Charles Ellicott Commentary Genesis 32:20

"and ye shall say, Moreover, behold, thy servant Jacob is behind us. For he said, I will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept me." — Genesis 32:20 (ASV)

I will appease him. —The Hebrew literally is, he said I will cover his face with the offering that goes before my face, and afterwards I will see his face; perhaps he will lift up my face. The covering of the face of the offended person, so that he could no longer see the offense, became the usual legal word for making an atonement (Leviticus 9:7 and following). For the “offering” (Hebrew, minchah) see Genesis 4:3; and for “the lifting up of the face,” see Genesis 4:7.