The Meaning of Genesis 33:2 Explained

Genesis 33:2

KJV: And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost.

YLT: and he setteth the maid-servants and their children first, and Leah and her children behind, and Rachel and Joseph last.

Darby: and he put the maidservants and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindmost.

ASV: And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And he put  the handmaids  and their children  foremost,  and Leah  and her children  after,  and Rachel  and Joseph  hindermost. 

What does Genesis 33:2 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 33:2 mean?

And he put - the maidservants and their children in front Leah and her children behind Rachel Joseph last
וַיָּ֧שֶׂם אֶת־ הַשְּׁפָח֛וֹת וְאֶת־ יַלְדֵיהֶ֖ן רִֽאשֹׁנָ֑ה לֵאָ֤ה וִֽילָדֶ֙יהָ֙ אַחֲרֹנִ֔ים רָחֵ֥ל יוֹסֵ֖ף אַחֲרֹנִֽים

וַיָּ֧שֶׂם  And  he  put 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שׂוּמָה 
Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.
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.
הַשְּׁפָח֛וֹת  the  maidservants 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine plural
Root: שִׁפְחָה  
Sense: maid, maid-servant, slavegirl.
יַלְדֵיהֶ֖ן  their  children 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person feminine plural
Root: יֶלֶד  
Sense: child, son, boy, offspring, youth.
רִֽאשֹׁנָ֑ה  in  front 
Parse: Adjective, feminine singular
Root: רִאשֹׁון  
Sense: first, primary, former.
לֵאָ֤ה  Leah 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: לֵאָה  
Sense: daughter of Laban, first wife of Jacob, and mother of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah.
וִֽילָדֶ֙יהָ֙  and  her  children 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person feminine singular
Root: יֶלֶד  
Sense: child, son, boy, offspring, youth.
אַחֲרֹנִ֔ים  behind 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: אַחֲרֹון  
Sense: behind, following, subsequent, western.
רָחֵ֥ל  Rachel 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: רָחֵל  
Sense: daughter of Laban, wife of Jacob, and mother of Joseph and Benjamin.
יוֹסֵ֖ף  Joseph 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄוסֵף  
Sense: the eldest son of Jacob by Rachel.
אַחֲרֹנִֽים  last 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: אַחֲרֹון  
Sense: behind, following, subsequent, western.

What are the major concepts related to Genesis 33:2?

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