Genesis 32
Modern English Version
Jacob Prepares to Meet Esau
32 Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. 2 When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is God’s camp.” So he called the name of that place Mahanaim.
3 Jacob sent messengers before him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom. 4 He commanded them, saying, “This is what you must say to my lord Esau: This is what your servant Jacob says, ‘I have sojourned with Laban and stayed there until now. 5 I have oxen and donkeys, flocks, and male servants and female servants, and I am sending this message to tell my lord, so that I may find favor in your sight.’ ”
6 The messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We went to your brother Esau. He is coming to meet you, and what is more, four hundred men are with him.”
7 Then Jacob was very afraid and distressed, and he divided the people that were with him, along with the flocks and herds and the camels, into two groups. 8 He said, “If Esau comes to the one camp and attacks it, then the other camp which is left may escape.”
9 And Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, the Lord who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your relatives, and I will prosper you,’ 10 I am not worthy of all the lovingkindness and of all the faithfulness which You have shown to Your servant. For with my staff I crossed over this Jordan, and now I have become two encampments. 11 Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau. For I fear him, that he will come and attack me and the mothers with the children. 12 You said, ‘I will surely prosper you and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which is too many to be counted.’ ”
13 So he spent the night there. Then he selected from what he had with him a gift for his brother Esau: 14 two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, 15 thirty female camels with their colts, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys. 16 He gave them to his servants, every drove by itself, and said to his servants, “Pass over before me, and keep a distance between each drove.”
17 He commanded the one leading, saying, “When my brother Esau meets you and asks you, saying, ‘To whom do you belong, and where are you going, and to whom do these animals belong?’ 18 then you are to say, ‘They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a gift sent to my lord Esau, and he is also behind us.’ ”
19 Likewise he commanded the second and the third and all that followed the droves, saying, “This is what you are to say to Esau when you find him. 20 Moreover, say, ‘Your servant Jacob is behind us.’ ” For he said, “I will appease him with the gift that goes before me, and then I will see his face. Perhaps he will accept me.” 21 So the gift went before him, but he lodged that night in the encampment.
Jacob Wrestles With God
22 The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed over the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream along with all that he had. 24 Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him there until daybreak. 25 When the man saw that He did not prevail against Jacob, He touched the socket of his thigh, so the socket of Jacob’s thigh was dislocated, as he wrestled with Him. 26 Then He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.”
But Jacob said, “I will not let You go, unless You bless me.”
27 So He said to him, “What is your name?”
And he said, “Jacob.”
28 Then the man said, “Your name will no more be called Jacob, but Israel. For you have fought with God and with men, and have prevailed.”
29 Then Jacob asked Him, “Tell me, I pray You, Your name.”
But He said, “Why do you ask Me My name?” Then He blessed him there.
30 Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, “I have seen God face to face, and my life has been preserved.”
31 As he crossed over Peniel, the sun rose over him, and he was limping on his thigh. 32 Therefore to this day the children of Israel do not eat the sinew which is attached to the socket of the thigh, because He touched the socket of Jacob’s thigh in the sinew of the hip.
Genesis 32
New King James Version
Esau Comes to Meet Jacob
32 So Jacob went on his way, and (A)the angels of God met him. 2 When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is God’s (B)camp.” And he called the name of that place [a]Mahanaim.
3 Then Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother (C)in the land of Seir, (D)the [b]country of Edom. 4 And he commanded them, saying, (E)“Speak thus to my lord Esau, ‘Thus your servant Jacob says: “I have dwelt with Laban and stayed there until now. 5 (F)I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, and male and female servants; and I have sent to tell my lord, that (G)I may find favor in your sight.” ’ ”
6 Then the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and (H)he also is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.” 7 So Jacob was greatly afraid and (I)distressed; and he divided the people that were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two companies. 8 And he said, “If Esau comes to the one company and [c]attacks it, then the other company which is left will escape.”
9 (J)Then Jacob said, (K)“O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, the Lord (L)who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your family, and I will deal well with you’: 10 I am not worthy of the least of all the (M)mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant; for I crossed over this Jordan with (N)my staff, and now I have become two companies. 11 (O)Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and [d]attack me and (P)the mother with the children. 12 For (Q)You said, ‘I will surely treat you well, and make your descendants as the (R)sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’ ”
13 So he lodged there that same night, and took what [e]came to his hand as (S)a present for Esau his brother: 14 two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, 15 thirty milk camels with their colts, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten foals. 16 Then he delivered them to the hand of his servants, every drove by itself, and said to his servants, “Pass over before me, and put some distance between successive droves.” 17 And he commanded the first one, saying, “When Esau my brother meets you and asks you, saying, ‘To whom do you belong, and where are you going? Whose are these in front of you?’ 18 then you shall say, ‘They are your servant Jacob’s. It is a present sent to my lord Esau; and behold, he also is behind us.’ ” 19 So he commanded the second, the third, and all who followed the droves, saying, “In this manner you shall speak to Esau when you find him; 20 and also say, ‘Behold, your servant Jacob is behind us.’ ” For he said, “I will (T)appease him with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face; perhaps he will accept me.” 21 So the present went on over before him, but he himself lodged that night in the camp.
