Genesis 33:13

But Jacob replied, “My lord knows that the children are frail, and I must care for sheep and cattle that are nursing their young. If they are driven hard for even a day, all the animals will die.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jacob addresses Esau following their reunion, declining the offered escort and explaining his necessity for a slow travel pace.

The words — The text uses רַכִּים (rakim, "weak") to describe the children and notes the nursing sheep and cattle that would perish if driven hard.

The thread — The text explicitly links vulnerable children and nursing livestock to delayed travel, a concern that resurfaces in Isaiah 40:11 and Ezekiel 34:15 regarding divine care, and in 1 Chronicles 22:5 regarding Solomon’s inexperience.

Why it lands — The passage requires readers to prioritize responsible stewardship over rushed progress, recognizing that leadership must accommodate the physical limits of those under care.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַיֹּ֣אמֶרva/i.Yo.merand/ he said אֵלָ֗יו'e.La/vto/ him אֲדֹנִ֤י'a.do.N/ilord/ my יֹדֵ֙עַ֙yo.De.a'[is] knowing כִּֽי־ki-that הַיְלָדִ֣יםha/y.la.Dimthe/ children רַכִּ֔יםra.Kim[are] weak וְהַצֹּ֥אןve./ha./Tzonand/ the/ sheep וְהַבָּקָ֖רve./ha./ba.Karand/ the/ cattle עָל֣וֹתa.Lot[are] nursing עָלָ֑י'a.La/iwith/ me וּדְפָקוּם֙u./de.fa.Ku/mand/ people will drive hard/ them י֣וֹםYoma day אֶחָ֔ד'e.Chadone וָמֵ֖תוּva./Me.tuand/ they will die כָּל־kol-all הַצֹּֽאן׃ha./Tzonthe/ flock

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Isaiah 40:11 He tends His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart. He gently leads the nursing ewes.
Ezekiel 34:15 I will tend My flock and make them lie down, declares the Lord GOD.
1 Chronicles 22:5 And David said, “My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the LORD must be exceedingly magnificent—famous and glorious throughout all lands. Therefore I must make preparations for it.” So David made lavish preparations before his death.
Proverbs 12:10 A righteous man regards the life of his animal, but the tender mercies of the wicked are only cruelty.
Ezekiel 34:23 I will appoint over them one shepherd, My servant David, and he will feed them. He will feed them and be their shepherd.
John 21:15 When they had finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus replied, “Feed My lambs.”