John Calvin on Genesis 32:31-32

31. And he halted upon his thigh. It is probable, and it may be gathered even from the words of Moses, that this halting was without the sense of pain, in order that the miracle might be the more evident. For God, in the flesh of his servant, has exhibited a spectacle to all ages, from which the faithful may perceive that no one is such a powerful combatant as not to carry away some wound after a spiritual convict, for infirmity ever cleaves to all, that no one may be pleased with himself above measure. Whereas Moses relates that the Jews abstained from the shrunken sinew, or that part of the thigh in which it was placed: this was not done out of superstition. The sinew which shrank; “that sinew or tendon which fastens the hip-bone in its socket, which comprehends the flesh of that muscle which is connected to it. He that ate of this was to be beaten, as the Jewish masters tell us.” — Patrick. See also Ainsworth on this passage. Professor Bush says, “At present the Jews do not know what sinew this was, nor even which thigh it was in; and the effect of this uncertainty is, that they judge it necessary to abstain from both the hind quarters, lest they should inadvertently eat the interdicted sinew. They sell those parts to Christians.” — Ed. For that age, as we know, was the infancy of the Church; wherefore the Lord retained the faithful, who then lived, under the teaching of the schoolmaster. And now, though, since the coming of Christ, our condition is more free; the memory of the fact ought to be retained among us, that God disciplined his people of old by external ceremonies.

chapter 33.

Genesis 33:1-20

1. And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids.

1. Levavit autem Iahacob oculos suos, et vidit, et ecce Esau veniebat, et cum eo erant quadringenti viri: et divisit liberos cum Leah et cum Rachel, et cum ambabus ancillis.

2. And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost.

2. Tunc posuit ancillas et liberos earum prius, et Leah et liberos ejus posteriores, Rachel autem et Ioseph postremos.

3. And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.

3. Et ipse transivit ante eos, et incurvavit se super terram septem vicibus, donec appropinquaret fratri suo.

4. And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.

4. Cucurrit vero Esau in occursum ejus, et complexus est eum, et jactavit se super collum ejus, et dixit, Qui isti tibi? Et dixit, Liberi sunt, quos donavit Deus servo tuo.

5. And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant.

5. Postea levavit oculos suos, et vidit uxores et liberos, et dixit, Qui isti tibi? Et dixit, Liberi sunt, quos donavit Deus servo tuo.

6. Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves.

6. Et appropinquaverunt ancillae ipsae, et liberi earum, et incurvaverunt se.

7. And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves.

7. Et appropinquavit etiam Leah, et liberi ejus, et incurvaverunt se: et subinde appropinquavit Ioseph et Rachel, et incurvaverunt se.

8. And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord.

8. Et dixit, Qui isti? tuane omnis turma illa, quam obviam habui? Et dixit, Ut invenirem gratiam in oculis domini mei.

9. And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself.

9. Et dixit Esau, Est mihi multum, frater mi, sit tuum quod tuum est.

10. And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me.

10. Ait autem Iahacob, Ne quaeso: si nunc inveni gratiam in oculis tuis, accipe munus meum e manu mea: quia idcirco vidi faciem tuam, acsi viderem faciem Angeli: et propitius eris erga me.

11. Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it

11. Cape quaeso benedictionem meam, quae allata est tibi: quia donavit mihi Deus, et quia sunt mihi omnia. Et coegit eum, et accepit.

12. And he said, Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before thee.

12. Tunc dixit, Proficiscamur, et ambulemus, et ambulabo ante to.

13. 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.

13. Sed dixit ad eum, Dominus meus scit, quod pueri teneri sunt: et pecudes, et boves foetae sunt mihi: et si pulsaverint eas die una, morientur omnes pecudes.

14. Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir.

14. Transeat quaeso dominus meus ante servum suum, et ego ducam me pedetentim ad pedem gregis, qui est ante me, et ad pedem puerorum, donec veniam ad dominum meum in Sehir.

15. And Esau said, Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me. And he said, What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my lord.

15. Et dixit Esau, Stare faciam nunc tecum de populo, qui est mecum. Et dixit, Utquid hoc? inveniam gratiam in oculis domini mei.

16. So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir.

16. Reversus est itaque in die ipsa Esau per viam suam in Sehir.

17. And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.

17. Iahacob autem profectus est in Suchoth, et aedificavit sibi domum, et pecudibus suis fecit tabernacula: idcirco vocavit nomen loci Suchoth.

18. And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padanaram; and pitched his tent before the city.

18. Et venit Iahacob incolumis in civitatem Sechem, quae erat in terra Chenaan, quando venit ipse de Padan Aram, et mansit ante urbem.

19. And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for an hundred pieces of money.

19. Et emit partem agri, in quo tetendit tabernaculum suum, de manu filiorum Hamor patris Sechem, centum nummis.

20. And he erected there an altar, and called it Elelohe-Israel.

20. Et statuit ibi altare: et vocavit illud, Fortis Deus Israel.