genesis 32:9-12, jacob’s prayer

Read Genesis 32:9-12 at Bible Gateway.

Hebrew paragraph division

Gen 32:3-33:17 {s} Jacob renamed Israel, “Upright of El”

Gen 32:9-12 chiastic structure

1a) Gen 32:9a And Jacob said: “O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac;

1b) Gen 32:9b O YHVH, who said to me: Return to your country, and to your kindred, and I will do you good;

central axis) Gen 32:10-11 I am not worthy of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which You have shown to Your servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two camps. Deliver me, I pray You, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and smite me, the mother with the children;

2b) Gen 32:12a And You said: I will surely do you good;

2a) Gen 32:12b And make your seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude” (the promise made to Abraham and Isaac).

Original Hebrew

do you good

This word is Strong’s 3190, yatab, a primitive root meaning to be good, to do well (rightly), to do good. The ancient pictographs are yud + tet + bet:

yud = the closed hand, thus work, throw, worship;
tet = the basket, thus surround, contain, hold, mud;
bet = the house, thus house, household, family, in, within;

The story the ancient pictographs are telling is of work (yud) surrounding, containing, holding (tet) i.e., concerning the house(hold) (bet). The work wherewith one spends his life is ultimately work undertaken for the benefit of one’s house and family. A derivative according to the Ancient Hebrew Lexicon, is something which functions properly. Working for one’s own home and family inspires someone to do the job right, to do their best.

mercies

This word is Strong’s H2617 chesed, an abstract concept meaning lovingkindness, mercy, from Strong’s H2616, chacad, a primitive root meaning to be loving, kind. The ancient pictographs are chet + sin + dalet:

chet  = the wall, thus outside, divide, half
sin = the thorn, thus grab, hate, protect
dalet = the door, thus enter, move, hang

The story the ancient pictographs are telling is of the wall (chet) of protection (sin) behind which one allows others to shelter when the door (dalet) is opened.

truth

This word is Strong’s H571, emeth, an adverb meaning verily, truly, faithfully, contracted from Strong’s H539 aman, a primitive root meaning to prop up, sustain, support, confirm. The ancient pictographs are aleph + mem + nun:

aleph = the ox head, thus strength, power, leader
mem = the water, thus chaos, mighty, blood
nun = the seed, thus continue, heir, son

The story the ancient pictographs are telling is of strength (aleph) passed through the blood (mem) to the next generation (nun). I am still meditating on its connection to truth. If you see it, please leave a note in the comments, thank you!