Genesis 33:15

Authorized King James Version

And Esau said, Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me. And he said, What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my lord.

Word-by-Word Analysis

וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙

H559

said

to say (used with great latitude)

עֵשָׂ֔ו

H6215

And Esau

esav, a son of isaac, including his posterity

אַצִּֽיגָה

H3322

Let me now leave

to place permanently

נָּ֣א

H4994

'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction

עִמְּךָ֔

H5973

adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then

מִן

H4480

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

הָעָ֖ם

H5971

with thee some of the folk

a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock

אֲשֶׁ֣ר

H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

אִתִּ֑י

H854

properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc

#10

וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙

H559

said

to say (used with great latitude)

#11

לָ֣מָּה

H4100

What

properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and

#12

זֶּ֔ה

H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

#13

אֶמְצָא

H4672

needeth it let me find

properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present

#14

חֵ֖ן

H2580

grace

graciousness, i.e., subjective (kindness, favor) or objective (beauty)

#15

בְּעֵינֵ֥י

H5869

in the sight

an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)

#16

אֲדֹנִֽי׃

H113

of my lord

sovereign, i.e., controller (human or divine)

Analysis

The divine love theme here intersects with God's covenantal faithfulness demonstrated throughout salvation history. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of progressive revelation from covenant love in the Old Testament to agape love in the New. The phrase emphasizing grace relates to the doctrine of soteriology and God's unmerited favor in salvation and connects to the broader scriptural witness about hesed in the Old Testament and agape in the New Testament.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the tribal and clan-based society of the ancient Near East. The author writes to address the foundational narrative for Israel's identity and relationship with God, making the emphasis on divine love particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection

How does the divine love theme in this verse connect to the overarching narrative of Scripture, and what does this reveal about God's character and purposes?
How does this verse's literary context within Genesis chapter 33 illuminate its theological significance, and what does this teach us about biblical interpretation?
What systematic theological implications arise from this verse's treatment of divine love, and how does it contribute to a biblical theology of theology proper and the doctrine of God?

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