But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The intense physical embrace and weeping reveal that Esau’s outward actions are a powerful, God-given transformation, not simply a calculated response to Jacob’s gifts. This overwhelming emotional reunion, complete with tears and a deep embrace, signifies a profound internal shift, suggesting divine intervention orchestrated this reconciliation.
But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After two decades of separation and a tense night of prayer and wrestling, Jacob faces his brother Esau, whom he had wronged by stealing his birthright and blessing. Jacob had strategically positioned his family and possessions, fearing Esau's approach with four hundred men, but Esau's reaction completely subverts Jacob's anxious expectations. Esau runs to meet Jacob, embracing him with overwhelming emotion, showing a complete reversal from the hostility Jacob had anticipated.
Twenty years of bitterness and hatred melt away in an instant. How can this happen?
The reunion of Jacob and Esau is a powerful display of God's sovereign hand at work.
A Heart Transformed
Esau, who had vowed to kill Jacob, now runs to embrace him with tears and affection. This isn't just a human decision; it's a divine redirection. The commentaries highlight that God holds the hearts of all people and can change their desires and intentions.
From Grudge to Grace
This shows us that even the deepest-seated enmities can be overcome when God intervenes.
Tears and embraces are powerful. But are they always sincere? What does the text suggest about this reunion?
Ask a follow-up
The intense emotion shown by Esau is remarkable, and while some ancient traditions questioned its sincerity, the biblical narrative points to a genuine, God-influenced reconciliation.
The Weight of Emotion
The text describes a dramatic scene: running, embracing, falling on the neck, kissing, and weeping. These are strong, physical expressions of emotion.
Interpreting the Kiss
Some ancient Jewish traditions, noting the historical enmity between Jacob and Esau (and their descendants), suggested Esau's kiss was not genuine. They even noted peculiar markings in the Hebrew text as evidence.
Acknowledging God's Hand
While Esau's feelings are intense and seemingly genuine in the moment, the overarching narrative reminds us that this transformation is ultimately God's work, providing peace where there was deep conflict.
Understand the original words
chabaq · Hebrew Verb
A physical gesture expressing intense emotion, reconciliation, forgiveness, or familial affection; it often marks a transition from hostility to peace.
bakah · Hebrew Verb
In the Bible, the weeping of men, especially at family reunions or in the presence of God, signifies deep emotional release, the depth of past grievances being healed, or profound joy.
This powerful moment of reconciliation, filled with tears and embraces, comes after twenty years of bitter separation fueled by Jacob's deception. Esau's unexpected warmth is seen not just as a personal change of heart, but as a divine intervention, demonstrating God's ability to soften even the hardest hearts and bring healing to broken relationships.
c. 1800 BC
Jacob and Esau Born
Jacob and Esau, twin brothers, are born to Isaac and Rebekah. Jacob later famously deceives Esau, stealing his birthright and blessing.
c. 1760 BC
Jacob Flees Home
Fearing Esau's wrath after stealing his blessing, Jacob flees his father's home and goes to Padan-aram, working for his uncle Laban.
c. 1735 BC
Jacob's Return Journey Begins
After twenty years away, Jacob begins his journey back to Canaan, accompanied by his growing family and livestock. He is deeply anxious about meeting Esau.
c. 1735 BC
Jacob Wrestles with God
The night before meeting Esau, Jacob wrestles with a divine being at the Jabbok River. He is renamed Israel and his hip is injured, symbolizing his transformation and vulnerability.
c. 1735 BC— this verse
Reconciliation with Esau
Jacob strategically prepares for his meeting with Esau, but Esau unexpectedly runs to meet him with overwhelming emotion, embracing and weeping with his brother.
c. 1735 BC
Jacob Settles Near Esau
After the emotional reunion, Jacob continues on his journey, eventually settling in Succoth and then Shechem, maintaining proximity to Esau in Canaan for a time.
This passage about the prodigal son running to his father mirrors the spontaneous and joyful reunion between Jacob and Esau, highlighting the theme of a loving father figure (or in this case, brotherly love) embracing someone returning.
Genesis 45:14-15Joseph's emotional reunion with his brothers after revealing himself shows a similar outpouring of tears and embraces, emphasizing how forgiveness and reconciliation can lead to profound emotional displays.
Proverbs 21:1This verse states that 'the king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will,' which directly relates to Esau's sudden change of heart, suggesting divine intervention in softening his anger and leading him to reconciliation.
Romans 12:18The call to 'live peaceably with all' resonates with Esau's actions, as he sets aside past grievances to embrace his brother, showing the ideal of pursuing peace even after long-standing conflict.
Song of Solomon 1:2While the context is different, the poetic language of wanting to be kissed and embraced can be seen as a parallel to the physical expressions of love and reconciliation shown between the brothers in Genesis 33:4.
calvinGenesis 33:1-20: "And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids."
And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids.
Levavit autem Iahacob oculos suos, et vidit, et ecce Esau veniebat, et cum eo erant quadringenti viri: et divis…
pooleGenesis 33:4: "And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept."
No text from Poole on this verse.
The intense physical embrace and weeping reveal that Esau’s outward actions are a powerful, God-given transformation, not simply a calculated response to Jacob’s gifts. This overwhelming emotional reunion, complete with tears and a deep embrace, signifies a profound internal shift, suggesting divine intervention orchestrated this reconciliation.
After two decades of separation and a tense night of prayer and wrestling, Jacob faces his brother Esau, whom he had wronged by stealing his birthright and blessing. Jacob had strategically positioned his family and possessions, fearing Esau's approach with four hundred men, but Esau's reaction completely subverts Jacob's anxious expectations. Esau runs to meet Jacob, embracing him with overwhelming emotion, showing a complete reversal from the hostility Jacob had anticipated.
After two decades of separation and a tense night of prayer and wrestling, Jacob faces his brother Esau, whom he had wronged by stealing his birthright and blessing. Jacob had strategically positioned his family and possessions, fearing Esau's approach with four hundred men, but Esau's reaction completely subverts Jacob's anxious expectations. Esau runs to meet Jacob, embracing him with overwhelming emotion, showing a complete reversal from the hostility Jacob had anticipated.
"But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept." — The intense physical embrace and weeping reveal that Esau’s outward actions are a powerful, God-given transformation, not simply a calculated response to Jacob’s gifts. This overwhelming emotional re…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026