King James Version

What Does Genesis 33:14 Mean?

Genesis 33:14 in the King James Version says “Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth be...” — study this verse from Genesis chapter 33 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir. according: Heb. according to the foot of the work, etc., and according to the foot of the children”

Genesis 33:14 · KJV

Prayer

Context

12

And he said, Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before thee.

13

And he said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die.

14

Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir. according: Heb. according to the foot of the work, etc., and according to the foot of the children

15

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. leave: Heb. set, or, place What: Heb. Wherefore is this?

16

So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir.

Read Genesis 33 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the ... This passage belongs to the Jacob narratives which demonstrate God's sovereign election overriding human merit and the transformation of a deceiver into Israel, the father of the twelve tribes. The Jacob cycle shows how divine purposes advance through flawed individuals whom God graciously transforms.

Key themes include God's sovereign choice ("the older shall serve the younger"), the consequences of deception and family dysfunction, exile and return patterns, wrestling with God leading to blessing, and covenant renewal across generations. Jacob's character development from manipulative deceiver to mature patriarch demonstrates sanctification's lifelong process.

Theologically significant aspects include: (1) divine election based on grace not merit (Romans 9:10-13); (2) God's faithfulness to covenant promises despite human unfaithfulness; (3) discipline as evidence of divine love and means of transformation; (4) generational patterns of sin requiring divine intervention to break; (5) prayer and wrestling with God as legitimate expressions of faith. Jacob's limp after wrestling God symbolizes how divine encounters leave permanent marks, transforming our approach to life and dependence on God rather than our own cunning.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The patriarchal narratives (Genesis 12-50) reflect the cultural, social, and legal customs of the ancient Near East during the Middle Bronze Age (2000-1500 BCE). Archaeological discoveries including the Mari tablets, Nuzi tablets, and Egyptian records confirm many details: nomadic pastoralism, covenant-making ceremonies, marriage customs, property laws, and international travel patterns described in Genesis.

The cultural practices reflected include: treaty/covenant forms (Genesis 15), bride-price customs (Genesis 24, 29), inheritance laws favoring firstborn sons (Genesis 25, 27), adoption practices (Genesis 15, 30), levirate-type arrangements (Genesis 38), and Egyptian administrative systems (Genesis 41, 47). These parallels confirm Genesis's historical reliability while showing how God worked within ancient cultural frameworks to accomplish His purposes.

For later Israelites, these narratives established their identity as Abraham's descendants, explained their claim to Canaan, justified their possession of Joseph's bones (Exodus 13:19), and provided models of faith despite imperfection. The patriarchs' failures and God's faithfulness encouraged Israel that covenant relationship depended on God's grace rather than human merit. The movement from Mesopotamia to Canaan to Egypt set the stage for the Exodus and conquest narratives.

Reflection Questions

  1. What theological truths about Reconciliation with Esau emerge from this passage?
  2. How should this truth about Shechem Settlement shape our daily decisions and priorities?
  3. How does this passage point forward to Christ and the gospel of redemption?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 20 words
יַֽעֲבָר1 of 20

“I pray thee pass over”

H5674

to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in

נָ֥א2 of 20
H4994

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

אֲדֹנִ֖י3 of 20

“Let my lord”

H113

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

לְפָנַי֙4 of 20

“before”

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

עַבְדּ֑וֹ5 of 20

“his servant”

H5650

a servant

וַֽאֲנִ֞י6 of 20
H589

i

אֶֽתְנָהֲלָ֣ה7 of 20

“and I will lead on”

H5095

properly, to run with a sparkle, i.e., flow; hence (transitively), to conduct, and (by inference) to protect, sustain

לְאִטִּ֗י8 of 20

“softly”

H328

(as an adverb) gently

וּלְרֶ֣גֶל9 of 20

“according as”

H7272

a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a step; by euphemistically the pudenda

הַמְּלָאכָ֤ה10 of 20

“the cattle”

H4399

properly, deputyship, i.e., ministry; generally, employment (never servile) or work (abstractly or concretely); also property (as the result of labor)

אֲשֶׁר11 of 20
H834

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

לְפָנַי֙12 of 20

“before”

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

וּלְרֶ֣גֶל13 of 20

“according as”

H7272

a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a step; by euphemistically the pudenda

הַיְלָדִ֔ים14 of 20

“and the children”

H3206

something born, i.e., a lad or offspring

עַ֛ד15 of 20
H5704

as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)

אֲשֶׁר16 of 20
H834

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

אָבֹ֥א17 of 20

“until I come”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

אֶל18 of 20
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

אֲדֹנִ֖י19 of 20

“Let my lord”

H113

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

שֵׂעִֽירָה׃20 of 20

“unto Seir”

H8165

seir, a mountain of idumaea and its indigenous occupants, also one in palestine

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Genesis. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Genesis 33:14 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Genesis 33:14 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Isaiah 40:11Genesis 32:3Romans 15:1Mark 4:33Ezekiel 35:2-32 Chronicles 20:10

Places in This Verse

Mount Seir 1Mountain Range · Modern: Jebel esh Shera · 30.18°N, 35.32°E34 verses across 9 books
View all places in Genesis 33 →

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