and you shall say, ‘Moreover, your servant Jacob is behind us.’” For he thought, “I may appease him with the present that goes ahead of me, and afterward I shall see his face. Perhaps he will accept me.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jacob's strategy is not just about appeasing Esau with gifts, but about covering Esau's face—effectively hiding his offense and making him forget it—so that Jacob's own "face" (his person and reputation) can be lifted up again. This implies a hope that the gift will literally obscure the past wrong and allow for a fresh start.
and you shall say, ‘Moreover, your servant Jacob is behind us.’” For he thought, “I may appease him with the present that goes ahead of me, and afterward I shall see his face. Perhaps he will accept me.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jacob is desperately trying to make peace with his brother Esau, whom he fears will seek revenge after Jacob defrauded him of his birthright years ago. Before Jacob and his family physically encounter Esau, Jacob sends ahead a large present, along with messengers carrying a message of submission, hoping this will appease Esau’s anger. This passage reveals Jacob's strategy and his deep anxiety as he prepares for this potentially dangerous reunion.
Jacob is facing his furious brother Esau after years of separation. How does he try to win him over?
Jacob's approach in Genesis 32:20 reveals a calculated strategy to navigate a dangerous reunion.
Appeasing the Anger
Jacob’s messengers are instructed to address Esau as ‘my lord’ and himself as ‘your servant Jacob.’ This is a deliberate act of submission, designed to de-escalate Esau’s potential anger. The core of his strategy lies in the large present he sends ahead.
"Covering the Face"
The Hebrew behind ‘appease him’ literally means ‘to cover his face.’ This imagery suggests that the gifts are intended to hide Esau’s offense and anger, preventing him from seeing Jacob’s perceived wrongdoing. It’s a way of softening Esau’s heart and making him more receptive to Jacob’s presence.
Hope for Acceptance
Jacob’s ultimate goal is stated clearly: “afterward I shall see his face. Perhaps he will accept me.” He hopes the present will not only placate Esau but also open the door for a positive reception, where his person is accepted, and his face is metaphorically ‘lifted up’ – a sign of restored favor and reconciliation.
Jacob’s message to Esau is more than just a greeting; it’s a desperate plea rooted in his identity and his deepest anxieties.
Jacob's communication reveals his shifting self-perception and his profound reliance on God’s favor.
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The Servant Identity
Jacob instructs his messengers to declare, 'Moreover, your servant Jacob is behind us.' This is a deliberate self-abasement. After years of cunning and self-reliance, Jacob is now consciously adopting the role of a servant before his wronged brother. This humility is a crucial part of his peace-making strategy.
The Weight of "Peradventure"
The word 'peradventure' (or 'perhaps') carries immense weight. It signifies Jacob’s uncertainty and his lack of control over Esau’s response. Despite sending a generous gift and adopting a humble posture, he cannot guarantee acceptance. This highlights his dependence not just on his strategy, but ultimately on Esau’s willingness to forgive and accept him.
Trust Beyond Strategy
While Jacob employs a practical strategy, his words hint at a deeper hope that goes beyond his own efforts. The desire to 'see his face' and be 'accepted' speaks to a longing for restored relationship, a hope that Esau's heart might be turned by more than just the material gifts. This underlying hope points towards an even greater reliance on divine intervention.
Understand the original words
kāpar · Hebrew Verb
To wipe away, cover, or make atonement for; in a human context, it involves soothing anger or placating someone through a gift or gesture to restore harmony.
pānîm · Hebrew Noun
The outward appearance of a person, often used metonymically for the person themselves or their personal presence and disposition; seeing someone's face signifies reconciliation or intimate encounter.
Jacob's fear of his brother Esau, and his strategy to appease him with gifts, highlights his ongoing struggle with fear and his reliance on human maneuvering, even as God simultaneously prepares him for the encounter through a divine wrestling match that transforms his faith and identity.
~1800 BC
Jacob flees from Canaan
Jacob, having deceived his brother Esau and stolen his birthright and blessing, flees from his father's home in Canaan to Haran, beginning a 20-year exile.
