Genesis 32:15 — Word Study
WLCגְּמַלִּ֧ים מֵינִיק֛וֹת וּבְנֵיהֶ֖ם שְׁלֹשִׁ֑ים פָּר֤וֹת אַרְבָּעִים֙ וּפָרִ֣ים עֲשָׂרָ֔ה אֲתֹנֹ֣ת עֶשְׂרִ֔ים וַעְיָרִ֖ם עֲשָׂרָֽה׃
BSA20ʻesrîym
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| גְּמַלִּ֧ים | camels | Noun common, both plural absolute |
| מֵינִיק֛וֹת | suckling | Verb, Hiphil, participle (active) feminine plural |
| וּבְנֵיהֶ֖ם | and young their | Conjunction, noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| שְׁלֹשִׁ֑ים | thirty | |
| פָּר֤וֹת | cows | Noun common, feminine plural absolute |
| אַרְבָּעִים֙ | forty | |
| וּפָרִ֣ים | and bulls | Conjunction, noun common masculine plural absolute |
| עֲשָׂרָ֔ה | ten | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
| אֲתֹנֹ֣ת | female donkeys | Noun common, feminine plural absolute |
| עֶשְׂרִ֔ים | twenty | Adj |
| וַעְיָרִ֖ם | and male donkeys | Conjunction, noun common masculine plural absolute |
| עֲשָׂרָֽה׃ | ten | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | 30 milk camels with their young, 40 cows, 10 bulls, 20 female donkeys, and 10 male donkeys. |
| KJV | Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and ten bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals. |
| ASV | thirty milch camels and their colts, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty she-asses and ten foals. |
| YLT | suckling camels and their young ones thirty, cows forty, and bullocks ten, she-asses twenty, and foals ten; |
| WEB | thirty milk camels and their colts, forty cows, ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten foals. |
| BBE | Thirty camels with their young ones, forty cows, ten oxen, twenty asses, and ten young asses. |
Where they part company is מֵינִיק֛וֹת — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence is structured with a main clause followed by several noun phrases that enumerate the livestock.
4 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Ellicott, AdamClarke & more — read them ›
clause
verbמֵאָה
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Genesis 32:15
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Jacob's Preparations to Meet Esaugenerated
Genesis 32:15 details Jacob's extensive preparations for his encounter with Esau, including a substantial gift of livestock. This gift is meant to appease Esau, reflecting Jacob's concern for their relationship after many years apart. The animals listed highlight Jacob's wealth and his desire to demonstrate goodwill.
Cross References
The Key Word — מֵינִיק֛וֹת, mei.ni.Kotgenerated
The word מֵינִיק֛וֹת (mei.ni.Kot) is a feminine plural participle derived from the root יָנַק (yanaq), meaning 'to suckle' or 'to nurse.' It specifically refers to young animals that are still nursing, emphasizing their youth and dependency.
This term is used here to describe the young camels accompanying the adult camels, indicating that they are not just any camels, but those that are still dependent on their mothers for milk. The inclusion of suckling camels adds to the overall value of the gift Jacob is sending.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main clause is centered around the noun phrase that lists the animals: גְּמַלִּ֧ים (ge.ma.Lim), פָּר֤וֹת (pa.Rot), and so on. Each noun phrase corresponds to a specific quantity of livestock, which is a common structure in Hebrew for listing items.
The sentence structure emphasizes the quantity and type of animals Jacob is sending, using a series of noun phrases connected by conjunctions to create a comprehensive list.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew word גְּמַלִּ֧ים is rendered as αἶγας (aigas), which means 'goats.' This choice indicates a potential interpretive shift, as camels are not the same as goats, suggesting a different understanding of the livestock being referenced.
The word מֵינִיק֛וֹת is translated as διακοσίας (diakosias), which does not maintain the nursing aspect, further illustrating the differences in translation approach between the Hebrew text and the Septuagint.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Genesis 32:15 describes the animals Jacob is sending to Esau: 30 milk camels with their young, 40 cows, 10 bulls, 20 female donkeys, and 10 male donkeys. This large gift reflects Jacob's desire to make peace with his brother after many years apart.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Jacob is trying to appease Esau and show goodwill after their long separation, indicating his desire to mend their relationship.
The term indicates that the camels are not only valuable but also nurturing, as they are accompanied by their young.
The large quantity of livestock demonstrates Jacob's prosperity and serves as a significant offering to Esau.
Including young animals emphasizes Jacob's generosity and the care he has taken in selecting his gift.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What can we learn about Jacob's character from his actions in this passage?
- How do the animals listed reflect the agricultural practices of the time?
- In what ways can we apply Jacob's approach to reconciliation in our own relationships?
- What does this passage teach us about the importance of generosity?
