Genesis 33:16

The NET Bible®

So that same day Esau made his way back to Seir.

Parallel Translations

Geneva Bible (1587)
So Esau returned, and went his way that same day vnto Seir.

George Lamsa Translation
So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir.

Hebrew Names Version
So Esav returned that day on his way to Se`ir.

Easy-to-Read Version
So that day Esau started on his trip back to Seir.

English Standard Version
So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir.

American Standard Version
So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir.

Bible in Basic English
So Esau, turning back that day, went on his way to Seir.

Contemporary English Version
So Esau left for Edom.

Complete Jewish Bible
So ‘Esav left that day to return to Se‘ir.

Darby Translation
And Esau returned that day on his way to Seir.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir.

King James Version (1611)
So Esau returned that day, on his way vnto Seir.

Amplified Bible
So Esau turned back [toward the south] that day on his way to Seir.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Esau returned on that day on his journey to Seir.

English Revised Version
So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir.

Berean Standard Bible
So that day Esau started on his way back to Seir,

Lexham English Bible
So Esau turned that day on his way to Seir.

Literal Translation
And Esau returned on his way toward Seir that day.

New Century Version
So that day Esau started back to Edom.

New King James Version
So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir.

New Living Translation
So Esau turned around and started back to Seir that same day.

New Life Bible
So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
So Esau returned, that day, to his journey towards Mount Seir.

Douay-Rheims Bible
So Esau returned that day, the way that he came, to Seir.

Revised Standard Version
So Esau returned that day on his way to Se'ir.

Good News Translation
So that day Esau started on his way back to Edom.

King James Version
So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And so Esau turnede ayen in that dai in the weie bi which he cam, in to Seir.

Young's Literal Translation
And turn back on that day doth Esau on his way to Seir;

World English Bible
So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir.

Update Bible Version
So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir.

Webster's Bible Translation
So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
So Esau went his way agayne that same day vnto Seir.

Christian Standard Bible®
That day Esau started on his way back to Seir,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
So Esau departed againe the same daye towarde Seir,

THE MESSAGE
So Esau set out that day and made his way back to Seir.

New American Standard Bible
So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir.

New Revised Standard
So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir.

Legacy Standard Bible
So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir.

Contextual Overview

¹⁶ So that same day Esau made his way back to Seir. ¹⁷ But Jacob traveled to Succoth where he built himself a house and made shelters for his livestock. That is why the place was called Succoth. ¹⁸ After he left Paddan Aram, Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem in the land of Canaan, and he camped near the city. ¹⁹ Then he purchased the portion of the field where he had pitched his tent; he bought it from the sons of Hamor, Shechem's father, for a hundred pieces of money. ²⁰ There he set up an altar and called it "The God of Israel is God."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Reciprocal: Genesis 32:3 - Seir Judges 16:5 - we will

Gill's Notes on the Bible

So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir. Took his leave of Jacob the same day he met him, and proceeded on in his journey towards Seir; whether he arrived there the same day is not certain, probably it was more than a day's journey.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

- Jacob and Esau Meet

17. סכת sûkkôth, Sukkoth, “booths,” consisting of poles forming a roof covered with branches, leaves, or grass.

19. חמור chămôr Chamor, “ass, red, heap.” קשׂיטה q^eśı̂yṭâh Qesitah, weighed or measured. Ἀμνὸς Amnos, Septuagint and Onkelos

Jacob has a friendly interview with Esau, and re-+enters Kenaan.

