Let me leave … some of the men: Esau makes another proposal. This time he offers to leave some of his four hundred men to protect Jacob on the way. There is no reason to think Esau wants to leave these men to spy on Jacob. His attitude and character have given no indication of suspicion or revenge. It may be desirable to express Esau’s motive in translation, if readers are likely to misunderstand; for example, “some of my workers to stay with you and escort you” or “I’ll leave some of my workers with you to help you.”

What need is there?: Jacob’s reply in Hebrew is “Why that?” It is a rejection that we may render in English as “What for?” It is expressed in some translations as “No. Don’t bother.”

Let me find favor in the sight of my lord: Jacob now appeals to Esau by using the same expression as in Gen 33.8. There he said he wanted to gain Esau’s favor so that Esau would accept him. But here that sense does not fit the context. Anchor Bible translates “Please indulge [allow] me, my lord.” Biblia Dios Habla Hoy says “Oh please don’t! Why should you bother?” and Revised English Bible “There is no reason why my lord should be so kind.” We may also translate, for example, “Thank you, sir, but that is not necessary” or “Big man, you are very good to me; but don’t!”

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 .