Genesis 32:24 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day.

NIV: So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak.

NASB: Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak.

CSB: Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak.

NLT: This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break.

KJV: And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.

NKJV: Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day.

This passage contains one of the most significant occurrences in Jacob's eventful life. It will also become a significant moment in the long history of the people of Israel. In fact, it will reveal why they are named the people of Israel. Key to this understanding is a look at the Hebrew words used in this story. The name of the river is Yab'bōq, which means "emptying." The man involved is named Ya'aqōb, which means "heel-grabber." And the contest he engages in is described by yē'ābēq, meaning "grappling, wrestling."

It is nighttime, likely very dark. In the night, Jacob has sent everything he owns, in addition to his wives and all of his children, across a shallow spot in the Jabbok River and toward his potentially murderous brother Esau (Genesis 32:6; 32:13–21). He has remained behind alone.

Now comes an unexpected and startling statement: A man wrestled with Jacob until dawn. The following verses will offer some explanation, but no meaningful details are given as to how this contest began. We're not sure, from the text, if Jacob was violently attacked by an unknown man. Or, if there was some challenge, conversation, or warning before it began. They engage in real, physical combat or wrestling. Their contest seems to be more or less a stalemate, continuing to sunrise.

Jacob, who has been dreading a fight with his brother Esau, suddenly finds himself in an actual fight, but with a stranger.

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.

Jacob came to work for Laban while running from the murderous rage of his twin brother, Esau. Jacob was routinely cheated by Laban, eventually resolving to go back home along with his entire family. Unfortunately, this means coming back to face Esau. Jacob soon learns that Esau is headed his way with 400 men. Are they coming to kill Jacob in revenge for his deceit in stealing Isaac's blessing 20 years earlier? Jacob is afraid. He divides his large company into two camps. He prays earnestly to God for deliverance, and he prepares a huge gift to appease Esau. Finally, alone in the dark, Jacob physically grapples with a mysterious man who turns out to be God Himself, in some form. The man questions Jacob, changes his name to Israel, and pronounces a blessing. Thus prepared, Jacob will finally be reunited with his brother in the next chapter.

The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. The book also presents the establishment of Israel, God's chosen people. Many of the principles given in other parts of Scripture depend on the basic ideas presented here in the book of Genesis. Within the framework of the Bible, Genesis explains the bare-bones history of the universe leading up to the captivity of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the book of Exodus.