| Berean Study Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1Now Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming toward him with four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two maidservants. | 1Then Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming with his 400 men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and his two servant wives. |
| 2He put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph at the rear. | 2He put the servant wives and their children at the front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last. |
| 3But Jacob himself went on ahead and bowed to the ground seven times as he approached his brother. | 3Then Jacob went on ahead. As he approached his brother, he bowed to the ground seven times before him. |
| 4Esau, however, ran to him and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept. | 4Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept. |
| 5When Esau looked up and saw the women and children, he asked, “Who are these with you?” Jacob answered, “These are the children God has graciously given your servant.” | 5Then Esau looked at the women and children and asked, “Who are these people with you?” “These are the children God has graciously given to me, your servant,” Jacob replied. |
| 6Then the maidservants and their children approached and bowed down. | 6Then the servant wives came forward with their children and bowed before him. |
| 7Leah and her children also approached and bowed down, and then Joseph and Rachel approached and bowed down. | 7Next came Leah with her children, and they bowed before him. Finally, Joseph and Rachel came forward and bowed before him. |
| 8“What do you mean by sending this whole company to meet me?” asked Esau. “To find favor in your sight, my lord,” Jacob answered. | 8“And what were all the flocks and herds I met as I came?” Esau asked. Jacob replied, “They are a gift, my lord, to ensure your friendship.” |
| 9“I already have plenty, my brother,” Esau replied. “Keep what belongs to you.” | 9“My brother, I have plenty,” Esau answered. “Keep what you have for yourself.” |
| 10But Jacob insisted, “No, please! If I have found favor in your sight, then receive this gift from my hand. For indeed, I have seen your face, and it is like seeing the face of God, since you have received me favorably. | 10But Jacob insisted, “No, if I have found favor with you, please accept this gift from me. And what a relief to see your friendly smile. It is like seeing the face of God! |
| 11Please accept my gift that was brought to you, because God has been gracious to me and I have all I need.” So Jacob pressed him until he accepted. | 11Please take this gift I have brought you, for God has been very gracious to me. I have more than enough.” And because Jacob insisted, Esau finally accepted the gift. |
| 12Then Esau said, “Let us be on our way, and I will go ahead of you.” | 12“Well,” Esau said, “let’s be going. I will lead the way.” |
| 13But Jacob replied, “My lord knows that the children are frail, and I must care for sheep and cattle that are nursing their young. If they are driven hard for even a day, all the animals will die. | 13But Jacob replied, “You can see, my lord, that some of the children are very young, and the flocks and herds have their young, too. If they are driven too hard, even for one day, all the animals could die. |
| 14Please let my lord go ahead of his servant. I will continue on slowly, at a comfortable pace for the livestock and children, until I come to my lord at Seir.” | 14Please, my lord, go ahead of your servant. We will follow slowly, at a pace that is comfortable for the livestock and the children. I will meet you at Seir.” |
| 15“Let me leave some of my people with you,” Esau said. But Jacob replied, “Why do that? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.” | 15“All right,” Esau said, “but at least let me assign some of my men to guide and protect you.” Jacob responded, “That’s not necessary. It’s enough that you’ve received me warmly, my lord!” |
| 16So that day Esau started on his way back to Seir, | 16So Esau turned around and started back to Seir that same day. |
| 17but Jacob went on to Succoth, where he built a house for himself and shelters for his livestock; that is why the place was called Succoth. | 17Jacob, on the other hand, traveled on to Succoth. There he built himself a house and made shelters for his livestock. That is why the place was named Succoth (which means “shelters”). |
| 18After Jacob had come from Paddan-aram, he arrived safely at the city of Shechem in the land of Canaan, and he camped just outside the city. | 18Later, having traveled all the way from Paddan-aram, Jacob arrived safely at the town of Shechem, in the land of Canaan. There he set up camp outside the town. |
| 19And the plot of ground where he pitched his tent, he purchased from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred pieces of silver. | 19Jacob bought the plot of land where he camped from the family of Hamor, the father of Shechem, for 100 pieces of silver. |
| 20There he set up an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel. | 20And there he built an altar and named it El-Elohe-Israel. |
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