Wrestling with God
22 And he arose that night and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons, (U)and crossed over the ford of Jabbok. 23 He took them, sent them [f]over the brook, and sent over what he had. 24 Then Jacob was left alone; and (V)a Man wrestled with him until the [g]breaking of day. 25 Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He [h]touched the socket of his hip; and (W)the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. 26 And (X)He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.”
But he said, (Y)“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, (Z)“Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but [i]Israel; for you have (AA)struggled with God and (AB)with men, and have prevailed.”
29 Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.”
And He said, (AC)“Why is it that you ask about My name?” And He (AD)blessed him there.
30 So Jacob called the name of the place [j]Peniel: “For (AE)I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” 31 Just as he crossed over [k]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 [l]touched the socket of Jacob’s hip in the muscle that shrank.
Footnotes
- Genesis 32:2 Lit. Double Camp
- Genesis 32:3 Lit. field
- Genesis 32:8 Lit. strikes
- Genesis 32:11 Lit. strike
- Genesis 32:13 he had received
- Genesis 32:23 across
- Genesis 32:24 dawn
- Genesis 32:25 struck
- Genesis 32:28 Lit. Prince with God
- Genesis 32:30 Lit. Face of God
- Genesis 32:31 Lit. Face of God; same as Peniel, v. 30
- Genesis 32:32 struck
Genesis 32
English Standard Version
Jacob Fears Esau
32 Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. 2 And when Jacob saw them he said, “This is God's (A)camp!” So he called the name of that place (B)Mahanaim.[a]
3 And Jacob sent[b] messengers before him to Esau his brother in the land of (C)Seir, the country of Edom, 4 instructing them, “Thus you shall say to my lord Esau: Thus says your servant Jacob, ‘I have sojourned with Laban and stayed until now. 5 I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, male servants, and female servants. I have sent to tell my lord, in order that (D)I may find favor in your sight.’”
6 And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and (E)he is coming to meet you, and there are four hundred men with him.” 7 Then Jacob was (F)greatly afraid and distressed. He divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two camps, 8 thinking, “If Esau comes to the one camp and attacks it, then the camp that is left will escape.”
9 And Jacob said, (G)“O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O Lord who (H)said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your kindred, that I may do you good,’ 10 (I)I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps. 11 Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for (J)I fear him, that he may come and attack me, the mothers with the children. 12 But (K)you said, ‘I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’”
13 So he stayed there that night, and from what he had with him he took (L)a present for his brother Esau, 14 two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, 15 thirty milking camels and their calves, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys. 16 These he handed over to his servants, every drove by itself, and said to his servants, “Pass on ahead of me and put a space between drove and drove.” 17 He instructed the first, “When Esau my brother meets you and asks you, ‘To whom do you belong? Where are you going? And whose are these ahead of you?’ 18 then you shall say, ‘They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a present sent to my lord Esau. And moreover, he is behind us.’” 19 He likewise instructed the second and the third and all who followed the droves, “You shall say the same thing to Esau when you find him, 20 and you shall say, ‘Moreover, your servant Jacob is behind us.’” For he thought, “I may appease him[c] with the present that goes ahead of me, and afterward I shall see his face. Perhaps he will accept me.”[d] 21 So the present passed on ahead of him, and he himself stayed that night in the camp.
Jacob Wrestles with God
22 The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children,[e] and crossed the ford of the (M)Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had. 24 And Jacob was left alone. And (N)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 his hip socket, and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, (O)“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, (P)“Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel,[f] for (Q)you have striven with God and (R)with men, and have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, (S)“Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. 30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel,[g] saying, “For (T)I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.” 31 The sun rose upon him as he passed (U)Penuel, limping because of his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the people of Israel do not eat the sinew of the thigh that is on the hip socket, because he touched the socket of Jacob's hip on the sinew of the thigh.
Footnotes
- Genesis 32:2 Mahanaim means two camps
- Genesis 32:3 Or had sent
- Genesis 32:20 Hebrew appease his face
- Genesis 32:20 Hebrew he will lift my face
- Genesis 32:22 Or sons
- Genesis 32:28 Israel means He strives with God, or God strives
- Genesis 32:30 Peniel means the face of God
Génesis 32
La Palabra (Hispanoamérica)
32 1 Al día siguiente Labán se levantó temprano, besó a sus hijas y a sus nietos y regresó a su casa.
