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Jacob Wrestles at Peniel

22 The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had. 24 And Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. 25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and Jacob’s thigh was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the day is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.” 27 And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 Then he said, “Your name shall no more be called Jacob, but Israel,[a] for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked him, “Tell me, I pray, your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. 30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peni′el,[b] saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved.” 31 The sun rose upon him as he passed Penu′el, limping because of his thigh. 32 Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the sinew of the hip which is upon the hollow of the thigh, because he touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh on the sinew of the hip.[c]

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 32:28 That is He who strives with God or God strives
  2. Genesis 32:30 That is The face of God
  3. 32.24-32 The meaning of this, one of the oldest and most mysterious narratives in Genesis, remains obscure. It is intended to explain the place name Penuel, which means “face of God.”

Wrestling with God

22 And he arose that night and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons, (A)and crossed over the ford of Jabbok. 23 He took them, sent them [a]over the brook, and sent over what he had. 24 Then Jacob was left alone; and (B)a Man wrestled with him until the [b]breaking of day. 25 Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He [c]touched the socket of his hip; and (C)the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. 26 And (D)He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.”

But he said, (E)“I will not let You go unless You bless me!”

27 So He said to him, “What is your name?”

He said, “Jacob.”

28 And He said, (F)“Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but [d]Israel; for you have (G)struggled with God and (H)with men, and have prevailed.”

29 Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.”

And He said, (I)“Why is it that you ask about My name?” And He (J)blessed him there.

30 So Jacob called the name of the place [e]Peniel: “For (K)I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” 31 Just as he crossed over [f]Penuel the sun rose on him, and he limped on his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the children of Israel do not eat the muscle that shrank, which is on the hip socket, because He [g]touched the socket of Jacob’s hip in the muscle that shrank.

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 32:23 across
  2. Genesis 32:24 dawn
  3. Genesis 32:25 struck
  4. Genesis 32:28 Lit. Prince with God
  5. Genesis 32:30 Lit. Face of God
  6. Genesis 32:31 Lit. Face of God; same as Peniel, v. 30
  7. Genesis 32:32 struck