Instructing them: Revised Standard Version runs verses 3 and 4 together, but translators may find that a new sentence is required with Gen 32.4. Instructing here means “directing,” “ordering,” “telling.” We may also translate the beginning of verse 4 as in Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, “He gave them this message:…” or “He told them to say to Esau:….”

Thus you shall say to my lord Esau: since a written message is not employed, the messenger is to repeat exactly the words spoken by the sender of the message. Note the form the message has in Good News Translation. We may translate, for example, “These are the words you will say to…” or “Here is what you are to say to….”

My lord translates ʾadoni, as in Rachel’s address to her father in 31.35. Jacob uses my lord as an address form to his brother in Gen 32.5. Since this quote is used as introductory to the messengers and not to Esau, it may be necessary in translation to make this clear. For example, “I want you to give my lord Esau this message” or “I am going to tell you now what I want you to say to my lord Esau.”

Thus says your servant Jacob: these are the words the messengers are to speak to Esau. In some languages it may be confusing for Jacob to speak of himself in the third person. In that case we may sometimes say “I am your servant, Jacob” or “I am Jacob and I am your slave.” We may put together Jacob’s instructions to his messengers and the opening statement as follows: “Say these words to my lord Esau: ‘I am Jacob who serves you’ ”; or “… ‘I am Jacob, your slave.’ ” A translation that uses indirect speech in this context says “Tell this word to Esau. Tell him that I, Jacob, am his servant. I call him boss.”

I have sojourned with Laban: for sojourned see 12.10.

For stayed until now see Good News Translation. We may also say, for example, “I am only now returning home” or “After all this time I am now coming home.” In some translations sojourned … and stayed until now is expressed as “I have stayed a long time with Laban and now I am coming back.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .