Genesis 33:3

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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

Complete Jewish Bible:

Then he himself passed on ahead of them and prostrated himself on the ground seven times before approaching his brother.

Berean Standard Bible:

But Jacob himself went on ahead and bowed to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.

American Standard Version:

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

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And he passed over^{H5674} before them^{H6440}, and bowed himself^{H7812} to the ground^{H776} seven^{H7651} times^{H6471}, until he came near^{H5066} to his brother^{H251}.

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Commentary for Genesis 33:3

**Verse Theme:**
The verse Genesis 33:3 describes a poignant moment of humility and submission as Jacob prepares to meet his estranged brother Esau. Jacob, who had previously deceived Esau and fled out of fear for his life, is now returning to the land of Canaan. The act of bowing seven times is a sign of deep respect and an attempt to appease Esau, whose birthright and blessing he had stolen years earlier.

**Historical Context:**
The context of this verse is set within the broader narrative of Jacob's life. After working for his uncle Laban for many years and experiencing his own deception, Jacob has become wealthy and is returning to his homeland. His past actions towards Esau have left him uncertain of his brother's reception. The number seven in the ancient Near East often symbolized completeness or perfection, so Jacob's seven prostrations may reflect a complete submission or an effort to fully atone for past wrongs. This meeting occurs after Jacob's transformative experience of wrestling with God (Genesis 32:22-32), which resulted in his name being changed to Israel, signifying a new identity and a fresh start.

The tension between the brothers stems from their early family dynamics, where Jacob was the favored son of their mother Rebekah, and Esau was favored by their father Isaac. The impending encounter is fraught with anxiety for Jacob, who has sent gifts ahead to Esau in hopes of softening his brother's heart. The verse captures a critical moment of reconciliation that is emblematic of the themes of forgiveness, restoration, and the complex dynamics of family relationships found throughout the book of Genesis.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H5674
   There are 493 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָבַר
   Transliteration: ʻâbar
   Pronunciation: aw-bar'
   Description: a primitive root; to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in copulation); alienate, alter, [idiom] at all, beyond, bring (over, through), carry over, (over-) come (on, over), conduct (over), convey over, current, deliver, do away, enter, escape, fail, gender, get over, (make) go (away, beyond, by, forth, his way, in, on, over, through), have away (more), lay, meddle, overrun, make partition, (cause to, give, make to, over) pass(-age, along, away, beyond, by, -enger, on, out, over, through), (cause to, make) [phrase] proclaim(-amation), perish, provoke to anger, put away, rage, [phrase] raiser of taxes, remove, send over, set apart, [phrase] shave, cause to (make) sound, [idiom] speedily, [idiom] sweet smelling, take (away), (make to) transgress(-or), translate, turn away, (way-) faring man, be wrath.
   
2. Strong's Number: H6440
   There are 1890 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פָּנִים
   Transliteration: pânîym
   Pronunciation: paw-neem'
   Description: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.); [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you.
   
3. Strong's Number: H7812
   There are 166 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁחָה
   Transliteration: shâchâh
   Pronunciation: shaw-khaw'
   Description: a primitive root; to depress, i.e. prostrate (especially reflexive, in homage to royalty or God); bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship.
   
4. Strong's Number: H776
   There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֶרֶץ
   Transliteration: ʼerets
   Pronunciation: eh'-rets
   Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world.
   
5. Strong's Number: H7651
   There are 345 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שֶׁבַע
   Transliteration: shebaʻ
   Pronunciation: sheh'-bah
   Description: or (masculine) (שִׁבְעָה); from שָׁבַע; a primitive cardinal number; seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week; by extension, an indefinite number; ([phrase] by) seven(-fold),-s, (-teen, -teenth), -th, times). Compare שִׁבְעָנָה.
   
6. Strong's Number: H6471
   There are 108 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פַּעַם
   Transliteration: paʻam
   Pronunciation: pah'-am
   Description: or (feminine) פַּעֲמָה; from פָּעַם; a stroke, literally or figuratively (in various applications, as follow); anvil, corner, foot(-step), going, (hundred-) fold, [idiom] now, (this) [phrase] once, order, rank, step, [phrase] thrice, (often-), second, this, two) time(-s), twice, wheel.
   
7. Strong's Number: H5066
   There are 112 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָגַשׁ
   Transliteration: nâgash
   Pronunciation: naw-gash'
   Description: a primitive root; to be or come (causatively, bring) near (for any purpose); euphemistically, to lie with a woman; as an enemy, to attack; religious to worship; causatively, to present; figuratively, to adduce an argument; by reversal, to stand back; (make to) approach (nigh), bring (forth, hither, near), (cause to) come (hither, near, nigh), give place, go hard (up), (be, draw, go) near (nigh), offer, overtake, present, put, stand.
   
8. Strong's Number: H251
   There are 636 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָח
   Transliteration: ʼâch
   Pronunciation: awkh
   Description: a primitive word; a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance (like father)); another, brother(-ly); kindred, like, other. Compare also the proper names beginning with 'Ah-' or 'Ahi-'.