Genesis 32:28 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then he said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed."

NIV: Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome."

NASB: Then he said, 'Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have contended with God and with men, and have prevailed.'

CSB: "Your name will no longer be Jacob," he said. "It will be Israel because you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed."

NLT: Your name will no longer be Jacob,' the man told him. 'From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won.'

KJV: And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

NKJV: And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.”

Jacob's unexpected grappling match with a mysterious man symbolizes his own spiritual needs, and foreshadows the basic outlines of the gospel. Jacob's past is rife with lies and deceptions (Genesis 25:29–34; 27:30–35). He doggedly wrestles with this stranger until dawn, when his opponent lands a crippling blow to his hip (Genesis 32:25). Even then, Jacob will not submit, demanding a blessing. In response, the man demands to know Jacob's name. Possibly realizing that this combatant is God, in some form, Jacob finally admits who he truly is.

In response, God changes Jacob's name to Israel, which means "God fights." The man, God, tells Jacob this is because Jacob has fought with God and with men and has won. This, much as with verse 25, raises controversy when not carefully understood.

First, we should note that Jacob did not "win" the grappling contest. In fact, he seems to have been permanently crippled by it (Genesis 32:25; 32:31). He did, however, refuse to give up. And, when all was said and done, Jacob came out of the match "better off" than when he went in: he obtained a blessing from God. Looking at the deeper symbolism of the name Israel, it's also true that Jacob's greatest successes have come when he trusted God to plan and provide. There, too, Jacob has "prevailed" in his struggles.

This change of Jacob's name is significant on several levels. Most immediately, it is yet another confirmation from God that Jacob will be protected and provided for in his perceived conflict with his brother Esau. Jacob's prayer (Genesis 32:9–12) will be answered. He need no longer fear his brother.

Second, the name Jacob—Ya'aqōb in Hebrew—carries a meaning of cheater or deceiver. This is not an unfair point, since it's exactly what Jacob did to Esau 20 years ago. His name, in part, described his character. This new name is intended to describe a new character, based on the fact that God fights for him and, importantly, for the nation that will come from him.

Finally, this name given to Jacob by God will become the very name of God's people. The nation will be called Israel from this moment on. It's no small coincidence that this nation of people will continue to "struggle" with God, demonstrating human weakness as well as the graceful mercy of God.

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.