Genesis 33:1-3

Jacob, upon seeing Esau approach with his four hundred men, advances with circumspection and lowly obeisance. He divided his family, arranged them according to their preciousness in his eyes, and walks himself in front. In drawing near, he bows seven times, in token of complete submission to his older brother. Esau, the wild hunter, is completely softened, and manifests the warmest affection, which is reciprocated by Jacob. The puncta extraordinaria over וישׁקהוּ vayı̂shēqēhû, “and kissed him,” seemingly intimating a doubt of the reading or of the sincerity of Esau, are wholly unwarranted. Esau then observes the women and children, and inquires who they are. Jacob replies that God had granted, graciously bestowed on him, these children. They approach in succession, and do obeisance. Esau now inquires of the caravan or horde he had already met. He had heard the announcement of the servants; but he awaited the confirmation of the master. “To find grace in the eyes of my lord.” Jacob values highly the good-will of his brother. The acceptance of this present is the security for that good-will, and for all the safety and protection which it involved. Esau at first declines the gift, but on being urged by Jacob accepts it, and thereby relieves Jacob of all his anxiety. His brother is now his friend indeed. “Therefore, have I seen thy face,” that I might give thee this token of my affection. “As if I had seen the face of God.” The unexpected kindness with which his brother had received him was a type and proof of the kindness of the All-provident, by whom it had been added to all his other mercies. My blessing; my gift which embodies my good wishes. I have all; not only enough, but all that I can wish.

Genesis 33:12-16

They now part for the present. “I will qo with thee;” as an escort or vanguard. Jacob explains that this would be inconvenient for both parties, as his tender children and suckling cattle could not keep pace with Esau’s men, who were used to the road. “At the pace of the cattle;” as fast as the business (מלאכה melā'kâh) of traveling with cattle will permit. Unto Selr. Jacob is travelling to the land of Kenaan, and to the residence of his father. But, on arriving there, it will be his first duty to return the fraternal visit of Esau. The very circumstance that he sent messengers to apprise his brother of his arrival, implies that he was prepared to cultivate friendly relations with him. Jacob also declines the offer of some of the men that Esau had with him. He had, doubtless, enough of hands to manage his remaining flock, and he now relied more than ever on the protection of that God who had ever proved himself a faithful and effectual guardian.

Genesis 33:17

“Sukkoth” was south of the Jabbok, and east of the Jordan, as we learn from Judges 8:4-9. From the same passage it appears to have been nearer the Jordan than Penuel, which was at the ford of Jahbok. Sukkoth cannot therefore, be identified with Sakut, which Robinson finds on the other side of the Jordan, about ten miles north of the mouth of the Jabbok. “And built him a house.” This indicates a permanent residence. Booths, or folds, composed of upright stakes wattled together, and sheltered with leafy branches. The closed space in the text is properly introduced here, to indicate the pause in the narrative, while Jacob sojourned in this place. Dinah, who is not noticed on the journey, was now not more than six years of age. Six or seven years more, therefore, must have elapsed before the melancholy events of the next chapter took place. In the interval, Jacob may have visited his father, and even returned the visit of Esau.

Genesis 33:18-20

Jacob at length crosses the Jordan, and enters again the land of Kenaan. “In peace.” The original word (שׁלם shālēm “safe, in peace”) is rendered Shalem, the name of the town at which Jacob arrived, by the Septuagint. The rendering safe, or in peace, is here adopted, because (1) the word is to be taken as a common noun or adjective, unless there be a clear necessity for a proper name; (2) “the place” was called Shekem in the time of Abraham Genesis 12:6, and the “town” is so designated in the thirty-fifth chapter Genesis 35:4; and (3) the statement that Jacob arrived in safety accounts for the additional clauses, “which is in the land of Kenaan,” and “when he went from Padan-aram,” and is in accordance with the promise Genesis 28:21 that he would return in peace. If, however, the Salim found by Robinson to the west of Nablous be the present town, it must be called the city of Shekem, because it belonged to the Shekem mentioned in the following verse and chapter. “Pitched before the city.”

Jacob did not enter into the city, because his flocks and herds could not find accommodation there, and he did not want to come into close contact with the inhabitants. “He bought a parcel of the field.” He is anxious to have a place he may call his own, where he may have a permanent resting-place. “For a hundred kesitahs.” The kesitah may have been a piece of silver or gold, of a certain weight, equal in value to a lamb (see Gesenius). “El-Elohe-Israel.” Jacob consecrates his ground by the erection of an altar. He calls it the altar of the Mighty One, the God of Israel, in which he signalizes the omnipotence of him who had brought him in safety to the land of promise through many perils, the new name by which he himself had been lately designated, and the blessed communion which now existed between the Almighty and himself. This was the very spot where Abraham, about one hundred and eighty-five years ago, built the first altar he erected in the promised land Genesis 12:6-7. It is now consecrated anew to the God of promise.