Commentaries Dictionaries Concordances

Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary

Genesis 32:6

Esau gave them but an imperfect and a doubtful answer, as appears from Jacob's fear, Genesis 32:7. He brought four hundred men with him; either as his usual guard, he being then a great man in those parts; or in ostentation of his power and greatness, in spite of all the injury which his father or brother did him; or because at first he designed mischief to Jacob, as may seem by his dismissing of his messengers without any testimony of his favour, though afterwards, upon Jacob's prayer, God changed his mind.

Continues after advertising

See also Genesis 32:6 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 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 h...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    - Jacob Wrestles in Prayer 3. מחנים _machănāyı̂m_, Machanaim, “two camps.” 22. יבק _yaboq_, Jabboq; related: בקק _bāqaq_ “gush or gurgle out” or אבק _'ābaq_ in niphal, “wrestle.” Now Wady Zurka....

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 32 JACOB'S FEAR OF ESAU AND PRAYER AT PENIEL _ 1. The vision at Mahanaim (Genesis 32:1)_ 2. The message to Esau (Genesis 32:3) 3. Esau's coming and Jacob's fear (Genesis 32:6) 4. Jacob's p...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    JACOB TAKES PRECAUTIONS TO APPEASE ESAU. Genesis 32:3_ a_ seems to be from J, Genesis 32:13 _b_ - Genesis 32:21 from E. Genesis 32

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _four hundred men_ Where Esau was, and how he had become the head of a force of four hundred men, is not related, but may have formed part of another narrative. His intentions, if not hostile, are sus...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    2. _Jacob's Reconciliation with Esau: The Biblical Account_ (Genesis 32:1 to Genesis 33:17) 1 And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. 2 And Jacob said when he saw them, This is God's...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _AND THE MESSENGERS RETURNED TO JACOB, SAYING, WE CAME TO THY BROTHER ESAU, AND ALSO HE COMETH TO MEET THEE, AND FOUR HUNDRED MEN WITH HIM._ The messengers returned. Their report left Jacob in painfu...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE APPROACH OF ESAU. JACOB WRESTLES WITH THE ANGEL 1. The angels of God] God had given Jacob, by an angelic vision, a pledge of His watchful love, when he left his home (Genesis 28:12). Now that he...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOD’S ANCIENT PEOPLE GENESIS _ALUN OWEN_ CHAPTER 32 JACOB PREPARES TO MEET ESAU V1 Jacob continued his journey. God’s *angels met him V2 and Jacob saw them. He said, ‘This is God’s army!’ So he c...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    THE TÔLDÔTH ISAAC (Genesis 25:19 to Genesis 35:29). THE BIRTH OF ISAAC’S SONS. Abraham begat Isaac — The _Tôldôth_ in its original form gave probably a complete genealogy of Isaac, tracing up his des...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    _[Genesis 32:7]_ וַ יָּשֻׁ֨בוּ֙ הַ מַּלְאָכִ֔ים אֶֽל...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    JACOB AT PENIEL Genesis 32:1 "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." James 4:10 JACOB had a double reason for wishing to leave Padan-aram. He believed in the promise...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    JACOB FEARS TO MEET ESAU Genesis 32:1 Before we encounter our Esaus we are sure to meet God's angels. If only our eyes are not holden we shall perceive them. The world is full of angel help! There ar...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    This is unquestionably one of the great Chapter s of the Bible, and it is significant how constant and powerful is its appeal to all who live on the principle of faith. It gives the account of the thi...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    WRESTLING WITH GOD As Jacob continued his journey toward home, angels met him. He called the name of that place Mahanaim, or "two camps" because there were two armies encamped there, the angels and h...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Men. Jonathan has Polemarchoi; officers or warriors, either to punish Jacob, (Wisdom x. 12.) as the latter feared, ver. 11; or to do him honour, as Esau protested, chap. xxxiii. 15. (Calmet)_...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Observe, no sooner is Jacob delivered from distress, by reason of Laban, but he falls into a similar, or greater trouble, from the fear of Esau. Reader! the world is full of Labans and Esaus, in the e...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    Having already shown the position of Isaac, I resume briefly with the remark that he stands before us clearly as the representative of the Son, and this too as dead, risen, and in heaven. All will und...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    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...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 29 THROUGH 35. I have no doubt that in the two wives, as I have said, we have the Gentiles and Israel: Rachel first loved on the earth, but not possessed; but...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    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 th...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him. Ver. 6. _And four hundred men with him._] Four hundred cut-t...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _He cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him_ He is now weary of waiting for the days of mourning for his father, and before they come resolves to slay thee. _Then was Jacob greatly afraid a...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Iacobs vision at Mahanaim. 3 His message to Esau. 6 He is afraid of Esaus comming. 9 He prayeth for deliuerance. 13 Hee sendeth a present to Esau. 24 He wrestleth with an Angel at Peniel, where...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him. The return of Jacob's messengers without a friendly greeting...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The Messengers to Esau...

  • Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures

    FIFTH SECTION _Jacob’s return. His fear of Esau. His night wrestlings with God. Peniel. The name Israel. Meeting and reconciliation with Esau._ GENESIS 32:3 TO GENESIS 33:16 3And Jacob sent messenge...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    RETURNING TO FACE ESAU As Jacob continues his journey we are told that the angels of God met him (v.1). It was not God Himself as yet who met him, but the angels were no doubt intended as an encourage...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-8 The angels of God appeared to Jacob, to encourage him with the assurance of the Divine protection. When God designs his people for great trials, he prepares them by great comforts. While Jacob, t...

  • Notes on the Pentateuch by Charles Henry Mackintosh

    And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him." Still God's grace follows him, notwithstanding all. "Nothing changeth God's affection." Whom He loves, and as He loves, He loves to the end....

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Genesis 32:6 messengers H4397 returned H7725 (H8799) Jacob H3290 saying H559 (H8800) came H935 (H8804) brother...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘And the messengers returned to Jacob saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and moreover he comes to meet you and four hundred men with him.” ' The fact that the messengers were allowed to return wit...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Genesis 32 I. God selects men for His work on earth, not because of their personal agreeableness, but because of their adaptation to the work they have to perform. II. There is something affecting in...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Genesis 32:1. _And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him._ What an encouragement the visit of these angels must have been to Jacob after the strife which he had had with Laban! But, de...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Genesis 32:1. _And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim._ Jacob was about to enter...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Jacob had just come out of a great trouble. God's gracious interposition had delivered him out of the hand of the angry Laban, Laban the churl, who cared for Jacob only for what he could get out of hi...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Genesis 32:1. _And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him._ When he left the promised land, he had a vision of angels, ascending and descending upon the ladder, as if to bid him farewel...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Jacob becomes Israel. Preparation for meeting Esau. Wrestling against the angel. CHARACTERS: Jacob, Esau, angel. CONCLUSION: Either we lean on God or on our own plans. The arrangements of...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Genesis 32:2. _Mahanaim,_ two camps or hosts, or the camp of God; a city in Gilead, mentioned in Joshua 13:26; Joshua 21:38; denoting that the angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear hi...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother._ THE ALARM I. We will consider, in the first place, THE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES WHICH JACOB ADOPTED. In the first instance, as soon as he he...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 32:6 FOUR HUNDRED MEN WITH HIM. A force of this size suggests that Esau plans to attack Jacob. ⇐...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 32:1 After separating peacefully from Laban, Jacob prepares to meet his estranged brother Esau. Jacob is naturally hesitant about how he will be received some 20 years after fl...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— Genesis 32:1. The angels of God met him.] “Lit., came, drew near to him, not precisely that they came from an opposite direction.” (_Lange._)— GENESIS 32:2. MAHANAIM.] Heb. Two camps...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION GENESIS 32:1 AND JACOB (after Laban's departure) WENT ON HIS WAY (from Galeed and Mizpah, in a southerly direction towards the Jabbok), AND THE ANGELS OF GOD—literally, _the messengers of...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Shall we turn in our Bibles to Genesis chapter thirty-two? Now in the thirty-first chapter we had the parting of Laban, Jacob's uncle as he kisses his grandchildren goodbye, as he sets up the stone an...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    and four. Genesis 32:8 Genesis 32:11 Genesis 27:40 Genesis 27:41 Genesis

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    He cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him — He is now weary of waiting for the days of mourning for his father, and before those come resolves to slay his brother. Out he marches with four...

Continues after advertising