Jacob regresa a su tierra
2 Jacob, por su parte, siguió su camino y unos ángeles de Dios salieron a su encuentro. 3 Al verlos exclamó:
— Este es un lugar donde Dios acampa.
Y llamó a aquel lugar Majanáin.
4 Después Jacob envió por delante unos mensajeros a su hermano Esaú, a la región de Seír, en la campiña de Edom, 5 dándoles esta orden:
— Digan a mi señor Esaú. “Tu siervo Jacob nos envía a decirte: He estado viviendo hasta ahora en casa de Labán. 6 Tengo vacas, asnos, ovejas, criados y criadas. Envío este mensaje a mi señor con la esperanza de ser recibido amistosamente”.
7 Cuando los mensajeros regresaron, dijeron a Jacob:
— Hemos ido adonde está tu hermano Esaú, y ahora viene a tu encuentro con cuatrocientos hombres.
8 Entonces Jacob se llenó de miedo y angustia. Dividió en dos grupos la gente que lo acompañaba, y lo mismo hizo con las ovejas, las vacas y los camellos, 9 pues pensó: “Si Esaú ataca a un grupo, el otro podrá escapar.” 10 Luego oró diciendo:
— Dios de mi abuelo Abrahán y de mi padre Isaac, Señor que me dijiste: Regresa a tu tierra natal, donde están tus parientes, que yo te haré prosperar. 11 Yo no merezco el amor y la fidelidad que has tenido con este siervo tuyo. Cuando crucé este río Jordán, no tenía más que mi bastón; pero ahora puedo formar dos campamentos. 12 ¡Por favor, líbrame del poder amenazante de mi hermano Esaú! Tengo miedo de que venga y mate a mujeres y niños. 13 Has sido tú quien me dijiste que me harías prosperar y que mi descendencia sería tan numerosa como la arena de la playa, que es incontable.
14 Aquella noche Jacob durmió allí y, de lo que traía consigo, escogió regalos para su hermano Esaú: 15 doscientas cabras y veinte machos cabríos; doscientas ovejas y veinte carneros; 16 treinta camellas recién paridas, con sus crías; cuarenta vacas y diez novillos; veinte asnas y diez asnos. 17 Luego se los confió a sus criados en rebaños separados, y les dijo:
— Vayan delante de mí y dejen alguna distancia entre rebaño y rebaño.
18 Al primero le dio las siguientes instrucciones:
— Cuando te encuentres con mi hermano Esaú y te pregunte de quién eres, adónde vas y para quién es el ganado que llevas, 19 le responderás: “Es un regalo que tu siervo Jacob envía a mi señor Esaú. Él mismo viene detrás de nosotros”.
20 Las mismas instrucciones dio Jacob al segundo y al tercero y a todos los que guiaban los rebaños:
— Cuando encuentren a Esaú, díganle lo mismo; 21 y añadan: “Tu siervo Jacob viene detrás de nosotros”.
Porque Jacob pensaba: “Es posible que los regalos que le vayan llegando lo apacigüen y así, cuando me presente ante él, tal vez me reciba amistosamente”. 22 Envió, pues, los regalos por delante, mientras él se quedó a pasar la noche en el campamento.
Jacob lucha con un ángel
23 Aquella misma noche, Jacob se levantó, tomó a sus dos mujeres junto con sus dos criadas y sus once hijos, y los hizo cruzar el vado del río Yaboc. 24 Los hizo pasar al otro lado del río llevando consigo todo lo que tenía. 25 Y se quedó Jacob solo. Entonces un desconocido luchó con él hasta despuntar el alba. 26 Viendo el desconocido que no podía vencer a Jacob, lo golpeó en la coyuntura de la cadera, y esta parte quedó dislocada mientras luchaban. 27 Y el desconocido le dijo:
— Suéltame, que ya despunta el alba.
Y Jacob respondió:
— No te soltaré hasta que me bendigas.
28 El desconocido le preguntó:
— ¿Cómo te llamas?
Respondió:
— Jacob.
29 Entonces el desconocido le dijo:
— Ya no te llamarás Jacob, sino Israel, porque has luchado contra Dios y contra los hombres, y has vencido.
30 Jacob, a su vez, le preguntó:
— ¿Cuál es tu nombre?
Pero el desconocido contestó:
— ¿Por qué quieres saber mi nombre?
Y allí mismo lo bendijo.
31 Jacob llamó a aquel lugar Penuel, porque dijo: “He visto a Dios cara a cara y sigo vivo”.
32 Salía ya el sol cuando Jacob atravesaba Penuel; y caminaba cojeando de la cadera. 33 Por eso los israelitas no comen hasta el presente el tendón que está en la articulación de la cadera, pues Jacob fue herido en dicho tendón.
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
La Palabra, (versión hispanoamericana) © 2010 Texto y Edición, Sociedad Bíblica de España