Genesis 32:25 - Printer Friendly

ESV: When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him.

NIV: When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man.

NASB: When the man saw that he had not prevailed against him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was dislocated while he wrestled with him.

CSB: When the man saw that he could not defeat him, he struck Jacob's hip socket as they wrestled and dislocated his hip.

NLT: When the man saw that he would not win the match, he touched Jacob’s hip and wrenched it out of its socket.

KJV: And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.

NKJV: Now 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.

Jacob has remained alone in the night on one side of the Jabbok River after his family and all he owns has crossed over to the other side, headed toward a reunion with his estranged brother Esau. Without explanation, Jacob finds himself grappling with an unidentified man. The two have engaged in real, physical combat, wrestling with each other until daybreak. We will learn in the following verses that this mysterious man is somehow God Himself in physical form.

The symbolism of this event is deep, and better understood in the context of the Hebrew words used, as well as Jacob's own history. The nearby stream is named Yab'bōq, meaning "emptying." Jacob's name in Hebrew is Ya'aqōb, which means "heel-grabber." And the combat described here is yē'ābēq, meaning "grappling, wrestling." Jacob's past is one of "wrestling" with the will of God, always seeming to have a scheme or a plot prepared to get him his way. Crucially, Jacob has also been on both sides of impersonation—lying about one's identity.

In wounding Jacob's hip, the man takes a decided advantage. When that injury occurs, Jacob finds himself in a place of total helplessness; he cannot hope to win, from that point forward. And yet, he does not seem to give up, insisting on a blessing. This insistence all but proves that Jacob knows he is not struggling against a normal mortal.

There is some controversy over the use of the phrase "could not" or "was not able" when it comes to God's contest here with Jacob. Some object to the idea that God "can't" out-grapple a human being. However, the language used is relatively clear. The phrase lō yā'kōl is also used in verses such as Genesis 13:6, Exodus 40:35, and 1 Kings 5:3, where it means "was unable."

Key to this misunderstanding is the context of intent. Those who instruct students in the martial arts deliberately hold back when sparring. That is, they restrict their techniques and limit their force. This allows the student to continue competing, rather than being quickly and pointlessly defeated. In the case of a more skilled student, the instructor is "unable" to defeat that opponent using a limited approach. At that point, if they choose to, the instructor can stop holding back and end the fight. Which, in fact, seems to be exactly what this mysterious opponent chose to do with Jacob, delivering a sudden and crippling attack.

Some assume that the man's "touch" of Jacob implies a miraculous act. However, grappling techniques often involve wrenching or dislocating the joints. It's entirely feasible for Jacob's opponent to have simply maneuvered him in the right way to deliver a devastating injury, one which could have permanently affected Jacob's ability to walk (Genesis 32:31).

The purpose behind this injury, along with Jacob's response to it, are explained in the next few verses.

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.