Genesis 33:4 kjv
And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.
Genesis 33:4 nkjv
But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.
Genesis 33:4 niv
But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept.
Genesis 33:4 esv
But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.
Genesis 33:4 nlt
Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept.
Genesis 33 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lk 15:20 | "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him." | Father's reconciliation with Prodigal Son. |
| Gen 45:14 | "Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck." | Joseph's emotional reunion with Benjamin. |
| Gen 46:29 | "Joseph prepared his chariot and went up to Goshen to meet Israel his father; and as soon as he appeared before him, he fell on his neck and wept on his neck a long time." | Joseph's emotional reunion with Jacob. |
| Prov 16:7 | "When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him." | God's power to change hearts for peace. |
| Matt 5:23-24 | "So if you are presenting your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift... be reconciled..." | Prioritize reconciliation. |
| Rom 12:18 | "If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men." | Strive for peaceful coexistence. |
| Eph 4:32 | "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." | Call to mutual forgiveness and kindness. |
| Col 3:13 | "Bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you." | Call to mutual forgiveness. |
| Philem 1:16 | "...no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother..." | Transformative power of grace in relationships. |
| 1 Pet 3:8-9 | "...having compassion for one another, loving as brothers, tenderhearted, courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing..." | Respond with blessing, not retaliation. |
| Ps 133:1 | "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!" | Blessing of unity and harmony among brothers. |
| Heb 12:14 | "Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord." | Call to pursue peace. |
| Phil 4:6-7 | "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts..." | Overcoming anxiety through prayer and God's peace. |
| Jas 5:16 | "...The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." | Power of prayer, linked to Jacob's prayer in Gen 32. |
| Gen 32:9-12 | "Then Jacob said, 'O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, the Lord who said to me... deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau...'" | Jacob's prayer for deliverance, answered here. |
| Ps 27:1 | "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?" | God's presence alleviates fear. |
| Isa 41:10 | "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." | God's promise to those who fear. |
| Prov 21:1 | "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes." | God's sovereign control over human hearts. |
| Ezek 36:26 | "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." | Divine transformation of the heart. |
| Zech 7:9 | "Thus says the Lord of hosts: 'Execute true justice, show mercy and compassion everyone to his brother.'" | Divine command for mercy and compassion. |
| 1 Jn 4:7 | "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God..." | The divine origin and nature of love. |
| Eph 2:4-5 | "But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ..." | God's mercy and love as the source of reconciliation. |
Genesis 33 verses
Genesis 33 4 Meaning
Genesis 33:4 describes the unexpected and heartfelt reunion between Jacob and Esau after two decades of estrangement and animosity. Esau, whom Jacob feared would attack him with 400 men, instead ran towards Jacob, embraced him, fell on his neck, kissed him, and both brothers wept. This verse marks a dramatic and divinely orchestrated turning point from a fearful, potentially hostile encounter to one of profound reconciliation, emotional release, and brotherly affection, signifying the restoration of their relationship.
Genesis 33 4 Context
This verse is the climax of Jacob’s fearful return to Canaan, described across Genesis chapters 32 and 33. For twenty years, Jacob has been estranged from Esau, since deceiving him out of his birthright and paternal blessing. Upon hearing that Esau was coming to meet him with 400 men, Jacob was "greatly afraid and distressed" (Gen 32:7). In preparation, Jacob divided his company, sent large conciliatory gifts ahead, and prayed fervently to God, wrestling with a divine being until dawn (Gen 32:24-32). Jacob's limp (from the wrestling) was a physical reminder of his dependence on God and a change in his character. Historically and culturally, a brother wronged as Esau was would be expected to seek violent retribution, often leading to a blood feud. Jacob's immense fear and elaborate precautions underscore this expectation. Therefore, Esau's reaction in Genesis 33:4 is profoundly counter-cultural, demonstrating a powerful reversal that goes against all human expectation, strongly implying divine intervention. It showcases the restoration of familial bonds despite past deep grievances, standing in stark contrast to the destructive vendettas common in the ancient Near East.