Commentators on this verse — 4 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Genesis 32:15 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThirty milch camels with their colts,.... Milch camels were in great esteem in the eastern countries; their milk being, as Aristotle (y) and Pliny (z) say, the sweetest of all milk: forty kine and
Read John Gill on Genesis 32 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd he lodged there that same night; and took of that which came to his hand a present for Esau his brother; He lodged there that same night.
Read Robert Jamieson on Genesis 32 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(14, 15) Goats—ewes—camels—kine—asses.—As the kinds of cattle are arranged according to their value, it is remarkable that kine should be prized above camels; for the milk of cows was regarded as of little worth. This high estimation of them, therefore, must have arisen from an increased regard for agriculture, the ploughing being done in the East by oxen. Asses of course come last, as being the animal used by chieftains for riding, and therefore prized as matters of luxury. (See Genesis 12:16; Judges 5:10.) Jacob selected “milch camels” because their milk forms a valuable part of the daily food of the Arabs.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Genesis 32 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 15. Ten bulls] The Syriac and Vulgate have twenty; but ten is a sufficient proportion to the forty kine. By all this we see that Jacob was led to make restitution for the injury he had done to his brother. Restitution for injuries done to man is essentially requisite if in our power. He who can and will not make restitution for the wrongs he has done, can have no claim even on the mercy of God.
Read AdamClarke on Genesis 32 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
30 milk camels with their young, 40 cows, 10 bulls, 20 female donkeys, and 10 male donkeys.
thirty milk camels and their colts, forty cows, ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten foals.
30 milk camels with their young, 40 cows, 10 bulls, 20 female donkeys, and 10 male donkeys.
thirty female camels with their young, forty cows and ten bulls, and twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys.
Tyndale line
Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and ten bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals.
thirty milch camels and their colts, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty she-asses and ten foals.
thirty milch camels and their colts, forty kine and ten bulls, twenty she-asses and ten foals.
Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty she-asses and ten foals.
Thirtie mylche camels with their coltes, fourtie kine, and ten bullockes, twentie she asses and ten foles.
Strictly literal
thirty milch camels with their colts; forty kine, and ten bulls; twenty she-asses, and ten young asses.
suckling camels and their young ones thirty, cows forty, and bullocks ten, she-asses twenty, and foals ten;
suckling camels and their young ones thirty, cows forty, and bullocks ten, female donkeys twenty, and foals ten;
Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty cows, and ten bulls, twenty she-asses, and ten foals.
thirty milking camels and their colts, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys.
From the Latin
Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and twenty bulls, twenty she asses, and ten of their foals.
Simplified
30 female camels with their young, 40 cows, 10 bulls; 20 female donkeys, 10 male donkeys.
Thirty camels with their young ones, forty cows, ten oxen, twenty asses, and ten young asses.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text lists the animals as גְּמַלִּ֧ים מֵינִיק֛וֹת, while the Samaritan Pentateuch agrees word for word with the Masoretic Text. The Septuagint, however, diverges in its translation, indicating a different interpretation of the livestock.
גְּמַלִּ֧ים מֵינִיק֛וֹת וּבְנֵיהֶ֖ם שְׁלֹשִׁ֑ים פָּר֤וֹת אַרְבָּעִים֙ וּפָרִ֣ים עֲשָׂרָ֔ה אֲתֹנֹ֣ת עֶשְׂרִ֔ים וַעְיָרִ֖ם עֲשָׂרָֽה׃
6 of the 12 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
עזים מאתים ותישׁים עשׂרים רחלים מאתים ואילים עשׂרים
Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Genesis 32:15
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
גָּמָל (gamal) means 'camel' and is associated with labor and burden-bearing. It refers to camels as property, used for riding or as beasts of burden, and notes that they are forbidden as food. The entries consistently emphasize the camel's role in transportation and labor.
גָּמָל n.m. camel
as property
as beasts of burden
for riding
forbidden as food
base
H1581 גָּמָל camel
1581 gamal gaw-mawl'
apparently from 1580 (in the sense of labor or
burden-bearing); a camel:--camel.
see HEBREW for 01580
גָּמָל (ga.mal) — camel.
1) camel
1a) as property, as beast of burden, for riding, forbidden for food
HNcbpa — Noun common · both plural absoluteHNcbpa
יָנַק (yanaq) means to suck or suckle, particularly in the context of an infant nursing at its mother's breast. It can also refer to the act of giving milk or nursing, with related forms indicating a nursing mother or suckling child. The entries consistently emphasize the nurturing aspect of this word.
[יָנַק] vb. suck
Qal suck, of infant at mother's breast
Hiph. give suck to, nurse
base
H3243 יָנַק suck .suck, of infant at mother's breast
. give suck to, nurse
3243 yanaq yaw-nak'
a primitive root; to suck; causatively, to give milk:--milch,
nurse(-ing mother), (give, make to) suck(-ing child, -ling).
