The Meaning of Genesis 32:11 Explained

Genesis 32:11

KJV: Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children.

YLT: Deliver me, I pray Thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I am fearing him, less he come and have smitten me -- mother beside sons;

Darby: Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and smite me, and the mother with the children.

ASV: Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he come and smite me, the mother with the children.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Deliver me,  I pray thee, from the hand  of my brother,  from the hand  of Esau:  for I fear  him, lest he will come  and smite me,  [and] the mother  with  the children. 

What does Genesis 32:11 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 32:1-12 - Jacob Fears To Meet Esau
Before we encounter our Esaus we are sure to meet God's angels. If only our eyes are not holden we shall perceive them. The world is full of angel help! There are more for us than against us! The Captain of the Lord's hosts is as near us as He was to Joshua, and His squadrons await our cry. "Thinkest thou," said our Lord, "that I cannot beseech my Father, and He shall even now send more than twelve legions of angels!" In times of trial we betake ourselves to God, and are justified in claiming His protection, so long as we can show that we are on His plan and doing His will. It was the news brought by his messengers of Esau's approach that elicited from Jacob this marvelous prayer; but his prayer did not prevent him making what plans he could for the safety of his dear ones. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 32

1  Jacob's vision at Mahanaim
3  His message to Esau
6  He is afraid of Esau's coming
9  He prays for deliverance
13  He sends a present to Esau, and passes the brook Jabbok
24  He wrestles with an angel at Peniel, where he is called Israel
31  He halts

What do the individual words in Genesis 32:11 mean?

Deliver me I pray from the hand of my brother of Esau for fear I him lest he come and attack me [and] the mother with the sons
הַצִּילֵ֥נִי נָ֛א מִיַּ֥ד אָחִ֖י עֵשָׂ֑ו כִּֽי־ יָרֵ֤א אָנֹכִי֙ אֹת֔וֹ פֶּן־ יָב֣וֹא וְהִכַּ֔נִי אֵ֖ם עַל־ בָּנִֽים

הַצִּילֵ֥נִי  Deliver  me 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine singular, first person common singular
Root: נָצַל  
Sense: to snatch away, deliver, rescue, save, strip, plunder.
נָ֛א  I  pray 
Parse: Interjection
Root: נָא  
Sense: I (we) pray, now, please.
מִיַּ֥ד  from  the  hand 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
אָחִ֖י  of  my  brother 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
עֵשָׂ֑ו  of  Esau 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֵשָׂו  
Sense: eldest son of Isaac and Rebecca and twin brother of Jacob; sold the birthright for food when he was hungry and the divine blessing went to Jacob; progenitor of the Arab peoples.
יָרֵ֤א  fear 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: יָרֵא  
Sense: fearing, reverent, afraid.
פֶּן־  lest 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: פֶּן  
Sense: lest, not, beware lest adv.
יָב֣וֹא  he  come 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
וְהִכַּ֔נִי  and  attack  me 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular, first person common singular
Root: נָכָה  
Sense: to strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill.
אֵ֖ם  [and]  the  mother 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֵם  
Sense: mother.
בָּנִֽים  the  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.