Genesis 33:13 kjv

And he said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die.

Genesis 33:13 nkjv

But Jacob said to him, "My lord knows that the children are weak, and the flocks and herds which are nursing are with me. And if the men should drive them hard one day, all the flock will die.

Genesis 33:13 niv

But Jacob said to him, "My lord knows that the children are tender and that I must care for the ewes and cows that are nursing their young. If they are driven hard just one day, all the animals will die.

Genesis 33:13 esv

But Jacob said to him, "My lord knows that the children are frail, and that the nursing flocks and herds are a care to me. If they are driven hard for one day, all the flocks will die.

Genesis 33:13 nlt

But Jacob replied, "You can see, my lord, that some of the children are very young, and the flocks and herds have their young, too. If they are driven too hard, even for one day, all the animals could die.

Genesis 33 verses

Genesis 33 13 Meaning

Genesis 33:13 portrays Jacob's practical and compassionate reasoning for declining Esau's offer to travel together at a swift pace. It highlights Jacob's deep concern for the delicate well-being of his young children and, particularly, the vulnerability of his ewes and goats that were either pregnant or nursing. He understands that a forced, rapid journey would result in significant loss, emphasizing his stewardship and protective nature over his entire household, including the weakest members and their essential livelihood.

Genesis 33 13 Context

Genesis chapter 33 marks a pivotal moment in Jacob's life: the highly anticipated reunion with his estranged brother, Esau, after more than two decades. Jacob has just endured a night wrestling with God, emerging with a blessing and a limp, his name changed to Israel (Gen 32). Overcome with fear, Jacob had meticulously prepared to meet Esau, sending lavish gifts ahead and dividing his camp (Gen 32:3-23). To his surprise, Esau rushes to meet him not with anger, but with an embrace and tears. After their emotional reconciliation, Esau suggests they travel together. Jacob's response in verse 13 is a crucial turning point, revealing his prudence and prioritizing the welfare of his vulnerable dependents over a swift, united journey with Esau. Historically, nomadic tribal societies, like Jacob's, were heavily dependent on their flocks for survival and wealth. Children were also essential for future family lineage and labor. Travel across challenging terrains with such a large, diverse group required immense care, especially for very young and pregnant or nursing animals and infants.

Genesis 33 13 Word analysis

• And he said to him, "My lord knows

  • Hebrew: וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י יֹדֵ֔עַ (Vayyo'mer elav Adoni yodea')
  • Vayyo'mer elav (וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו): "And he said to him." Simple direct address from Jacob to Esau, indicating Jacob's clear and reasoned communication.
  • Adoni (אֲדֹנִי): "My lord." Jacob's humble and respectful address to Esau, a continuation of his earlier submissive posturing (Gen 32:4-5; 33:8). This term acknowledges Esau's authority or status, setting a polite tone for his refusal.
  • Yodea' (יֹדֵעַ): "Knows." Implies that Jacob expects Esau, as a man experienced in the outdoors and with livestock (though a hunter), to understand the realities he presents. It frames the refusal as an appeal to common sense rather than a direct rejection.

• that the children are tender and the flocks with young are with me.

  • Hebrew: כִּ֣י הַיְלָדִים֮ רַכִּים֒ וְהַצֹּ֣אן וְהַבָּקָ֗ר עָלַ֞י עָל֗וֹת
  • Ha-yeladim (הַיְלָדִים): "The children." Specifically refers to Jacob's numerous offspring, many of whom were young, including Joseph and Benjamin (later born, but implying infancy).
  • Rakkim (רַכִּים): "Tender," "delicate," "fragile," "soft." This crucial word emphasizes their physical vulnerability to hardship and strenuous travel. It highlights their inability to keep up with an adult pace.
  • Ve-ha-tzo'n (וְהַצֹּאן): "And the flocks" (sheep and goats). A foundational source of wealth and sustenance for a nomadic patriarch. Their loss would be catastrophic.
  • Ve-ha-baqar (וְהַבָּקָר): "And the herds" (cattle). Though not translated in some versions (like KJV), the Hebrew includes both sheep/goats and cattle. All these animals constituted his major wealth.
  • Alay alalot (עָלַי עָלוֹת): "Upon me are suckling ones," or "nursing young." This is a critical phrase, meaning either that the mothers themselves are "nursing" or have "young ones" dependent on them for suckling. This indicates an extremely vulnerable state for the animals; forcing them would lead to death or sickness for both mother and offspring.
  • Word group analysis: "the children are tender and the flocks with young are with me"
    • This phrase emphasizes Jacob's patriarchal responsibility and stewardship. His primary concern is for the vulnerable lives under his care, both human and animal. It showcases practical wisdom, demonstrating Jacob's understanding of the fragility of life and the economic realities of his existence. He acts as a careful shepherd, unwilling to sacrifice the weak for the sake of speed or social conformity. This contrasts with Esau's potentially less restrained approach to travel, aligning with Esau's identity as a hunter accustomed to solitary, swift movement rather than tending a vast, vulnerable group.

