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Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

Genesis 33:4

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

Esau had dismounted which must have been a great relief to Jacob. Esau is clearly genuinely pleased to see his brother and feels very emotionally about it. But we cannot doubt that Jacob's tears had within them something of relief.

Esau's pleasure appears to be real. He has long forgotten any falling out and is happy to see his brother. He runs to embrace him. He is quite satisfied with his life as it is and holds no grudges. This is one of the many things in Esau we must admire. Yet the fact that he cares so little about what he has lost demonstrates how little the covenant promises meant to him. He would not really have been suitable to carry on the succession.

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See also Genesis 33:4 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Genesis 33:4. _ESAU RAN TO MEET HIM_] How sincere and genuine is this conduct of Esau, and at the same time how magnanimous! He had buried all his resentment, and forgotten all his injuries; and...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    - Jacob and Esau Meet 17. סכת _sûkkôth_, Sukkoth, “booths,” consisting of poles forming a roof covered with branches, leaves, or grass. 19. חמור _chămôr_ Chamor, “ass, red, heap.” קשׂיטה _q__e__s...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 33 THE RECONCILIATION OF ESAU _ 1. Jacob meets Esau (Genesis 33:1)_ 2. In the city of Shechem and the altar erected (Genesis 33:18) The reconciliation is effected, but Jacob is the same man...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    GENESIS 33. THE RECONCILIATION OF JACOB AND ESAU. Genesis 33:1 is in the main from J, but bits of E have been woven in (Genesis 33:5_ b_, Genesis 33:10_ b_,...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _And Esau_ Esau's conduct on this occasion is that of a good-natured and forgiving disposition. There is no statement of his having intended any mischief to Jacob. His appearance with four hundred men...

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 48 RECONCILIATION OF ESAU AND JACOB Genesis 33:4. _And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept._ SUCH are the dispositions of men in gen...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    EMBRACED HIM, AND FELL ON HIS NECK, AND KISSED HIM— They who are more _intimately_ acquainted, or of _equal_ age or dignity, among the Easterns, mutually kiss the _hand,_ the _head,_ or _shoulder_ of...

  • 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 ESAU RAN TO MEET HIM, AND EMBRACED HIM, AND FELL ON HIS NECK, AND KISSED HIM: AND THEY WEPT._ Esau ran ... fell on his neck, and kissed him. What a sudden and surprising change! Whether the sigh...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    1-16.Jacob and Esau meet peaceably. 17-20. Jacob settles in Canaan....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    Jacob's prayer (Genesis 32:11) is answered, and Esau, whatever his original purpose, now shows his brother only goodwill and affection....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    Jacob greeted Esau in a very polite way. He started his greeting before they came close to each other. Esau did not delay so as to be polite. Instead, Esau ran to meet Jacob....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOD’S ANCIENT PEOPLE GENESIS _ALUN OWEN_ CHAPTER 33 ESAU AND JACOB MEET V1 Jacob saw that Esau approached. And 400 men came with him. So Jacob divided the children into 4 groups. Leah and Rachel...

  • 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...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    ESAU RAN TO MEET HIM. — Whatever may have been Esau’s intention when he started, no sooner does he see his brother than the old times of their childhood return to his heart, and he is overcome with lo...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יָּ֨רָץ עֵשָׂ֤ו לִ קְרָאתֹו֙ וַֽ יְחַבְּקֵ

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    JACOB AND ESAU RECONCILED Genesis 33:1 Many things, like this meeting with Esau, are worse in anticipation than in actuality. The brothers were on the same old terms as before that filching of Isaac'...

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

    The morning broke and Jacob-or Israel as he had now become- went forward to meet Esau. How strange a mixture there was in the make-up of this man is once more clearly evident. It is patent that fear o...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    THE REUNION WITH ESAU When Jacob saw Esau coming, he divided his family into three groups. The maidservants formed a group with their children, Leah formed one with hers and Rachel brought up the rear...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    See what grace can accomplish! Read that Scripture, Proverbs 16:7....

