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All of Genesis

Bible Chapter Summary

Genesis 33 Summary

Jacob and Esau's Peaceful Reunion

Jacob arranges his family in order and bows to the ground seven times as he approaches Esau, but Esau runs to meet him with an embrace, and the two brothers weep together. Jacob presents his gift to Esau, urging him to accept it as a token of goodwill, and Esau eventually receives it. The brothers then part ways peaceably: Esau returns to Seir while Jacob travels to Succoth, where he builds a house and booths, and then on to Shechem in Canaan, where he purchases a plot of land and erects an altar he names El-elohe-Israel.

Key themes

ReconciliationBrotherly forgivenessGift-givingWorship and altar-buildingSettlement in Canaan

Key verses

Genesis 33:4

And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.

Genesis 33:10

And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me.

Genesis 33:11

Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it.

Genesis 33:20

And he erected there an altar, and called it El-elohe-Israel.

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