What Does Genesis 33:3 Mean?

He himself went on before them and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. The seven bows of Genesis 32:32 are here described again from the perspective of the actual approach to Esau. Jacob positions himself at the front, ahead of all the groups, and prostrates himself seven times as he approaches. The seven prostrations are the total submission of the approach: each bow covers the distance between Jacob and Esau, so that by the seventh Jacob is close enough for his brother to respond.

The image of Jacob bowing toward his approaching brother seven times while limping from the Jabbok injury is one of the most moving physical descriptions in Genesis. The man who grasped, deceived, ran, planned, prayed, and wrestled is now on the ground, repeatedly, before the brother he wronged. Whatever Jacob's understanding of the stolen blessing, whatever his theological read of the events of Genesis 25-27, in this moment his body declares complete subordination. The seventh bow brings him "near to his brother."

The approaching with seven bows mirrors the seven-fold nature of covenant relationships in Genesis. Abraham built seven altars and swore seven-fold oaths; the seventh day is the covenant completion of creation; the seven years of service are the covenant measure of Jacob's commitment. The seven bows that complete Jacob's approach to Esau are a covenant gesture: he is coming to his brother the way one comes to a holy thing, with full reverence and submission. Whether Esau reads it that way is about to be revealed.