The Meaning of Genesis 32:20 Explained

Genesis 32:20

KJV: And say ye moreover, Behold, thy servant Jacob is behind us. For he said, I will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept of me.

YLT: and ye have said also, Lo, thy servant Jacob is behind us;' for he said, 'I pacify his face with the present which is going before me, and afterwards I see his face; it may be he lifteth up my face;'

Darby: And, moreover, ye shall say, Behold, thy servant Jacob is behind us. For he said, I will propitiate him with the gift that goes before me, and afterwards I will see his face: perhaps he will accept me.

ASV: and ye shall say, Moreover, behold, thy servant Jacob is behind us. For he said, I will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept me.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And say ye  moreover,  Behold, thy servant  Jacob  [is] behind us.  For he said,  I will appease  him  with the present  that goeth  before me,  and afterward  I will see  his face;  peradventure he will accept  of me. 

What does Genesis 32:20 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 32:20 mean?

And say also behold your servant Jacob [is] behind us For he said I will appease him with the present that goes before me and afterward I will see his face perhaps he will accept me
וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֕ם גַּ֗ם הִנֵּ֛ה עַבְדְּךָ֥ יַעֲקֹ֖ב אַחֲרֵ֑ינוּ כִּֽי־ אָמַ֞ר אֲכַפְּרָ֣ה פָנָ֗יו בַּמִּנְחָה֙ הַהֹלֶ֣כֶת לְפָנָ֔י וְאַחֲרֵי־ כֵן֙ אֶרְאֶ֣ה פָנָ֔יו אוּלַ֖י יִשָּׂ֥א פָנָֽי

וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֕ם  And  say 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
גַּ֗ם  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: גַּם  
Sense: also, even, indeed, moreover, yea.
הִנֵּ֛ה  behold 
Parse: Interjection
Root: הִנֵּה  
Sense: behold, lo, see, if.
עַבְדְּךָ֥  your  servant 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.
יַעֲקֹ֖ב  Jacob  [is] 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יַעֲקֹב  
Sense: son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the 2 patriarchs of the tribes of Israel.
אַחֲרֵ֑ינוּ  behind  us 
Parse: Preposition, first person common plural
Root: אַחַר 
Sense: after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time).
אָמַ֞ר  he  said 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֲכַפְּרָ֣ה  I  will  appease 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect Cohortative, first person common singular
Root: כָּפַר 
Sense: to cover, purge, make an atonement, make reconciliation, cover over with pitch.
בַּמִּנְחָה֙  with  the  present 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִנְחָה  
Sense: gift, tribute, offering, present, oblation, sacrifice, meat offering.
הַהֹלֶ֣כֶת  that  goes 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, feminine singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
לְפָנָ֔י  before  me 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
כֵן֙  afterward 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֵּן 
Sense: so, therefore, thus.
אֶרְאֶ֣ה  I  will  see 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
פָנָ֔יו  his  face 
Parse: Noun, common plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
אוּלַ֖י  perhaps 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אוּלַי  
Sense: perhaps, peradventure.
יִשָּׂ֥א  he  will  accept 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
פָנָֽי  me 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.