The Meaning of Genesis 33:9 Explained

Genesis 33:9

KJV: And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself.

YLT: And Esau saith, 'I have abundance, my brother, let it be to thyself that which thou hast.'

Darby: And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; let what thou hast be thine.

ASV: And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; let that which thou hast be thine.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Esau  said,  I have  enough,  my brother;  keep that thou hast unto thyself. 

What does Genesis 33:9 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 33:1-17 - Jacob And Esau Reconciled
Many things, like this meeting with Esau, are worse in anticipation than in actuality. The brothers were on the same old terms as before that filching of Isaac's blessing. The holy transactions of the previous night had induced this change in the atmosphere. If our ways please the Lord, He will make our enemies to be at peace with us. We must win power with God, by yielding to Him, before we can have power with our Esaus and prevail. When you fear man's wrath, do not run hither and thither for defense; be still and fear not. Commit your way to the Lord and read Psalms 37:1-40. When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Lord shall lift up a standard against him. Surely Jacob needed not to fear, or make these lame excuses and promises. He never intended to go to Esau, to Seir. As soon as the last ranks of his brother's men were lost in the desert haze, he turned to go in the contrary direction. This duplicity was not worthy of the heir of the promises; but too many of us would have done the same, even on the morrow of the Jabbok-wrestle. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 33

1  Jacob and Esau's meeting; and Esau's departure
17  Jacob comes to Succoth
18  At Shechem he buys a field, and builds an altar, called El Elohe Israel

What do the individual words in Genesis 33:9 mean?

But said Esau have I enough my brother keep - what you have for yourself
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר עֵשָׂ֖ו יֶשׁ־ לִ֣י רָ֑ב אָחִ֕י יְהִ֥י לְךָ֖ אֲשֶׁר־ לָֽךְ

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר  But  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
עֵשָׂ֖ו  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.
רָ֑ב  enough 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רַב 
Sense: much, many, great.
אָחִ֕י  my  brother 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
יְהִ֥י  keep 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect Jussive, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
לְךָ֖  - 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
אֲשֶׁר־  what  you  have 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
לָֽךְ  for  yourself 
Parse: Preposition, second person feminine singular