Genesis 32:22-32

New Century Version

Jacob Wrestles with God

²² During the night Jacob rose and crossed the Jabbok River at the crossing, taking with him his two wives, his two slave girls, and his eleven sons. ²³ He sent his family and everything he had across the river. ²⁴ So Jacob was alone, and a man came and wrestled with him until the sun came up. ²⁵ When the man saw he could not defeat Jacob, he struck Jacob’s hip and put it out of joint. ²⁶ Then he said to Jacob, “Let me go. The sun is coming up.”

But Jacob said, “I will let you go if you will bless me.”

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

And he answered, “Jacob.”

²⁸ Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob. Your name will now be Israel,^[a] because you have wrestled with God and with people, and you have won.”

²⁹ Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.”

But the man said, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed Jacob there.

³⁰ So Jacob named that place Peniel,^[b] saying, “I have seen God face to face, but my life was saved.” ³¹ Then the sun rose as he was leaving that place, and Jacob was limping because of his leg. ³² So even today the people of Israel do not eat the muscle that is on the hip joint of animals, because Jacob was touched there.