Genesis 32:5-6 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 32:3-8

Now that Jacob was re-entering Canaan God, by the vision of angels, reminded him of the friends he had when he left it, and thence he takes occasion to remind himself of the enemies he had, particularly Esau. It is probable that Rebekah had sent him word of Esau's settlement in Seir, and of the continuance of his enmity to him. What shall poor Jacob do? He longs to see his father, and yet he dreads to see his brother. He rejoices to see Canaan again, and yet cannot but rejoice with trembling... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 32:5

And I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and menservants, and womenservants ,.... This he would have said, lest he should think he was come to ask anything of him, and put himself and his family upon him; and lest he should treat him with contempt, as a poor mean beggarly creature, and be ashamed of the relation he stood in to him: and I have sent to tell my lord ; of his coming, and of his state and circumstances: that I may find grace in thy sight ; share in his good will, which was all... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 32:6

And the messengers returned to Jacob ,.... After they had delivered their message, with the answer they brought back: saying, we came to thy brother Esau ; which, though not expressed, is implied in these words, and is still more manifest by what follows: and also he cometh to meet thee ; and pay a friendly visit, as they supposed: and four hundred men with him ; partly to show his grandeur, and partly out of respect to Jacob, and to do honour to him; though some think this was... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 32:6

Esau - cometh - and four hundred men with him - Jacob, conscious that he had injured his brother, was now apprehensive that he was coming with hostile intentions, and that he had every evil to fear from his displeasure. Conscience is a terrible accuser. It was a fine saying of a heathen, Hic murus aheneus esto, Nil conscire sibi, nulla pallescere culpa. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 32:5

Verse 5 5.I have oxen. Jacob does not proclaim his riches for the sake of boasting, but that by this method Esau might be inclined to humanity. For it would have been exceedingly disgraceful, cruelly to drive away one who had been enriched, by the favor of God, in a distant land. Besides, he cuts off occasion of future emulation: for if he had come empty and famishing, Esau might conceive fresh indignation against him, through fear of the expense which might be entailed on himself. Therefore... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 32:6

Verse 6 6.And the messengers returned. Esau advances to meet his brother with a feeling of benevolence: but Jacob, reflecting on his cruel ferocity, inflated spirits, and savage threats, expects no humanity from him. And the Lord willed that the mind of his servant should be oppressed by this anxiety for a time, although without any real cause, in order the more to excite the fervor of his prayer. For we know what coldness, on this point, security engenders. Therefore, lest our faith, being... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 32:1-23

Mahanaim, or preparing for Esau. I. THE ANGELIC APPARITION . 1. The time when it occurred . 2. The impression which it made. Whether completely surrounding him, or divided into two companies, one on either side of him, Jacob's angelic visitors, from their number, their orderly array, their military dispositions, assumed the appearance of a heavenly army lying encamped over against His own; and the sight of the two companies immediately suggested the ejaculation, "This is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 32:3-8

Faith and fellowship. Jacob's preparation against danger betokened his sense of duty to do his utmost under the circumstances, and his sense of past errors and ill desert towards his brother. There is an exercise of our own judgment in times of distress and extremity which is quite consistent with dependence upon God.— R . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 32:4-5

And he commanded them , saying, Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau; Thy servant Jacob saith thus ;—the expression "my lord "may have been designed to intimate to Esau that he (Jacob) did not intend to assert that superiority or precedency which had been assigned him by Isaac's blessing ( Genesis 27:29 ), at least so far as to claim a share in Isaac's wealth (Calvin, Bush, Gerlach), but was probably due chiefly to the extreme courtesy of the East (Gerlach), or to a desire to conciliate... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 32:6

And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee ( vide Genesis 33:1 ), and four hundred men with him . That Esau was attended by 400 armed followers was a proof that he had grown to be a powerful chieftain. If the hypothesis be admissible that he had already begun to live by the sword ( Genesis 27:40 ), and was now invading the territory of the Horites, which he afterwards occupied (Delitzsch, Keil, Kurtz), it will serve to... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 32:3-8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 32:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 32:6

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 32:6

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 32:5

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 32:6

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 32:1-23

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 32:3-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 32:4-5

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 32:6

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