Genesis32
New King James Version
1So Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.
2When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is God’s camp.” And he called the name of that place Mahanaim.
3Then Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother in the land of Seir, the country of Edom.
4And he commanded them, saying, “Speak thus to my lord Esau, ‘Thus your servant Jacob says: “I have dwelt with Laban and stayed there until now.
5I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, and male and female servants; and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find favor in your sight.” ’ ”
6Then the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and he also is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.”
7So Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people that were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two companies.
8And he said, “If Esau comes to the one company and attacks it, then the other company which is left will escape.”
9Then Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, the Lord who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your family, and I will deal well with you’:
10I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant; for I crossed over this Jordan with my staff, and now I have become two companies.
11Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and attack me and the mother with the children.
12For You said, ‘I will surely treat you well, and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’ ”
13So he lodged there that same night, and took what came to his hand as a present for Esau his brother:
14two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams,
15thirty milk camels with their colts, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten foals.
16Then he delivered them to the hand of his servants, every drove by itself, and said to his servants, “Pass over before me, and put some distance between successive droves.”
17And he commanded the first one, saying, “When Esau my brother meets you and asks you, saying, ‘To whom do you belong, and where are you going? Whose are these in front of you?’
18then you shall say, ‘They are your servant Jacob’s. It is a present sent to my lord Esau; and behold, he also is behind us.’ ”
19So he commanded the second, the third, and all who followed the droves, saying, “In this manner you shall speak to Esau when you find him;
20and also say, ‘Behold, your servant Jacob is behind us.’ ” For he said, “I will appease him with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face; perhaps he will accept me.”
21So the present went on over before him, but he himself lodged that night in the camp.
22And he arose that night and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed over the ford of Jabbok.
23He took them, sent them over the brook, and sent over what he had.
24Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day.
25Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him.
26And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!”
27So He said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob.”
28And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.”
29Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.” And He said, “Why is it that you ask about My name?” And He blessed him there.
30So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”
31Just as he crossed over Penuel the sun rose on him, and he limped on his hip.
32Therefore to this day the children of Israel do not eat the muscle that shrank, which is on the hip socket, because He touched the socket of Jacob’s hip in the muscle that shrank.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Genesis 32.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Jacob's vision at Mahanaim, His fear of Esau. (1–8). Jacob's earnest prayer for deliverance, He prepares a present for Esau. (9–23). He wrestles with the Angel. (24–32).
vv1-8
The angels of God appeared to Jacob, to encourage him with the assurance of the Divine protection. When God designs his people for great trials, he prepares them by great comforts. While Jacob, to whom the promise belonged, had been in hard service, Esau was become a prince. Jacob sent a message, showing that he did not insist upon the birth-right. Yielding pacifies great offences, Ec 10:4. We must not refuse to speak respectfully, even to those unjustly angry with us. Jacob received an account of Esau's warlike preparations against him, and was greatly afraid. A lively sense of danger, and quickening fear arising from it, may be found united with humble confidence in God's power and promise.
vv9-23
Times of fear should be times of prayer: whatever causes fear, should drive us to our knees, to our God. Jacob had lately seen his guards of angels, but in this distress he applied to God, not to them; he knew they were his fellow-servants, Re 22:9. There cannot be a better pattern for true prayer than this. Here is a thankful acknowledgement of former undeserved favours; a humble confession of unworthiness; a plain statement of his fears and distress; a full reference of the whole affair to the Lord, and resting all his hopes on him. The best we can say to God in prayer, is what he has said to us. Thus he made the name of the Lord his strong tower, and could not but be safe. Jacob's fear did not make him sink into despair, nor did his prayer make him presume upon God's mercy, without the use of means. God answers prayers by teaching us to order our affairs aright. To pacify Esau, Jacob sent him a present. We must not despair of reconciling ourselves to those most angry against us.
