The Meaning of Genesis 32:19 Explained

Genesis 32:19

KJV: And so commanded he the second, and the third, and all that followed the droves, saying, On this manner shall ye speak unto Esau, when ye find him.

YLT: And he commandeth also the second, also the third, also all who are going after the droves, saying, 'According to this manner do ye speak unto Esau in your finding him,

Darby: And so commanded he the second, and the third, and all that followed the droves, saying, According to this word shall ye speak to Esau when ye find him.

ASV: And he commanded also the second, and the third, and all that followed the droves, saying, On this manner shall ye speak unto Esau, when ye find him;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And so  commanded he  the second,  and the third,  and all that followed  the droves,  saying,  On this manner  shall ye speak  unto Esau,  when ye find  him. 

What does Genesis 32:19 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 32:19 mean?

So he commanded - - the second and the third all who followed - the herds saying in manner this you shall speak to Esau when you find him
וַיְצַ֞ו גַּ֣ם אֶת־ הַשֵּׁנִ֗י גַּ֚ם הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֔י כָּל־ הַהֹ֣לְכִ֔ים אַחֲרֵ֥י הָעֲדָרִ֖ים לֵאמֹ֑ר כַּדָּבָ֤ר הַזֶּה֙ תְּדַבְּר֣וּן אֶל־ עֵשָׂ֔ו בְּמֹצַאֲכֶ֖ם אֹתֽוֹ

וַיְצַ֞ו  So  he  commanded 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: צָוָה  
Sense: to command, charge, give orders, lay charge, give charge to, order.
גַּ֣ם  - 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: גַּם  
Sense: also, even, indeed, moreover, yea.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַשֵּׁנִ֗י  the  second 
Parse: Article, Number, ordinal masculine singular
Root: שֵׁנִי  
Sense: second.
הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֔י  the  third 
Parse: Article, Number, ordinal masculine singular
Root: שְׁלִישִׁי 
Sense: third, one third, third part, third time.
הַהֹ֣לְכִ֔ים  who  followed 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
אַחֲרֵ֥י  - 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אַחַר 
Sense: after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time).
הָעֲדָרִ֖ים  the  herds 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: עֵדֶר  
Sense: flock, herd.
לֵאמֹ֑ר  saying 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
כַּדָּבָ֤ר  in  manner 
Parse: Preposition-k, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
הַזֶּה֙  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
תְּדַבְּר֣וּן  you  shall  speak 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, second person masculine plural, Paragogic nun
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
עֵשָׂ֔ו  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.
בְּמֹצַאֲכֶ֖ם  when  you  find 
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, second person masculine plural
Root: מָצָא  
Sense: to find, attain to.

What are the major concepts related to Genesis 32:19?

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