Genesis 32:23 kjv

And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had.

Genesis 32:23 nkjv

He took them, sent them over the brook, and sent over what he had.

Genesis 32:23 niv

After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions.

Genesis 32:23 esv

He took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had.

Genesis 32:23 nlt

After taking them to the other side, he sent over all his possessions.

Genesis 32 verses

Genesis 32 23 Meaning

Genesis 32:23 details Jacob's decisive action to send his entire family and possessions across the Jabbok stream, separating himself from everything and everyone he possessed. This strategic separation was not merely a logistical maneuver but a deliberate act that brought him to a point of profound isolation, vulnerability, and utter dependence, preparing him for the singular and pivotal encounter with the divine in the subsequent verses. It signifies a letting go of earthly security to confront his fears and engage with God alone.

Genesis 32 23 Context

Genesis 32 finds Jacob returning to the land of Canaan after 20 years with Laban, heading towards a fateful reunion with his brother Esau, whom he previously defrauded of his birthright and blessing (Gen 27). Overcome by extreme fear and distress upon learning that Esau was coming to meet him with 400 men, Jacob implemented a shrewd three-part strategy: he prayed to God, citing divine promises; he sent large, sequential gifts to appease Esau; and he divided his household into two camps, hoping some would escape if the other were attacked. After these careful arrangements, which still left him deeply anxious, this verse details his final, profound act of isolation: he sent everyone and everything he had across the stream, leaving himself completely alone on the bank. This solitude becomes the prelude to his transformative nocturnal encounter, often referred to as the wrestling at Peniel (Gen 32:24-32). The historical and cultural context reflects a world where personal encounters often dictated alliances or conflicts, and a meeting between estranged brothers, particularly with a past of such severe deceit, carried significant stakes for family and future.

Genesis 32 23 Word analysis

• He took them: (וַיִּקַּח vayyiqqaḥ) The subject is Jacob. "Them" refers to his two wives, two female servants, and eleven sons from the previous verse (Gen 32:22). This highlights Jacob's direct, purposeful action in moving his entire family. It implies a strategic and protective leadership role.
• and sent them over: (וַיַּעֲבִרֵם vayya'avirem) From the root עָבַר (avar), meaning to pass over, across, or through. This signifies a deliberate crossing, creating a physical boundary between Jacob and his family. The act implies separation and placing them beyond a point of reference or security that Jacob himself would represent.
• the brook: (הַנַּחַל hannahal) A stream, wadi, or torrent bed. While the general term for a watercourse, it is specifically identified in the immediate context (Gen 32:22) as the "Jabbok."
  • Jabbok: (יַבֹּק yabboq) A tributary of the Jordan River. Its name likely relates to the Hebrew root אָבַק (avaq), "to wrestle" or "to grapple," which resonates profoundly with the events that immediately follow at Peniel. As a physical boundary, it served as a natural frontier in biblical geography. For Jacob, it becomes a symbolic threshold of his personal spiritual struggle.
• and sent over: (וַיַּעֲבֵר vayya'avēr) Repeated for emphasis. The first "sent them over" specifically refers to his family (his human possessions); this second instance broadens the scope to all his material goods. The repetition underscores the complete evacuation.
• all that he had: (כָּל־אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ kol-asher-lo) This encompasses all his remaining livestock, servants, and all worldly possessions not explicitly mentioned with his family. It signifies Jacob's deliberate choice to strip himself of all sources of earthly comfort, security, and potential distraction. He effectively emptied his camp and isolated himself, having nothing left but himself and his anxiety before God. This prepares for the ensuing complete reliance on divine strength.

Genesis 32 23 Bonus section

The concept of stripping oneself of all earthly dependencies before a significant spiritual breakthrough or divine encounter is a recurring theme in the biblical narrative. Jacob's act here is a pre-emptive measure, partly out of self-preservation due to Esau, but ultimately orchestrated by God to lead him to a deeper, transformed faith. This solitary crossing of the Jabbok symbolizes not just a physical separation but a crossing into a spiritual wilderness, where human ingenuity and strength are proven insufficient, paving the way for complete surrender to divine power. This moment echoes later themes of monastic withdrawal, wilderness experiences, and the pursuit of solitude in Christian spiritual practices, where silence and separation from the world are seen as conduits for deeper communion with God. The act also highlights divine providence: Jacob's fear drove him to isolate himself, creating the exact circumstances God needed to humble and bless him in a uniquely personal way.

Genesis 32 23 Commentary

Genesis 32:23 is the pivot point leading to Jacob's spiritual metamorphosis. Having implemented every possible human strategy to mitigate the looming threat of Esau, Jacob takes this final, profound step of physical isolation. Sending away his family and possessions across the Jabbok was more than just a logistical maneuver; it was an act of profound self-divestment, born of fear yet ultimately leading to a face-to-face encounter with the divine. Jacob strategically emptied himself of all his earthly securities, whether his loved ones or his material wealth, so that he might be truly alone. This moment of deliberate solitude stripped away all layers of human support and trust, leaving him vulnerable, naked before his fear, and ultimately, ready for God's direct intervention. The Jabbok, a geographic marker, becomes a spiritual frontier—a place where one's strength, possessions, and even family can no longer serve as crutches. It's in this stark vulnerability that God meets him, demonstrating that divine encounters often happen when human resources are exhausted and all reliance is placed solely on Him. This verse sets the stage for God to become Jacob's sole hope and means of salvation.