vv24-32
A great while before day, Jacob being alone, more fully spread his fears before God in prayer. While thus employed, One in the likeness of a man wrestled with him. When the spirit helpeth our infirmities, and our earnest and vast desires can scarcely find words to utter them, and we still mean more than we can express, then prayer is indeed wrestling with God. However tried or discouraged, we shall prevail; and prevailing with Him in prayer, we shall prevail against all enemies that strive with us. Nothing requires more vigour and unceasing exertion than wrestling. It is an emblem of the true spirit of faith and prayer. Jacob kept his ground; though the struggle continued long, this did not shake his faith, nor silence his prayer. He will have a blessing, and had rather have all his bone put out of joint than go away without one. Those who would have the blessing of Christ, must resolve to take no denial. The fervent prayer is the effectual prayer. The Angel puts a lasting mark of honour upon him, by changing his name. Jacob signifies a supplanter. From henceforth he shall be celebrated, not for craft and artful management, but for true valour. Thou shalt be called Israel, a prince with God, a name greater than those of the great men of the earth. He is a prince indeed that is a prince with God; those are truly honourable that are mighty in prayer. Having power with God, he shall have power with men too; he shall prevail, and gain Esau's favour. Jacob gives a new name to the place. He calls it Peniel, the face of God, because there he had seen the appearance of God, and obtained the favour of God. It becomes those whom God honours, to admire his grace towards them. The Angel who wrestled with Jacob was the second Person in the sacred Trinity, who was afterwards God manifest in the flesh, and who, dwelling in human nature, is called Immanuel, Ho 12:4, 5. Jacob halted on his thigh. It might serve to keep him from being lifted up with the abundance of the revelations. The sun rose on Jacob: it is sun-rise with that soul, which has had communion with God.
Key Words
יַעֲקֹב: Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarch
הָלַךְ: to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
דֶּרֶךְ: a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
מֲלְאָךְ: a messenger; specifically, of God, i.e. an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher)
אֱלֹהִים: gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
פָּגַע: to impinge, by accident or violence, or (figuratively) by importunity
רָאָה: to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
זֶה: the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that
מַחֲנֶה: an encampment (of travellers or troops); hence, an army, whether literal (of soldiers) or figurative (of dancers, angels, cattle, locusts, stars; or even the sacred courts)
Cross References
Genesis 32Hosea explicitly interprets Jacob's wrestle as weeping and making supplication to the Angel.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The angel of the Lord encamping around those who fear Him, protecting Jacob's camp.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Recalls Jacob's initial vision of angels on the ladder at Bethel as he re-enters Canaan.
Supported by JFB
Jacob calls Esau 'my lord,' contrasting with the prophetic blessing of dominion over his brother.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The Angel's response to Manoah closely mirrors His response to Jacob's query about His name.
New Testament confirmation of angels ministering to those who inherit salvation, protecting Jacob's family.
Supported by JFB
Parallels Elisha's vision of the Lord's host of horses and chariots surrounding them for defense.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Yielding and submissive speech pacify great offenses, explaining Jacob's respectful approach to Esau.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Jacob pleads the specific command of God to return to his country as his warrant.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Recalls the original covenant promise made at Bethel to keep Jacob and bring him back safely.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Points to the divine character of the Wrestler, identified as both Angel and God.
Supported by Matthew Henry
God formally confirms the change of Jacob's name to Israel at Bethel.
Verbal link of 'mercy' and 'truth' shown to Abraham's house, now acknowledged by Jacob.
Jacob pleads the fulfillment of the Abrahamic promise of countless offspring like the dust.
A man's gift makes room for him, illustrating Jacob's practical wisdom in placating his brother.
Jacob's touch on the thigh represents a physical infirmity to prevent boasting.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Contrasts God's statement that no man can see Him and live with Jacob's preservation.
Gideon expresses the same fear of death after seeing the Angel of the Lord face-to-face.
Manoah echoes Jacob's fear of dying after seeing God in the person of the Angel.
The Messiah's name is declared 'Wonderful' (or 'Secret'), matching the Angel's mysterious name.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Illustrates another historical Jewish custom of avoiding treading upon a specific threshold/sinew.
Identifies the river Jabbok as a significant border in Israel's later geographical inheritance.
Jacob's persistent wrestling exemplifies Christ's teaching on persistent, tireless prayer.
Supported by Matthew Henry