Genesis 32 - Expanded Bible (EXB)

Jacob Meets Esau

32 When Jacob also went his way, the ·angels [messengers] of God met him. 2 When he saw them, he said, “This is the camp of God!” So he named that place Mahanaim [C sounds like “two camps” in Hebrew; a city in the hill country of Gilead; Josh. 13:26, 30].

3 Jacob’s brother Esau was living in the area called Seir in the country of Edom [14:6]. Jacob sent messengers to Esau, 4 telling them, “Give this message to my ·master [lord] Esau: ‘This is what Jacob, your servant, says: I have ·lived [sojourned; lived as an alien] with Laban and have ·remained [or been detained] there until now. 5 I have cattle, donkeys, flocks, and male and female servants. I send this message to ·you [my master/lord] ·and ask you to accept us [L to find grace in your eyes].’ ”

6 The messengers returned to Jacob and said, “We went to your brother Esau. He is coming to meet you and has four hundred men with him.”

7 Then Jacob was very afraid and ·worried [distressed]. He divided the people who were with him and all the flocks, herds, and camels into two camps. 8 Jacob thought, “Esau might come and ·destroy [strike; attack] one camp, but the ·other camp can run away and [L the camp that is left] ·be saved [escape].”

9 Then Jacob said, “God of my father Abraham! God of my father Isaac! Lord, ·you told [did you not tell…?] me to return to my country and my family. You said that you would treat me well. 10 I am not worthy of the ·kindness [loyalty; covenant love] and ·continual goodness [faithfulness] you have shown ·me [L your servant]. The first time I traveled across the Jordan River, I had only my walking stick, but now I own enough to have two camps. 11 Please ·save [rescue; deliver] me from [L the hand of] my brother Esau. I am afraid he will come and ·kill [strike; attack] all of us, even the mothers with the children. 12 You said to me, ‘I will treat you well and will make your ·children [L seed] as many as the sand of the seashore [22:17]. There will be too many to count.’ ”

13 Jacob stayed there for the night and prepared ·a gift [or tribute] for Esau from what he had with him: 14 two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ·female sheep [ewes] and twenty ·male sheep [rams], 15 thirty female camels and their young, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys, and ten male donkeys. 16 Jacob gave each separate flock of animals to one of his servants and said to them, “·Go [Pass] ahead of me and keep some space between each herd.” 17 Jacob gave them their orders. To the servant with the first group of animals he said, “My brother Esau will come to you and ask, ‘·Whose servant are you [L To whom do you belong]? Where are you going and whose ·animals are these [L are these ahead of you]?’ 18 Then you will answer, ‘They belong to your servant Jacob. He sent them as a ·gift [or tribute] to you, my ·master [lord] Esau, and he also is coming behind us.’ ”

19 Jacob ordered the second servant, the third servant, and all the ·other servants [L others who followed the droves of animals] to do the same thing. He said, “Say the same thing to Esau when you meet him. 20 Say, ‘Your servant Jacob is coming behind us.’ ” Jacob thought, “If I send ·these gifts [or this tribute] ahead of me, maybe ·Esau will forgive me [L I will appease/propitiate him]. Then when I see ·him [L his face], perhaps he will accept me.” 21 So Jacob ·sent [passed ahead of him] the ·gifts [or tribute] to Esau, but he himself stayed that night in the camp.

Jacob Wrestles with God

22 During the night Jacob rose and crossed the Jabbok River [C a tributary of the Jordan about 15 miles north of the Dead Sea in the Transjordan] at the crossing, taking with him his two wives, his two slave girls, and his eleven sons. 23 He sent his family and everything he had across the ·river [wadi; ravine]. 24 So Jacob was alone, and a man came and wrestled with him until ·the sun came up [daybreak]. 25 When the man saw he could not defeat Jacob, he struck Jacob’s ·hip [hip socket] and put it out of joint [L as he wrestled with him]. 26 Then he said to Jacob, “Let me go. ·The sun is coming up [Daybreak is coming].”

But Jacob said, “I will ·let you go if you will [L not let you go unless you] bless me.”

27 The man said to him, “What is your name?”

And he answered, “Jacob.”

28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob. Your name will now be Israel [C sounds like “he wrestled/fought/strove with God” in Hebrew], because you have ·wrestled [fought; strove] with God and with people, and you have ·won [prevailed].”

29 Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.”

But ·the man [L he] said, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed Jacob there.

30 So Jacob named that place Peniel [C sounds like “face of God” in Hebrew], saying, “I have seen God face to face, but my life was ·saved [spared].” 31 Then the sun rose as he was leaving that place, and Jacob was limping because of his ·leg [hip]. 32 So even today the people of Israel do not eat the muscle that is on the hip joint of animals [C the sciatic muscle], because Jacob was touched there.