יָנַק (ya.naq) — to suckle.
1) to suckle, nurse, suck
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to suck
1a2) suckling, babe (subst)
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to give suck to, nurse
1b2) nursing, nursing woman, nurse (participle)
HVhrfpa — Verb · Hiphil · participle (active) feminine pluralHVhrfpa
בֵּן (ben) means 'son' or 'male child' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including descendants, young animals, and even figurative uses like sparks or arrows. It can refer to members of a tribe or class and is used in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, such as in 1 Chronicles 24:26. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to build' and implies a connection to family or lineage.
בֵּן 4870 n.m. son
son, male child, born of a woman
children (male and female)
youth, young men
the young of animals
of plant shoots
fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows
member of a guild, order or class
of animals son of (the) herd
ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.
n. relat. of age
base
בְּנוֹ 1 Ch 24:26, 27 as n.pr.m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son, cf. VB & Be Öt.
done
H1121a בֵּן son . son, male child, born of a woman
. children (male and female)
. youth, young men
. the young of animals
. of plant shoots
. fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows
. . member of a guild, order or class
. of animals son of (the) herd
. ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.
. n. relat. of age
H1121b בְּנוֹ as n. pr. m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son
1121 ben bane
from 1129; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the
widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship,
including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition,
etc., (like 1, 251, etc.)):--+ afflicted, age, (Ahoh-)
(Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-)ite, (anoint-)ed one, appointed to,
(+) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-)ian, one born,
bough, branch, breed, + (young) bullock, + (young) calf, X
came up in, child, colt, X common, X corn, daughter, X of
first, + firstborn, foal, + very fruitful, + postage, X in, +
kid, + lamb, (+) man, meet, + mighty, + nephew, old, (+)
people, + rebel, + robber, X servant born, X soldier, son, +
spark, + steward, + stranger, X surely, them of, + tumultuous
one, + valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
see HEBREW for 01129
see HEBREW for 01
see HEBREW for 0251
בֵּן (ben) — son: child.
: child/son
בְּנוֹ (be.no) — Beno.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.24.26;
son of: Jaaziah (H3269);
brother of: Shoham (H7719), Zaccur (H2139I) and Ibri (H5681)
§ Beno = "his son"
the sons of Jaaziah and the sons of Merari by Jaahziah (his son)
בֵּן (ben) — son: descendant/people.
: descendant, people, tribe, nation
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : child/son
בֵּן (ben) — son: young animal.
: calf/lamb/young(ANIMAL)
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : descendant
בֵּן (ben) — son: type of.
: rebel/son(Belial)
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : people/men/nation/tribe
בֵּן (ben) — son.
: [inheriting]son/heir
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
בֵּן (ben) — son: warrior.
: warrior/son(strong)
HC/Ncmpc/Sp3mp — Conjunction · noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHC/Ncmpc/Sp3mp
שְׁלֹשִׁים (*shlowshiym*) means 'thirty' and can also refer to 'thirtieth' as an ordinal number. It is an indeclinable noun and is derived from the root word for 'three.' The entries indicate that it is used in various contexts, but there are no significant disagreements among the lexicons.
שְׁלֹשִׁים (very seldom שְׁלוֹשִׁים, שְׁלֹשִׁם) 174 n.indecl. thirty
bef. n. sg.
as ordin.
base
H7970 שְׁלֹשִׁים (very seldom שְׁלוֹשִׁים, שְׁלֹשִׁם) n. indecl. thirty . bef. n. sg.
. as ordin.
7970 shlowshiym shel-o-sheem'
or shloshiym {shel-o-sheem'}; multiple of 7969; thirty; or
(ordinal) thirtieth:--thirty, thirtieth. Compare 7991.
see HEBREW for 07969
see HEBREW for 07991
שְׁלֹשִׁים (she.lo.shim) — thirty.
thirty, thirtieth
Aramaic equivalent: te.la.tin (תְּלָתִין "thirty" H8533)
HAcmpa — HAcmpa
פָּרָה (parah) refers to a heifer or cow, specifically a female bovine. The entries consistently define it as a heifer or cow, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.
פָּרָה 26 n.f. heifer, cow
base
H6510 פָּרָה heifer, cow
6510 parah paw-raw'
feminine of 6499; a heifer:--cow, heifer, kine.
see HEBREW for 06499
פָּרָה (pa.rah) — heifer.
cow, heifer
HNcfpa — Noun common · feminine plural absoluteHNcfpa
אַרְבָּעִים (arba`iym) simply means 'forty' in Hebrew. It is a multiple of the number 702 and is consistently defined across various lexicons. There are no significant disagreements among the entries regarding its meaning.
