Genesis 33:2
◄  Genesis 33:2  ►
New International Version (©2011)
He put the female servants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph in the rear.

New Living Translation (©2007)
He put the servant wives and their children at the front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last.

English Standard Version (©2001)
And he put the servants with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
He put the maids and their children in front, and Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
He put the female slaves and their children first, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last.

International Standard Version (©2012)
Then he positioned the women servants and their children first, then Leah and her children next, and then Rachel and Joseph after them.

NET Bible (©2006)
He put the servants and their children in front, with Leah and her children behind them, and Rachel and Joseph behind them.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
He put the slaves and their children in front, Leah and her children after them, and Rachel and Joseph last.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph last.

American King James Version
And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph last.

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

Douay-Rheims Bible
And he put both the handmaids and their children foremost: and Lia and her children in the second place: and Rachel and Joseph last.

Darby Bible Translation
and he put the maidservants and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindmost.

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

Webster's Bible Translation
And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost.

World English Bible
He put the handmaids and their children in front, Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph at the rear.

Young's Literal Translation
and he setteth the maid-servants and their children first, and Leah and her children behind, and Rachel and Joseph last.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

33:1-16 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 behaviour goes far towards turning away wrath. Esau embraced Jacob. God has the hearts of all men in his hands, and can turn them when and how he pleases. It is not in vain to trust in God, and to call upon him in the day of trouble. And when a man's ways please the Lord he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. Esau receives Jacob as a brother, and much tenderness passes between them. Esau asks, Who are those with thee? To this common question, Jacob spoke like himself, like a man whose eyes are ever directed towards the Lord. Jacob urged Esau, though his fear was over, and he took his present. It is well when men's religion makes them generous, free-hearted, and open-handed. But Jacob declined Esau's offer to accompany him. It is not desirable to be too intimate with superior ungodly relations, who will expect us to join in their vanities, or at least to wink at them, though they blame, and perhaps mock at, our religion. Such will either be a snare to us, or offended with us. We shall venture the loss of all things, rather than endanger our souls, if we know their value; rather than renounce Christ, if we truly love him. And let Jacob's care and tender attention to his family and flocks remind us of the good Shepherd of our souls, who gathers the lambs with his arm, and carries them in his bosom, and gently leads those that are with young, Isa 40:11. As parents, teachers or pastors, we should all follow his example.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And he put the handmaids and their children foremost,.... In the first division, as being less honourable and less beloved by him:

and Leah and her children after; still according to the degree of honour and affection due unto them; Leah being a wife that was imposed and forced upon him:

and Rachel and Joseph hindermost; being most beloved by him, and therefore most careful of them; Rachel being his principal and lawful wife, and who had the greatest share in his affection, and Joseph his only child by her.

Genesis 33:2 Parallel Commentaries
Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


Jacob Meets Esau
1And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children to Leah, and to Rachel, and to the two handmaids. 2And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph last. 3And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. …

Genesis 33:1 Jacob looked up and there was Esau, coming with his four hundred men; so he divided the children among Leah, Rachel and the two female servants.
Genesis 33:3 He himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.
Jeremiah 50:12 your mother will be greatly ashamed; she who gave you birth will be disgraced. She will be the least of the nations-- a wilderness, a dry land, a desert.