~1780 BC
Jacob flees from Laban
After 20 years serving his uncle Laban, Jacob secretly flees back towards Canaan with his family and possessions, escaping Laban's pursuit.
~1780 BC
Angels meet Jacob
As Jacob journeys towards Canaan, he is met by a host of angels, a divine reassurance of God's protection.
~1780 BC— this verse
Jacob prepares to meet Esau
Jacob sends gifts ahead of him and divides his family into two groups, strategizing to appease and protect them from his approaching brother Esau, whom he fears.
~1780 BC
Jacob wrestles with God
Jacob wrestles through the night with a divine being at the Jabbok ford, receiving a physical injury and a new name, Israel, signifying his transformed faith.
~1780 BC
Jacob meets Esau
Jacob finally meets Esau. After a tense initial encounter, Esau graciously accepts Jacob's gifts and they part amicably, though on separate paths.
This passage highlights the Pharisee's self-righteous boasting, contrasting with the tax collector's humble admission of unworthiness. It mirrors Jacob's internal conflict between his past actions and his present plea for mercy.
Romans 5:8This verse powerfully declares God's love demonstrated through Christ's sacrifice, even while we were still sinners. It provides the theological foundation for Jacob's hope to appease Esau, suggesting that God's favor can overcome past transgressions.
Proverbs 21:14This proverb directly links a gift to appeasing anger, reflecting Jacob's strategy of sending a present to Esau. It shows that this tactic, while perhaps flawed in its reliance on human effort, was a recognized method for de-escalating conflict.
Psalm 34:18This psalm speaks of God's nearness to the brokenhearted and His saving those who are crushed in spirit. It resonates with Jacob's fearful state and his reliance on God for deliverance from Esau's potential wrath.
1 Samuel 1:15Hannah, in her distress, expresses a similar sentiment of unworthiness and reliance on God's mercy, stating she is 'pouring out her soul before the Lord.' This parallels Jacob's plea to be accepted despite his past actions.
calvinGenesis 32:1-32: "And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him."
And say ye moreover, Behold, thy servant Jacob is behind us. For he said, I will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept of me.
Et dicetis etiam, Ecce servus tuus Iahacob est post nos: dixit enim, Placabo faciem ejus munere, quod vadit ante me, et postea videbo faciem ejus, si forte suscipiat faciem meam.
So went the present over be…
pooleGenesis 32:20: "And say ye moreover, Behold, thy servant Jacob is behind us. For he said, I will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept of me."
I will appease him; Heb. appease or allay his anger; for the Hebrew word panim signifies both anger, as Psalm 21:9 34:16 , and face, as every where, because a man’s anger is most discernible in his face or countenance, Proverbs 21:14 . He will accept of me; Heb. will lift up my f…
Jacob's strategy is not just about appeasing Esau with gifts, but about covering Esau's face—effectively hiding his offense and making him forget it—so that Jacob's own "face" (his person and reputation) can be lifted up again. This implies a hope that the gift will literally obscure the past wrong and allow for a fresh start.
Jacob is desperately trying to make peace with his brother Esau, whom he fears will seek revenge after Jacob defrauded him of his birthright years ago. Before Jacob and his family physically encounter Esau, Jacob sends ahead a large present, along with messengers carrying a message of submission, hoping this will appease Esau’s anger. This passage reveals Jacob's strategy and his deep anxiety as he prepares for this potentially dangerous reunion.
Jacob is desperately trying to make peace with his brother Esau, whom he fears will seek revenge after Jacob defrauded him of his birthright years ago. Before Jacob and his family physically encounter Esau, Jacob sends ahead a large present, along with messengers carrying a message of submission, hoping this will appease Esau’s anger. This passage reveals Jacob's strategy and his deep anxiety as he prepares for this potentially dangerous reunion.
"and you shall say, ‘Moreover, your servant Jacob is behind us.’” For he thought, “I may appease him with the present that goes ahead of me, and afterward I shall see his face. Perhaps he will accept me.”" — Jacob's strategy is not just about appeasing Esau with gifts, but about covering Esau's face—effectively hiding his offense and making him forget it—so that Jacob's own "face" (his person and reputat…
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Last reviewed October 2026