| New International Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Jacob looked up and there was Esau, coming with his four hundred men; so he divided the children among Leah, Rachel and the two female servants. | 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. |
| 2He put the female servants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph in the rear. | 2He put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph at the rear. |
| 3He himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother. | 3But Jacob himself went on ahead and bowed to the ground seven times as he approached his brother. |
| 4But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept. | 4Esau, however, ran to him and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept. |
| 5Then Esau looked up and saw the women and children. "Who are these with you?" he asked. Jacob answered, "They are the children God has graciously given your servant." | 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.” |
| 6Then the female servants and their children approached and bowed down. | 6Then the maidservants and their children approached and bowed down. |
| 7Next, Leah and her children came and bowed down. Last of all came Joseph and Rachel, and they too bowed down. | 7Leah and her children also approached and bowed down, and then Joseph and Rachel approached and bowed down. |
| 8Esau asked, "What's the meaning of all these flocks and herds I met?" "To find favor in your eyes, my lord," he said. | 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. |
| 9But Esau said, "I already have plenty, my brother. Keep what you have for yourself." | 9“I already have plenty, my brother,” Esau replied. “Keep what belongs to you.” |
| 10"No, please!" said Jacob. "If I have found favor in your eyes, accept this gift from me. For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably. | 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. |
| 11Please accept the present that was brought to you, for God has been gracious to me and I have all I need." And because Jacob insisted, Esau accepted it. | 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. |
| 12Then Esau said, "Let us be on our way; I'll accompany you." | 12Then Esau said, “Let us be on our way, and I will go ahead of you.” |
| 13But Jacob said to him, "My lord knows that the children are tender and that I must care for the ewes and cows that are nursing their young. If they are driven hard just one day, all the animals will die. | 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. |
| 14So let my lord go on ahead of his servant, while I move along slowly at the pace of the flocks and herds before me and the pace of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir." | 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.” |
| 15Esau said, "Then let me leave some of my men with you." "But why do that?" Jacob asked. "Just let me find favor in the eyes of my lord." | 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.” |
| 16So that day Esau started on his way back to Seir. | 16So that day Esau started on his way back to Seir, |
| 17Jacob, however, went to Sukkoth, where he built a place for himself and made shelters for his livestock. That is why the place is called Sukkoth. | 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. |
| 18After Jacob came from Paddan Aram, he arrived safely at the city of Shechem in Canaan and camped within sight of the city. | 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. |
| 19For a hundred pieces of silver, he bought from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem, the plot of ground where he pitched his tent. | 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. |
| 20There he set up an altar and called it El Elohe Israel. | 20There he set up an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel. |
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