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Genesis 32 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

32 And Jacob hath gone on his way, and messengers of God come upon him; 2 and Jacob saith, when he hath seen them, `This [is] the camp of God;' and he calleth the name of that place `Two Camps.' 3 And Jacob sendeth messengers before him unto Esau his brother, towards the land of Seir, the field of E...
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Genesis 32 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

32 Forsooth Jacob went forth in the way in which he began (And Jacob went forth on the way in which he began), and the angels of the Lord met him. 2 And when he had seen them, he said, These be the castles of God (These be the companies of God/This is God’s camp); and he called the name of that plac...
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Genesis 32 - World English Bible (WEB)

32 Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. 2 When he saw them, Jacob said, “This is God’s army.” He called the name of that place Mahanaim.[a] 3 Jacob sent messengers in front of him to Esau, his brother, to the land of Seir, the field of Edom. 4 He commanded them, saying, “This is w...
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Genesis 32 - The Voice (VOICE)

32 Jacob went on his way as well. As he went, messengers of God met him along the way. 2 When Jacob saw them, he acknowledged that this was God’s camp, so he named that place Mahanaim, which means “two camps.” 3-4 Jacob knew he had to pass by the territory of Edom where his brother Esau lived in t...
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Genesis 32 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

32 Early in the morning Laban got up, kissed his grandchildren and daughters and blessed them. Then Laban left and returned to his place. 2 While Jacob left on his way, the angels of God met him. 3 Then Jacob said when he saw them, “This is God’s camp”, and he named that place Mahanaim. Parashat V...
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Genesis 32 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

32 Jacob went on his way and the angels of God met him; 2 and when Jacob saw them he said, “This is God’s army!” So he called the name of that place Mahana′im.[a] Jacob Sends Presents to Appease Esau3 And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother in the land of Se′ir, the country of Edom...
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Genesis 32 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

32 Jacob went on his way and the angels of God met him; 2 and when Jacob saw them he said, “This is God’s army!” So he called the name of that place Mahana′im.[a] Jacob Sends Presents to Appease Esau3 And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother in the land of Se′ir, the country of Edom...
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Genesis 32 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

32 Jacob went on his way and the angels of God met him; 2 and when Jacob saw them he said, ‘This is God’s camp!’ So he called that place Mahanaim.[a] Jacob Sends Presents to Appease Esau3 Jacob sent messengers before him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom, 4 instructing t...
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Genesis 32 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

32 Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him; 2 when Jacob saw them he said, “This is God’s camp!” So he called that place Mahanaim.[a](A)Jacob Sends Presents to Appease Esau3 Jacob sent messengers before him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom,(B)4 instructing th...
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Genesis 32 - New Living Translation (NLT)

32 [a]As Jacob started on his way again, angels of God came to meet him. 2 When Jacob saw them, he exclaimed, “This is God’s camp!” So he named the place Mahanaim.[b] Jacob Sends Gifts to Esau3 Then Jacob sent messengers ahead to his brother, Esau, who was living in the region of Seir in the land of...
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Genesis 32 - New Life Version (NLV)

Esau Comes to Meet Jacob32 Jacob went on his way, and God’s angels met him. 2 When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is God’s camp!” So he gave the place the name Mahanaim. 3 Jacob sent men to carry news before him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom. 4 He told them, “Say thi...
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Genesis 32 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Esau Comes to Meet Jacob32 So Jacob went on his way, and (A)the angels of God met him. 2 When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is God’s (B)camp.” And he called the name of that place [a]Mahanaim. 3 Then Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother (C)in the land of Seir, (D)the [b]country of ...
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Genesis 32 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Jacob prepares to meet Esau32 [a]Jacob also went on his way, and the angels of God met him. 2 When Jacob saw them, he said, ‘This is the camp of God!’ So he named that place Mahanaim.[b] 3 Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom. 4 He instruc...
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Genesis 32 - New International Version (NIV)

Jacob Prepares to Meet Esau32 [a]Jacob also went on his way, and the angels of God(A) met him. 2 When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is the camp of God!”(B) So he named that place Mahanaim.[b](C) 3 Jacob sent messengers(D) ahead of him to his brother Esau(E) in the land of Seir,(F) the country of Ed...
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Genesis 32 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Jacob Gets Ready to Meet Esau32 Jacob also went on his way. The angels of God met him. 2 Jacob saw them. He said, “This is the army of God!” So he named that place Mahanaim. 3 Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau. Esau lived in the land of Seir. It was also called the country of E...
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Genesis 32 - New English Translation (NET)

Jacob Wrestles at Peniel32 So Jacob went on his way and the angels of God[a] met him. 2 When Jacob saw them, he exclaimed,[b] “This is the camp of God!” So he named that place Mahanaim.[c] 3 Jacob sent messengers on ahead[d] to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the region[e] of Edom. 4 He comm...
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