  • 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

    4._And Esau ran to meet him_. That Esau meets his brother with unexpected benevolence and kindness, is the effect of the special favor of God. Therefore, by this method, God proved that he has the hea...

  • 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 ESAU RAN TO MEET HIM,.... If he rode on any creature, which is likely, he alighted from it on sight of his brother Jacob, and to express his joy on that occasion, and affection for him, made all t...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept. Ver. 4. _And kissed him._] The word kissed hath a prick over every letter in the original: to note, sa...

  • Jonathan Edwards' Notes On The Scriptures

    Gen. 33:1-7. As Jacob's family returned to the land of Canaan, after Jacob had been long banished from thence, so it is probable will be the return of the spiritual Israel to God, its resting-place, a...

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

    _Esau ran to meet him_ Not in anger, but in love: so wonderfully and suddenly had God, who hath the hearts of all men in his hands, and can turn them when and how he pleases, changed his heart; and of...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 The kindnesse of Iacob and Esau at their meeting. 17 Iacob commeth to Succoth. 18 At Salem he buyeth a field, and buildeth an Altar called Elohe Israel. 1 AND Iacob lifted vp his eyes, and looked...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him; and they wept. If Esau had still been cherishing his old grudge when he left his home, this was now fully overcome and...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    JACOB'S MEETING WITH 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

    THE BROTHERS MEET AGAIN Jacob's trepidation is not eased when he sees that Esau has passed by all the droves and is coming with his four hundred men to meet Jacob. He even divides his family at this...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-16 Jacob, having by prayer committed his case to God, went on his way. Come what will, nothing can come amiss to him whose heart is fixed, trusting in God. Jacob bowed to Esau. A humble, submissive...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    No text from Poole on this verse....

  • Notes on the Pentateuch by Charles Henry Mackintosh

    & Gen 34:1-31 We may here see how groundless were all Jacob's fears, and how useless all his plans. Notwithstanding the wrestling, the touching the hollow of the thigh, and the halting, we find Jacob...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Genesis 33:4 Esau H6215 ran H7323 (H8799) meet H7125 (H8800) embraced H2263 (H8762) fell H5307 ...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Genesis 33:1. _And 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. And...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Jacob meets Esau. Settles in Canaan. CHARACTERS: Jacob, Esau, Leah, Rachael, Joseph. CONCLUSION: How groundless are all the Christian's fears and how useless all his self-devised plans. «W...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Genesis 33:3. _Bowed himself to the ground._ He then rose and walked a little farther, and bowed again; so he did seven times until he approached his brother. Homage of this kind was first paid to the...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him_ THE RECONCILIATION OF JACOB AND ESAU I. IT ILLUSTRATES THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CHARACTERS OF THE TWO BROTHERS. 1. Esau was generous and forgiving. 2...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 33:1 Having met the Lord at Peniel, Jacob is reconciled with Esau. ⇐ ⇔...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 33:4 ESAU RAN TO MEET HIM. The unreserved manner in which Esau greets and embraces Jacob reveals that he is not angry with him. ⇐

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— Genesis 33:3. Bowed himself to the ground seven times.] “He bowed himself after the Eastern fashion, bending the body so that the face nearly touches the ground. The text gives us to...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION GENESIS 33:1, GENESIS 33:2 AND JACOB, having the day before dispatched his conciliatory gift to Esau, turned his back upon the Jabbok, having crossed to the south bank, if the previous nig...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    And 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 the two handmaidens (Genesis 33:1). In oth...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    embraced. Genesis 32:28 Genesis 43:30 Genesis 43:34 Genesis 45:2 Gene

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    And Esau ran to meet him — Not in passion but in love. Embraced him, fell on his neck and kissed him — God hath the hearts of all men in his hands, and can turn them when and how he pleases. He can of...

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