John Calvin Commentary Genesis 32:4

"And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye say unto my lord Esau: Thus saith thy servant Jacob, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed until now:" — Genesis 32:4 (ASV)

Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau. Moses here relates Jacob's anxiety to appease his brother. For this humble entreaty was wrung from him only by great and severe mental anguish. It seems, however, to be an absurd submission, by which he yields to his brother that dominion for which he had fought at the risk of his life.

For if Esau has the primogeniture, what does Jacob reserve for himself? To what end did he bring upon himself such hatred, expose himself to such dangers, and finally endure twenty years of banishment, if he is now willing to be subject to his brother? I answer, that though he gives up the temporal dominion, he yields nothing of his right to the secret benediction.

He knows that the effect of the divine promise is still suspended; therefore, being content with the hope of the future inheritance, he does not hesitate, for now, to honor his brother above himself and to profess himself his brother’s servant. Nor was there anything insincere in these words, because he was willing to bear his brother on his shoulders, so that he might not lose his own future right, which was still concealed.