אַרְבָּעִים a forty
base
H705 אַרְבָּעִים a forty
705 'arba`iym ar-baw-eem'
multiple of 702; forty:---forty.
see HEBREW for 0702
אַרְבָּעִים (ar.ba.im) — forty.
forty
HAcmpa — HAcmpa
פַּר (par) refers to a young bull or steer. It is derived from a root that suggests strength or breaking forth. The term encompasses meanings like bullock and calf, indicating its use in contexts related to livestock.
פַּר 132 n.m. young bull, steer
base
H6499 פַּר young bull, steer
6499 par par
or par {pawr}; from 6565; a bullock (apparently as breaking
forth in wild strength, or perhaps as dividing the hoof):--(+
young) bull(-ock), calf, ox.
see HEBREW for 06565
פַּר (par) — bullock.
young bull, steer, bullock
HC/Ncmpa — Conjunction · noun common masculine plural absoluteHC/Ncmpa
עֶשֶׂר (eser) means 'ten' in Hebrew. It is a masculine noun derived from the root related to counting, specifically indicating the number ten and its use in combination with other numbers. The Aramaic equivalent is עֲשַׂר (asar), also meaning 'ten.'
עֶשֶׂר, עֲשָׂרָה 176 n.m. and f. ten
base
H6235 עֶשֶׂר, עֲשָׂרָה ten
6235 `eser eh'ser
masculine of term aasarah {as-aw-raw'}; from 6237; ten (as an
accumulation to the extent of the digits):--ten, (fif-,
seven-)teen.
see HEBREW for 06237
עֶשֶׂר (e.ser) — ten.
1) ten
1a) ten
1b) with other numbers
Aramaic equivalent: a.sar (עֲשַׂר "ten" H6236)
HNcfsa — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
The Hebrew word אָתוֹן (*'athown*) means 'she-ass' or 'she-donkey.' It is derived from a root related to patience, suggesting docility. The entries consistently define it as a female donkey without significant disagreement among lexicons.
אָתוֹן n.f. she-ass
base
H860 אָתוֹן she-ass
860 'athown aw-thone'
probably from the same as 386 (in the sense of patience); a
female donkey (from its docility):--(she) ass.
see HEBREW for 0386
אָתוֹן (a.ton) — she-ass.
she-ass, she-donkey
HNcfpa — Noun common · feminine plural absoluteHNcfpa
עֶשְׂרִים (esriym) means 'twenty' and can also refer to the ordinal 'twentieth.' It is derived from the root word for 'ten' and has an Aramaic equivalent, עֶשְׂרִין (es.rin). The entries consistently define the term without significant disagreement.
עֶשְׂרִים (a) twenty
base
H6242 עֶשְׂרִים (a) twenty
6242 `esriym es-reem'
from 6235; twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth:--(six-)score,
twenty(-ieth).
see HEBREW for 06235
עֶשְׂרִים (es.rim) — twenty.
twenty, twentieth
Aramaic equivalent: es.rin (עֶשְׂרִין "twenty" H6243)
Adj — AdjHAcmpa
twen'-ti.
See NUMBER.
עַ֫יִר (*`ayir*) refers to a young male donkey, specifically one that is vigorous and capable of bearing a load. It is derived from a root meaning to raise or bear a burden. The word encompasses terms like colt and foal, indicating its youthfulness.
עַ֫יִר n.m. male ass (young and vigorous)
base
H5895 עַ֫יִר male ass (young and vigorous)
5895 `ayir ah'-yeer
from 5782 in the sense of raising (i.e. bearing a burden);
properly, a young ass (as just broken to a load); hence an
ass-colt:--(ass) colt, foal, young ass.
see HEBREW for 05782
עַ֫יִר (a.yir) — colt.
he-ass, male ass
HC/Ncmpa — Conjunction · noun common masculine plural absoluteHC/Ncmpa
עֶשֶׂר (eser) means 'ten' in Hebrew. It is a masculine noun derived from the root related to counting, specifically indicating the number ten and its use in combination with other numbers. The Aramaic equivalent is עֲשַׂר (asar), also meaning 'ten.'
עֶשֶׂר, עֲשָׂרָה 176 n.m. and f. ten
base
H6235 עֶשֶׂר, עֲשָׂרָה ten
6235 `eser eh'ser
masculine of term aasarah {as-aw-raw'}; from 6237; ten (as an
accumulation to the extent of the digits):--ten, (fif-,
seven-)teen.
see HEBREW for 06237
עֶשֶׂר (e.ser) — ten.
1) ten
1a) ten
1b) with other numbers
Aramaic equivalent: a.sar (עֲשַׂר "ten" H6236)
HNcfsa — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa