What does Genesis 32:30 mean?
Jacob has wrestled with God in some physical form. Or, perhaps his opponent was some kind of manifested angel. Jacob's hip has been dislocated. He has received a new name and a blessing, after finally admitting his true name—symbolically, by confessing that he is a "heel puller" and a "usurper:" that he is Ya'aqōb, or "Jacob," rather than once again pretending to be someone else in order to gain a blessing (Genesis 27:19).As Jacob has done after previous encounters with God, he gives the place where the encounter happened a new name. This place he calls Peniel, which means "face of God." This is an interesting choice, since the common stance given in Scripture is that literally seeing God would bring death (John 1:18). However, some men in the Bible are said to have been allowed to see God "face to face," at least in a symbolic or manifested form (Exodus 33:11). Jacob certainly recognizes his situation is unique, which is why he chooses this particular name for the site.
Genesis 32:22–32 describes the fight Jacob was not expecting. While preparing in fear to meet his brother Esau, Jacob finds himself grappling with an unknown stranger in the dark. He wrestles with the mysterious man for much of the night. Near morning, the man gains a massive advantage over Jacob by dislocating Jacob's hip. Jacob realizes his opponent is divine, and asks for a blessing. Poetically, God insists that Jacob, known for his deception and lies, identify himself first. In response to Jacob's honest answer, God changes his name to Israel and blesses him. As the sun rises, Jacob limps to rejoin his family and meet his brother.
As Jacob turns from Laban and returns to his own country, he must face another fearful potential conflict. His twin brother Esau is coming with 400 men. Jacob fears this group approaches to take revenge for cheating Esau out of the family blessing 20 years earlier. Jacob is so afraid that he splits his company into two camps, even as he prays for deliverance. He also prepares an enormous gift to appease Esau. Finally, while alone in the dark, Jacob is unexpectedly forced to wrestle a mysterious man, who turns out to be God Himself in some manifested form. In a profound moment of symbolism, God forces Jacob to state his own name, which God then changes to Israel.