• If they are driven hard one day, all the flocks will die.

  • Hebrew: וְאִם־יִדְחֲק֣וּ אוֹתָם֮ י֣וֹם אֶחָד֒ וּמֵ֣תוּ כָל־הַצֹּֽאן׃
  • Ve-im yidhcheku otam (וְאִם־יִדְחֲק֣וּ אוֹתָם): "And if they are driven hard/pressed/forced/over-driven them." The verb "yidhkeku" signifies severe pushing or compulsion, implying excessive speed or strenuousness that would harm fragile beings.
  • Yom echad (י֣וֹם אֶחָד): "One day." This emphasizes that even a single day of such intense travel would be fatal. It highlights the extreme vulnerability.
  • Umetu kol ha-tzo'n (וּמֵ֣תוּ כָל־הַצֹּֽאן): "And all the flocks will die." The direct and severe consequence. Jacob paints a dire picture of complete loss, showing that his concerns are not trivial but life-and-death matters for his sustenance and future.
  • Word group analysis: "If they are driven hard one day, all the flocks will die."
    • This highlights Jacob's prudent long-term thinking over short-term expediency or politeness. It demonstrates the serious economic and survival implications of neglecting the vulnerable. It reflects a core principle of stewardship: the need for careful management and preservation of what God has entrusted, rather than risking it for external pressures or perceived social obligations. Jacob is asserting boundaries based on a clear understanding of practical limitations and a deep sense of responsibility. This contrasts with any notion of a "stronger" people group just pushing through, emphasizing the biblical value of care over brute force, especially when life is at stake.

Genesis 33 13 Bonus section

This verse subtly underscores the reality of nomadic life and the immense challenges of managing large, diverse family and animal groups. Jacob's approach could be seen as a contrast to typical warrior or hunter-gatherer movements, which might prioritize speed and aggression. Instead, Jacob's focus on the "tender" and "with young" reveals a posture of care that aligns with divine leadership, which often accommodates the weak and vulnerable. Spiritually, it serves as a powerful reminder for those in positions of leadership or care within God's people: progress must often be measured by the pace of the slowest and weakest among us, rather than dictated by the capabilities of the strongest. True strength, in a biblical sense, is often demonstrated through patient gentleness and protective provision, rather than through force or hurriedness.

Genesis 33 13 Commentary

Jacob's explanation to Esau in Genesis 33:13 is a masterpiece of tact, practical wisdom, and principled leadership. He politely declines Esau's generous but impetuous offer to travel together, not out of distrust (though that past experience always looms), but out of an unshakeable commitment to the well-being of his dependents. This verse reveals Jacob's maturity as a shepherd-patriarch, demonstrating a careful understanding of his responsibility for his vast household. His priority is the safety and sustainability of his young children and his vulnerable livestock, emphasizing that pushing them beyond their natural capacity, even for "one day," would be catastrophic. This act of setting boundaries for the sake of care reflects stewardship of resources and lives God entrusted to him. It is a testament to the patient and gentle pace required to lead and nourish the weak, aligning with the imagery of God as a shepherd who "gently leads those that are with young" (Isa 40:11). Jacob here prioritizes his sacred trust over social convention or a false display of strength, underscoring the biblical value of prudent care and patient leadership.