Genesis 33 4 Word analysis
- And Esau ran: The Hebrew word וַיָּרָץ (vayyā·rāṣ) for "ran" denotes immediate, rapid action. This is significant because Jacob had expected an armed confrontation or Esau to approach defensively, but instead Esau ran, indicating eagerness, perhaps even joyful anticipation or urgency, rather than hostile intent. It's a spontaneous act of initiative.
- to meet him: The phrase לִקְרָאתֹ֔ו (liqqra’to) means "to meet him" or "towards him." It reinforces Esau's forward momentum and his deliberate act of closing the distance, setting the tone for reconciliation rather than conflict.
- and embraced him: The Hebrew verb וַֽיְחַבְּקֵ֙הוּ֙ (vay·ḥab·bə·qê·hū), from חָבַק (ḥabaq), means "to embrace." This is an intimate, warm gesture, signaling affection and acceptance. It immediately dispels Jacob's fears of Esau's intentions.
- and fell on his neck: This vivid expression, וַיִּפֹּל֙ עַל־צַוָּארָ֔ו (vay·yip·pōl ‘al-ṣaw·wā·rāw), from נָפַל (naphal, "to fall") and צַוָּאר (tsawwa'r, "neck"), signifies an act of deep emotion and profound intimacy. It implies leaning in, holding tightly, and losing oneself in the embrace. This specific imagery is often used in the Bible for deeply emotional, reconciliatory family reunions, as seen with Joseph and Benjamin (Gen 45:14) and Joseph and Jacob (Gen 46:29).
- and kissed him: The verb וַיִּשָּׁקֵ֑הוּ (vay·yiš·šā·qê·hū), from נָשַׁק (nashaq, "to kiss"), is a common ancient Near Eastern gesture of affection, reconciliation, and loyalty. While some ancient Jewish traditions might hint at insincerity due to Masoretic notes above the word (dotting for emphasis/doubt), the overwhelming contextual evidence in this verse points to a genuine, heartfelt reconciliation, confirmed by the mutual weeping. Modern scholarship largely dismisses the insincere interpretation given the clear evidence of profound emotional reunion.
- and they wept: The plural verb וַיִּבְכּוּּ (vay·yiv·kū), from בָּכָה (bakah, "to weep"), emphasizes that both Esau and Jacob shed tears. This mutual weeping is the ultimate sign of genuine emotional release, relief, forgiveness, and restored bond. It seals the reconciliation, confirming the depth of the moment for both brothers. It signifies the end of their long and painful estrangement, transforming fear into familial love.
Genesis 33 4 Bonus section
The profound reconciliation in Gen 33:4 beautifully echoes Jacob's prior experience at Peniel (Gen 32:22-32), where he wrestled with a divine being and had his name changed to Israel, meaning "struggles with God." Jacob's physical limp was a permanent reminder of that struggle and his resulting dependence on God, shedding his self-reliant character. His subsequent meeting with Esau demonstrates that God honored His promise to deliver Jacob (Gen 32:9). The transformative power exhibited here isn't just about Esau's heart changing; it's also about God enabling Jacob to confront his past and bringing about an outcome far better than he could have engineered through cunning. This scene sets a biblical precedent for the power of grace and forgiveness to mend even the most severely broken relationships, far surpassing any legalistic or retaliatory expectation.
Genesis 33 4 Commentary
Genesis 33:4 portrays one of the Bible's most poignant scenes of reconciliation. After years of fear and premeditated deception on Jacob's part, Esau's reception shatters all expectations. Esau's four actions – running, embracing, falling on his neck, and kissing – demonstrate an overwhelming display of forgiveness and fraternal affection. This unexpected mercy can be seen as an answer to Jacob's desperate prayer (Gen 32:9-12) and a testament to God's sovereign power to change hearts, turning a feared confrontation into a tearful reunion. The shared weeping of Jacob and Esau symbolizes not only the release of pent-up emotion from decades of separation and resentment but also the deep, genuine restoration of their relationship. This encounter is a powerful illustration of divine grace transforming human animosity into peace and love, and a model for reconciliation even in the face of deep-seated conflict, highlighting forgiveness over revenge. It underscores that sincere repentance (on Jacob's part through his approach and gifts) can be met with unexpected grace (on Esau's part), leading to complete healing.