The Meaning of Genesis 32:16 Explained

Genesis 32:16

KJV: And he delivered them into the hand of his servants, every drove by themselves; and said unto his servants, Pass over before me, and put a space betwixt drove and drove.

YLT: and he giveth into the hand of his servants, every drove by itself, and saith unto his servants, 'Pass over before me, and a space ye do put between drove and drove.'

Darby: And he delivered them into the hand of his servants, every drove by itself; and he said to his servants, Go on before me, and put a space between drove and drove.

ASV: And he delivered them into the hand of his servants, every drove by itself, and said unto his servants, Pass over before me, and put a space betwixt drove and drove.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And he delivered  [them] into the hand  of his servants,  every drove  by themselves; and said  unto his servants,  Pass over  before me,  and put  a space  betwixt  drove  and  drove. 

What does Genesis 32:16 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 32:13-32 - Jacob Wrestles And Prevails
There is a fulsomeness in Jacob's address to Esau, which sounds inconsistent with the noblest manhood and the firmest faith. Why should he speak of "my lord" Esau, and endeavor to appease his wrath with soft speeches and rich gifts? Evidently much had to be effected in his character before he could become one of the great spiritual forces of the world, and his supreme discipline came in that midnight wrestle. The Angel who wrestled with him could have been none other than the Son of man, who is also the Angel of the Covenant and Son of God. It was not that Jacob wrestled with the Angel, but that the Angel wrestled with him, as though to discover and reveal his weakness, and to constrain him to quit reliance on his own strength and to learn to cling with the tenacious grip of a lame man, who dare not let go, lest he fall to the earth. Ah, it is well to be even maimed, if through the withered thigh we may learn to lay hold on the everlasting strength of God, and learn His secret Name! [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 32:16 mean?

And he delivered [them] to the hand of his servants every herd by itself and said to his servants Pass over before me and some distance put between and herd
וַיִּתֵּן֙ בְּיַד־ עֲבָדָ֔יו עֵ֥דֶר עֵ֖דֶר לְבַדּ֑וֹ וַ֤יֹּאמֶר אֶל־ עֲבָדָיו֙ עִבְר֣וּ לְפָנַ֔י וְרֶ֣וַח תָּשִׂ֔ימוּ בֵּ֥ין וּבֵ֥ין עֵֽדֶר

וַיִּתֵּן֙  And  he  delivered  [them] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
בְּיַד־  to  the  hand 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
עֲבָדָ֔יו  of  his  servants 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.
עֵ֥דֶר  every 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֵדֶר  
Sense: flock, herd.
עֵ֖דֶר  herd 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֵדֶר  
Sense: flock, herd.
לְבַדּ֑וֹ  by  itself 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בַּד 
Sense: alone, by itself, besides, a part, separation, being alone.
וַ֤יֹּאמֶר  and  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
עֲבָדָיו֙  his  servants 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.
עִבְר֣וּ  Pass  over 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: עָבַר 
Sense: to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress.
לְפָנַ֔י  before  me 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
וְרֶ֣וַח  and  some  distance 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: רֶוַח  
Sense: space.
תָּשִׂ֔ימוּ  put 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: שׂוּמָה 
Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.
בֵּ֥ין  between 
Parse: Preposition
Root: בַּיִן 
Sense: between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between.
עֵֽדֶר  herd 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֵדֶר  
Sense: flock, herd.