Genesis 32:24-33:15

New International Version

²⁴ So Jacob was left alone,^(A) and a man^(B) wrestled with him till daybreak. ²⁵ When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip^(C) so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 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.”^(D)

²⁷ The man asked him, “What is your name?”

“Jacob,”^(E) he answered.

²⁸ Then the man said, “Your name^(F) will no longer be Jacob, but Israel,^[a](G) because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”^(H)

²⁹ Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.”^(I)

But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?”^(J) Then he blessed^(K) him there.

³⁰ So Jacob called the place Peniel,^[b] saying, “It is because I saw God face to face,^(L) and yet my life was spared.”

³¹ The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel,^[c](M) and he was limping because of his hip. ³² Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip,^(N) because the socket of Jacob’s hip was touched near the tendon.

Jacob Meets Esau

33 Jacob looked up and there was Esau, coming with his four hundred men;^(O) so he divided the children among Leah, Rachel and the two female servants.^{(P) 2} He put the female servants and their children^(Q) in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph^(R) in the rear. ³ He himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground^(S) seven times^(T) as he approached his brother.

⁴ But Esau^(U) ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him.^(V) And they wept.^{(W) 5} Then Esau looked up and saw the women and children. “Who are these with you?” he asked.

Jacob answered, “They are the children God has graciously given your servant.^(X)”

⁶ Then the female servants and their children^(Y) approached and bowed down.^{(Z) 7} Next, Leah and her children^(AA) came and bowed down.^(AB) Last of all came Joseph and Rachel,^(AC) and they too bowed down.

⁸ Esau asked, “What’s the meaning of all these flocks and herds I met?”^(AD)

“To find favor in your eyes, my lord,”^(AE) he said.

⁹ But Esau said, “I already have plenty,^(AF) my brother. Keep what you have for yourself.”

¹⁰ “No, please!” said Jacob. “If I have found favor in your eyes,^(AG) accept this gift^(AH) from me. For to see your face is like seeing the face of God,^(AI) now that you have received me favorably.^{(AJ) 11} Please accept the present^(AK) that was brought to you, for God has been gracious to me^(AL) and I have all I need.”^(AM) And because Jacob insisted,^(AN) Esau accepted it.

¹² Then Esau said, “Let us be on our way; I’ll accompany you.”

¹³ But Jacob said to him, “My lord^(AO) knows that the children are tender and that I must care for the ewes and cows that are nursing their young.^(AP) If they are driven hard just one day, all the animals will die. ¹⁴ So let my lord go on ahead of his servant, while I move along slowly at the pace of the flocks and herds^(AQ) before me and the pace of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir.^(AR)”

¹⁵ Esau said, “Then let me leave some of my men with you.”

“But why do that?” Jacob asked. “Just let me find favor in the eyes of my lord.”^(AS)