And when Esau raised his eyes: that is, “when Esau looked around” or “when Esau looked up.”

Who are these with you?: Esau’s question inquires about the relationship of the women and children to Jacob, not about their individual names and identities. In some languages this form of the question may only mean “What are their names?” or “Where are they from?” If this is the case, it will be better to translate, for example, “Are these women and children yours?” or “Do these women and children belong to you?”

The children whom God has graciously given your servant: Jacob acknowledges the children as being given to him by God. Graciously given translates a verb meaning to “be gracious,” “show favor,” “be kind to,” and in this context the idea of given is implied in the Hebrew. See Good News Translation. For your servant see comments on 32.4. Jacob’s response is both a reply to Esau’s question and an introduction, a clue to the servant wives to come forward with their children and bow down to Esau. Esau will now see which children belong to each mother as they come forward to pay him their respect.

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 .