Genesis 32:15 kjv

Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and ten bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals.

Genesis 32:15 nkjv

thirty milk camels with their colts, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten foals.

Genesis 32:15 niv

thirty female camels with their young, forty cows and ten bulls, and twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys.

Genesis 32:15 esv

thirty milking camels and their calves, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys.

Genesis 32:15 nlt

30 female camels with their young, 40 cows, 10 bulls, 20 female donkeys, and 10 male donkeys.

Genesis 32 verses

Genesis 32 15 Meaning

Genesis 32:15 lists the specific components of the extensive gift that Jacob sent ahead of him to his brother Esau. It details a total of 55 breeding pairs or individual animals: thirty female camels with their foals, forty cows and ten bulls, and twenty female donkeys with ten male donkeys. This substantial offering was intended by Jacob to appease Esau and avert his wrath, allowing for a peaceful reconciliation between the long-estranged brothers.

Genesis 32 15 Context

Genesis chapter 32 chronicles Jacob's journey back to Canaan after spending twenty years with Laban. He is returning at God's command (Gen 31:3), but the impending reunion with his estranged brother Esau, whom he had wronged by stealing his birthright and blessing, fills him with profound fear and anxiety (Gen 32:7). Upon hearing that Esau is coming with 400 men, Jacob immediately devises a two-pronged strategy: dividing his camp to save at least one part if attacked, and preparing a massive conciliatory gift to send ahead. This gift, detailed in verse 15 and elaborated in subsequent verses (v16-20) as being sent in waves, is a crucial part of his plan to appease Esau. His strategy culminates in fervent prayer to God (Gen 32:9-12), followed by a personal spiritual struggle at Peniel (Gen 32:22-32) before the actual encounter. Thus, verse 15 describes the tangible component of Jacob's human prudence, which he employed while simultaneously trusting in divine protection.

Genesis 32 15 Word Analysis

• Thirty she-camels with their foals:

  • Hebrew: שְׁלֹשִׁים גְּמַלּ֤וֹת מֵינִיק֖וֹת וּבְנֵיהֶ֣ם (shlosim g'malot meinikot u'v'neiham) – "thirty suckling female camels and their offspring."
  • Significance: Camels were extremely valuable livestock in that desert environment, essential for travel, trade, and as a measure of wealth. Female camels, especially "suckling" (meiniqot), along with their foals, were particularly precious as they ensured continuity and increase of the herd. This specific inclusion demonstrates Jacob's understanding of immense value and long-term potential for Esau's benefit, rather than just simple quantity. This indicates a high-value, considerate gift.

• Forty cows and ten bulls:

  • Hebrew: אַרְבָּעִ֨ים פָּר֜וֹת וַעֲשָׂרָ֤ה פָרִים֙ (arba'im parot va'asara parim) – "forty cows and ten bulls."
  • Significance: Cattle were a cornerstone of ancient economies, providing meat, milk, and power for agriculture. The ratio of cows to bulls (4:1) suggests a focus on breeding stock and productivity. This part of the gift not only offers immediate sustenance and status but also contributes to Esau's future wealth.

• Twenty female donkeys with ten male donkeys:

  • Hebrew: עֶשְׂרִ֨ים אֲתֹנֹ֜ת וַעֲשָׂרָ֥ה עֲיָרִֽם (esrim atonot va'asara ayarim) – "twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys."
  • Significance: Donkeys were crucial beasts of burden, used for transport and carrying goods over long distances. They are known for their hardiness in arid environments. Again, the inclusion of both females and males, with more females (2:1 ratio), emphasizes breeding and utility. They represented reliable, durable assets for daily life and travel.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• The comprehensive list of animals: This detailed enumeration highlights the immense scale of the gift. It's not a token gesture but a significant portion of Jacob's own accumulated wealth, demonstrating the gravity of his fear and his earnest desire for reconciliation. The diversity of the animals – camels for travel/trade, cattle for sustenance/agriculture, donkeys for transport – indicates a thoughtful, strategic selection to benefit Esau in multiple practical ways, reflecting Jacob's long experience as a livestock owner. The inclusion of breeding pairs (or implied continuation like "she-camels with their foals") signals a gift designed for Esau's enduring prosperity, not just immediate consumption, making it even more valuable and persuasive. This systematic presentation of his gift foreshadows Jacob's meticulous planning and prayerful approach to confronting his past.

Genesis 32 15 Bonus Section

The economic value of this gift in Jacob's time would have been immense. Livestock represented portable wealth and essential resources for survival, travel, and social standing in ancient Near Eastern nomadic and agricultural societies. A gift of this magnitude from one kinsman to another was akin to a modern-day transfer of significant business assets or even a small fortune.

Jacob’s strategy of dividing the gift into droves, each preceding the other by a distance, (described in Gen 32:16-19, following this verse) was psychologically brilliant. It was designed to maximize the appeasing effect by repeatedly demonstrating Jacob's immense generosity and persistent desire for favor, gradually softening Esau's heart before Jacob's own arrival. This was a sophisticated negotiation tactic, allowing time for Esau to digest the gift and its implied plea for reconciliation without immediate confrontation. It shows Jacob's strategic mind, honed over twenty years of dealing with Laban, now applied with spiritual urgency to his family conflict.

Genesis 32 15 Commentary

Genesis 32:15 meticulously details the elaborate "present" (Hebrew: minchah, a term also used for a grain offering to God) that Jacob assembled for his brother Esau. This inventory reveals several crucial aspects of Jacob's character and the divine narrative. First, the sheer quantity and diversity of the animals underscore the profound fear and apprehension Jacob felt concerning the impending reunion. This was no casual offering, but a substantial divestment of his own accumulated wealth, illustrating his desperation to avert Esau's wrath and secure reconciliation.

Secondly, the specific composition—breeding pairs (she-camels with their foals, cows, and bulls, female and male donkeys)—speaks to a deliberate and wise strategy. Jacob aimed to impress upon Esau not just his immediate generosity but also to provide assets for long-term benefit, acknowledging Esau's established wealth and lifestyle (Gen 36). Such a gift was more than just tribute; it was designed to show respect, acknowledge past wrongdoing without explicit words, and offer a path to future amity.

Biblically, this act demonstrates Jacob's blend of human prudence and reliance on God. While his prayer in Gen 32:9-12 reflects his deep dependence on God's covenant promises, the detailed preparation of this gift shows his diligent effort and wise stewardship in facing a difficult situation. It’s a biblical principle: plan and prepare as if everything depends on you, and pray as if everything depends on God. Furthermore, the term "appease" (Hebrew: kaphar) used for this gift (Gen 32:20) is highly significant. Though used here for human reconciliation, kaphar is the root for atonement and expiation in priestly contexts, hinting at a deep spiritual resonance. Jacob is, in a human sense, seeking to "atone" for his past actions against Esau through this propitiatory gift, hoping for a restoration of relationship akin to how sin is atoned for to restore relationship with God. This pragmatic step, combined with prayer and his later spiritual struggle, ultimately set the stage for the miraculous and gracious encounter with Esau described in the next chapter.