Genesis 33 · Jacob becomes Israel

An embrace and a cautious reunion

The feared encounter finally arrives. Jacob approaches with deference, while Esau runs to embrace him. The brothers reconcile, but their households follow separate paths. Jacob eventually settles near Shechem.

The biblical text

Genesis 33

King James Version

1And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids.

2And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost.

3And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.

4And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.

5And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant.

6Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves.

7And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves.

8And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord.

9And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself.

10And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me.

11Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it.

12And he said, Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before thee.

13And he said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die.

14Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir.

15And Esau said, Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me. And he said, What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my lord.

16So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir.

17And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.

18And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan-aram; and pitched his tent before the city.

19And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for an hundred pieces of money.

20And he erected there an altar, and called it El-elohe-Israel.

Original study notes

Understand the passage

Genesis 33:1-11

The meeting transformed

Jacob arranges his household and bows repeatedly as he approaches. Esau embraces him, and both weep. Jacob introduces his family as God's gracious gift and urges Esau to accept the present. The language of gift and blessing reverses the earlier struggle to take a blessing away.

Genesis 33:12-17

Different paces and destinations

Esau offers companionship and an escort. Jacob declines, citing the needs of children and animals. Esau returns to Seir; Jacob goes to Succoth. The reunion brings peace, but the text does not portray the brothers as permanently sharing one household or itinerary.

Genesis 33:18-20

Land and an altar

Jacob reaches the area of Shechem, buys a parcel of land and erects an altar bearing the name of God, the God of Israel. Return to the land includes worship and a recognized purchase, but the next chapter will show how insecure settlement remains.

Read carefully

Reconciliation can include boundaries and separate lives. Do not use the embrace to require instant, unrestricted access in every damaged relationship.

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Discuss and reflect

1. What action most sharply overturns Jacob's expectations?

Show answer guidance

Esau runs to embrace him instead of attacking.

2. How is Jacob's language about blessing different now?

Show answer guidance

He presses a gift on the brother from whom he once took, and credits God's generosity.

Read across the Bible

Read these passages in context. Notice what they repeat, develop or clarify.

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