Genesis 32

Genesis 32:1

Jacob also went on his way, and the angels of God met him.

Genesis 32:1 · BSB

Genesis 32:2

When Jacob saw them, he said, "This is the camp of God." So he named that place Mahanaim.

Genesis 32:2 · BSB

Genesis 32:3

Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom.

Genesis 32:3 · BSB

land The land , or mountains , of Seir was situated south and east of the Dead Sea; forming a continuation of the eastern Syrian chain of mountains , beginning with Antilibanus , and extending from thence to the eastern gulf of the Red Sea.

country Heb. field

Genesis 32:4

He instructed them, "You are to say to my master Esau, 'Your servant Jacob says: I have been staying with Laban and have remained there until now.

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Genesis 32:5

I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, menservants, and maidservants. I have sent this message to inform my master, so that I may find favor in your sight.'"

Genesis 32:5 · BSB

Genesis 32:6

When the messengers returned to Jacob, they said, "We went to your brother Esau, and now he is coming to meet you—he and four hundred men with him."

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Genesis 32:7

In great fear and distress, Jacob divided his people into two camps, as well as the flocks and herds and camels.

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Genesis 32:8

He thought, "If Esau comes and attacks one camp, then the other camp can escape."

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Genesis 32:9

Then Jacob declared, "O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, the LORD who told me, 'Go back to your country and to your kindred, and I will make you prosper,'

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Genesis 32:10

I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness You have shown Your servant. Indeed, with only my staff I came across the Jordan, but now I have become two camps.

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Genesis 32:11

Please deliver me from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid that he may come and attack me and the mothers and children with me.

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with Heb. upon

Genesis 32:12

But You have said, 'I will surely make you prosper, and I will make your offspring like the sand of the sea, too numerous to count.'"

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Genesis 32:13

Jacob spent the night there, and from what he had brought with him, he selected a gift for his brother Esau:

Genesis 32:13 · BSB

to his hand Or , "under his hand" or power; i.e. , what Providence had put in his power or possession.

Genesis 32:14

200 female goats, 20 male goats, 200 ewes, 20 rams,

Genesis 32:14 · BSB

Genesis 32:16

He entrusted them to his servants in separate herds and told them, "Go on ahead of me, and keep some distance between the herds."

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Genesis 32:17

He instructed the one in the lead, "When my brother Esau meets you and asks, 'To whom do you belong, where are you going, and whose animals are these before you?'

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Genesis 32:18

then you are to say, 'They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a gift, sent to my lord Esau. And behold, Jacob is behind us.'"

Genesis 32:18 · BSB

Genesis 32:20

You are also to say, 'Look, your servant Jacob is right behind us.'" For he thought, "I will appease Esau with the gift that is going before me. After that I can face him, and perhaps he will accept me."

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Genesis 32:21

So Jacob's gifts went on before him, while he spent the night in the camp.

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Genesis 32:22

During the night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maidservants, and his eleven sons, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok.

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Genesis 32:23

He took them and sent them across the stream, along with all his possessions.

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Genesis 32:24

So Jacob was left all alone, and there a man wrestled with him until daybreak.

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Genesis 32:25

When the man saw that he could not overpower Jacob, he struck the socket of Jacob's hip and dislocated it as they wrestled.

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Genesis 32:26

Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak." But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."

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Genesis 32:27

"What is your name?" the man asked. "Jacob," he replied.

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Genesis 32:28

Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men, and you have prevailed."

Genesis 32:28 · BSB

Israel i.e. a prince of God

as a prince Or , according to the LXX , Vulgate , Houbigant , Dathe , and Rosenmuller , "because thou hast power with God , thou shalt also prevail with men." There is a beautiful antithesis between the two terms , with אלהים , Elohim , God , the Almighty , with אנשים , anashim , weak , feeble men , as the word imports; seeing thou hast had power with the Almighty , surely thou shalt prevail over perishing mortals.

Genesis 32:29

And Jacob requested, "Please tell me your name." But he replied, "Why do you ask my name?" Then he blessed Jacob there.

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Genesis 32:30

So Jacob named the place Peniel, saying, "Indeed, I have seen God face to face, and yet my life was spared."

Genesis 32:30 · BSB

Peniel i.e. the face of God , Peniel , or Penuel , was evidently situated near the ford of Jabbok , on the north of that stream , about forty miles from Jerusalem.

Genesis 32:31

The sun rose above him as he passed by Penuel, and he was limping because of his hip.

Genesis 32:31 · BSB

Genesis 32:32

Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon which is at the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob's hip was struck near that tendon.

Genesis 32:32 · BSB