Genesis 33 6

Genesis 33:6 kjv

Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves.

Genesis 33:6 nkjv

Then the maidservants came near, they and their children, and bowed down.

Genesis 33:6 niv

Then the female servants and their children approached and bowed down.

Genesis 33:6 esv

Then the servants drew near, they and their children, and bowed down.

Genesis 33:6 nlt

Then the servant wives came forward with their children and bowed before him.

Genesis 33 verses

Genesis 33 6 meaning

Genesis 33:6 describes a specific action within Jacob’s organized procession to meet his brother Esau. It states that the maidservants (Bilhah and Zilpah, and possibly others) and their children came forward, approaching Esau. Immediately upon approaching, they bowed down, an act of profound respect, homage, and submission to him. This event follows Jacob's own deep bow seven times before Esau, as he sought reconciliation.

Genesis 33 6 Context

Genesis 33:6 occurs at the crucial juncture of Jacob's reunion with Esau after 20 years of separation. Jacob, remembering Esau's prior animosity and still fearing for his life and family, meticulously arranged his household to approach Esau. He divided them into three groups: first the maidservants and their children, then Leah and her children, and finally Rachel and Joseph. This careful arrangement, combined with Jacob's elaborate gifts and seven prostrations (Gen 33:3), demonstrates Jacob's extreme humility, fear, and desire for reconciliation, acknowledging Esau's higher status and power. The actions of the maidservants and their children are part of this orchestrated display of submission, setting the tone for the entire encounter, immediately before the beloved family members.

Genesis 33 6 Word analysis

• Then (וַיִּגְּשׁוּ - vayiggashu): A temporal connector indicating a sequential action. It marks the immediate next step in Jacob's strategic procession to meet Esau.
• the maidservants (הַשְּׁפָחוֹת - ha-shephakhoth): Refers to Bilhah and Zilpah, who were concubines and mothers to six of Jacob's sons (Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher). Their designation as "maidservants" highlights their subordinate social status within the household compared to Leah and Rachel, and also their dependence. Their inclusion first in the procession, followed by their children, strategically put the least 'valued' members from Jacob's perspective in front, perhaps as a test or a buffer against Esau's potential wrath.
• came near (וַתִּגַּשְׁנָה - vatiggashnah - and they came near): Denotes movement toward a specific point, implying purpose and intent. In this context, it signifies their dutiful participation in Jacob’s pre-planned approach.
• they and their children (הֵנָּה וְיַלְדֵיהֶן - hennah v'yaldehen): Emphasizes the entire group – the mothers and their offspring. This highlights the complete household’s vulnerability and unified participation in the act of homage, and also their direct blood connection to Jacob. Their children are part of the unfolding drama and collective humility.
• and bowed down (וַתִּשְׁתַּחֲוֶיןָ - vattishchakavena - and they bowed themselves down): The Hebrew verb is hishtachavah (הִשְּׁתַּחֲוָה), meaning to prostrate oneself, to do obeisance. This is an act of deep reverence, submission, and humility in the ancient Near East, often performed before a superior (a ruler, a patriarch, or a powerful figure) to show respect, acknowledge authority, or make supplication. In this case, it is directed towards Esau, signifying respect and perhaps a plea for mercy. It mirrors Jacob's own previous bows and confirms his family's adherence to the strategy.

Genesis 33 6 Bonus section

The sequential approach of Jacob's family (maidservants, then Leah, then Rachel) with increasing degrees of personal affection (lowest status/favor first, highest last) is often interpreted as Jacob's final and desperate measure to protect his beloved Rachel and Joseph should Esau's anger be unyielding. The maidservants and their children, while integral to the family, were positioned as a preliminary buffer. This strategic placement further emphasizes the collective fear and Jacob's willingness to use every available means to secure peace and ensure the survival of his lineage.

Genesis 33 6 Commentary

Genesis 33:6 concisely depicts the disciplined execution of Jacob's fear-driven strategy to meet Esau. The action of the maidservants and their children bowing down, immediately after Jacob's own extensive prostration, underlines the intense atmosphere of apprehension and Jacob's desire for full reconciliation through profound deference. Their collective bow serves as a powerful visual cue, communicating humility, respect, and perhaps a silent plea for Esau's favor. This deliberate order and act of homage signify Jacob's deep-seated understanding of ancient Near Eastern protocol for approaching a potentially hostile superior, trusting that a posture of complete submission might avert calamity. This cultural expectation of respectful prostration is shown here as a calculated effort to appease and pacify, rather than an act of worship. It speaks to the universal human response to perceived threats, combining fear, strategy, and faith, though in this narrative, divine intervention ultimately softens Esau's heart beyond all human calculation.