The Meaning of Genesis 33:6 Explained

Genesis 33:6

KJV: Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves.

YLT: And the maid-servants draw nigh, they and their children, and bow themselves;

Darby: And the maidservants drew near, they and their children, and they bowed.

ASV: Then the handmaids came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then the handmaidens  came near,  they and their children,  and they bowed themselves. 

What does Genesis 33:6 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 33:6 mean?

And came near the maidservants they and their children and bowed down
וַתִּגַּ֧שְׁןָ הַשְּׁפָח֛וֹת הֵ֥נָּה וְיַלְדֵיהֶ֖ן וַתִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוֶֽיןָ

וַתִּגַּ֧שְׁןָ  And  came  near 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person feminine plural
Root: נָגַשׁ  
Sense: to draw near, approach.
הַשְּׁפָח֛וֹת  the  maidservants 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine plural
Root: שִׁפְחָה  
Sense: maid, maid-servant, slavegirl.
וְיַלְדֵיהֶ֖ן  and  their  children 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person feminine plural
Root: יֶלֶד  
Sense: child, son, boy, offspring, youth.
וַתִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוֶֽיןָ  and  bowed  down 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hitpael, Consecutive imperfect, third person feminine plural
Root: שָׁחָה  
Sense: to bow down.

What are the major concepts related to Genesis 33:6?

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