîr*: proper noun - Seir
• *śədēh*: masculine singular construct - field of
• *ʾĕdôm*: proper noun - Edom

Word Meanings

• *yišlaḥ*: to send, to stretch out, to let go
• *malʾākîm*: messengers, angels, ambassadors
• *śēʿîr*: Seir (place name), hairy
• *śədēh*: field, country, territory
• *ʾĕdôm*: Edom (place/people name), red

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau, in the land of Seir, the country of Edom.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau; Thy servant Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there until now:

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye say unto my lord Esau: Thus saith thy servant Jacob, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed until now:

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau; Thy servant Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there until now:

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  And he comaunded them saynge: se that ye speake after this maner to my LORde Esau: thy seruaunte Iacob sayth thus. I haue sogerned ad bene a straunger with Laban vnto this tyme:

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  & commaunded the, & sayde: Saye thus vnto my lorde Esau: Thy seruaunt Iacob sendeth ye this worde: I haue bene out wt Laban, & haue bene hither to amonge straungers,

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  To whom he gaue commandement, saying, Thus shall ye speake to my lorde Esau: thy seruant Iaakob sayeth thus, I haue bene a stranger with Laban, and taried vnto this time.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And he commaunded them, saying: Thus shall ye speake to my Lorde Esau, thy seruaunt Iacob sayeth thus: I haue ben a straunger with Laban, and haue stayed there vnto this time.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau; Thy servant Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there until now:

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  He commanded them, saying, "This is what you shall tell my lord, Esau: 'This is what your servant, Jacob, says. I have lived as a foreigner with Laban, and stayed until now.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  and commandeth them, saying, `Thus do ye say to my lord, to Esau: Thus said thy servant Jacob, With Laban I have sojourned, and I tarry until now;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye say unto my lord Esau: Thus saith thy servant Jacob, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed until now:

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye say unto my lord Esau: Thus saith thy servant Jacob, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed until now:

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And he gave them orders to say these words to Esau: Your servant Jacob says, Till now I have been living with Laban:

• World English Bible (2000)

  He commanded them, saying, "This is what you shall tell my lord, Esau: 'This is what your servant, Jacob, says. I have lived as a foreigner with Laban, and stayed until now.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  He commanded them,“This is what you must say to my lord Esau:‘This is what your servant Jacob says: I have been staying with Laban until now.

Referenced Verses

• Gen 4:7 : 7 If you do well, shall you not be accepted? and if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And unto you shall be his desire, and you shall rule over him.
• Gen 23:6 : 6 Hear us, my lord: you are a mighty prince among us; in the choice of our sepulchres bury your dead; none of us will withhold from you his sepulchre, that you may bury your dead.
• Gen 27:29 : 29 Let people serve you, and nations bow down to you: be lord over your brothers, and let your mother's sons bow down to you: cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be he who blesses you.
• Gen 27:37 : 37 And Isaac answered and said to Esau, Behold, I have made him your lord, and all his brothers have I given to him for servants; and with grain and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now for you, my son?
• Gen 32:5 : 5 And I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, and male and female servants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find favor in your sight.
• Gen 32:18 : 18 Then you shall say, They are your servant Jacob's; it is a present sent to my lord Esau: and behold, he is also behind us.
• Gen 33:8 : 8 And he said, What do you mean by all this company which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord.
• Exod 32:22 : 22 Aaron said, "Do not let the anger of my lord burn hot; you know the people, that they are bent on mischief.
• 1 Sam 26:17 : 17 And Saul recognized David's voice and said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" And David said, "It is my voice, my lord, O king."
• 1 Kgs 20:32 : 32 So they girded sackcloth on their loins, and put ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, Your servant Benhadad says, I pray you, let me live. And he said, Is he still alive? he is my brother.
• Prov 6:3 : 3 Do this now, my son, and deliver yourself, when you have come into the hand of your friend; go, humble yourself, and make sure your friend.
• Prov 15:1 : 1 A soft answer turns away wrath, but harsh words stir up anger.
• Eccl 10:4 : 4 If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, do not leave your place; for yielding pacifies great offenses.
• Luke 14:11 : 11 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled; and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
• 1 Pet 3:6 : 6 Just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any fear.