Genesis 32:1
וְיַעֲקֹ֖ב הָלַ֣ךְ לְדַרְכּ֑וֹ וַיִּפְגְּעוּ־ב֖וֹ מַלְאֲכֵ֥י אֱלֹהִֽים׃
Genesis 32:2
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יַעֲקֹב֙ כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר רָאָ֔ם מַחֲנֵ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֖ים זֶ֑ה וַיִּקְרָ֛א שֵֽׁם־הַמָּק֥וֹם הַה֖וּא מַֽחֲנָֽיִם׃פ
Genesis 32:3
וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח יַעֲקֹ֤ב מַלְאָכִים֙ לְפָנָ֔יו אֶל־עֵשָׂ֖ו אָחִ֑יו אַ֥רְצָה שֵׂעִ֖יר שְׂדֵ֥ה אֱדֽוֹם׃
Genesis 32:4
וַיְצַ֤ו אֹתָם֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר כֹּ֣ה תֹאמְר֔וּן לַֽאדֹנִ֖י לְעֵשָׂ֑ו כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ עַבְדְּךָ֣ יַעֲקֹ֔ב עִם־לָבָ֣ן גַּ֔רְתִּי וָאֵחַ֖ר עַד־עָֽתָּה׃
Genesis 32:5
וַֽיְהִי־לִי֙ שׁ֣וֹר וַחֲמ֔וֹר צֹ֖אן וְעֶ֣בֶד וְשִׁפְחָ֑ה וָֽאֶשְׁלְחָה֙ לְהַגִּ֣יד לַֽאדֹנִ֔י לִמְצֹא־חֵ֖ן בְּעֵינֶֽיךָ׃
Genesis 32:6
וַיָּשֻׁ֙בוּ֙ הַמַּלְאָכִ֔ים אֶֽל־יַעֲקֹ֖ב לֵאמֹ֑ר בָּ֤אנוּ אֶל־אָחִ֙יךָ֙ אֶל־עֵשָׂ֔ו וְגַם֙ הֹלֵ֣ךְ לִקְרָֽאתְךָ֔ וְאַרְבַּע־מֵא֥וֹת אִ֖ישׁ עִמּֽוֹ׃
Genesis 32:7
וַיִּירָ֧א יַעֲקֹ֛ב מְאֹ֖ד וַיֵּ֣צֶר ל֑וֹ וַיַּ֜חַץ אֶת־הָעָ֣ם אֲשֶׁר־אִתּ֗וֹ וְאֶת־הַצֹּ֧אן וְאֶת־הַבָּקָ֛ר וְהַגְּמַלִּ֖ים לִשְׁנֵ֥י מַחֲנֽוֹת׃
Genesis 32:8
וַיֹּ֕אמֶר אִם־יָב֥וֹא עֵשָׂ֛ו אֶל־הַמַּחֲנֶ֥ה הָאַחַ֖ת וְהִכָּ֑הוּ וְהָיָ֛ה הַמַּחֲנֶ֥ה הַנִּשְׁאָ֖ר לִפְלֵיטָֽה׃
Genesis 32:9
וַיֹּאמֶר֮ יַעֲקֹב֒ אֱלֹהֵי֙ אָבִ֣י אַבְרָהָ֔ם וֵאלֹהֵ֖י אָבִ֣י יִצְחָ֑ק יְהוָ֞ה הָאֹמֵ֣ר אֵלַ֗י שׁ֧וּב לְאַרְצְךָ֛ וּלְמוֹלַדְתְּךָ֖ וְאֵיטִ֥יבָה עִמָּֽךְ׃
Genesis 32:10
קָטֹ֜נְתִּי מִכֹּ֤ל הַחֲסָדִים֙ וּמִכָּל־הָ֣אֱמֶ֔ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשִׂ֖יתָ אֶת־עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ כִּ֣י בְמַקְלִ֗י עָבַ֙רְתִּי֙ אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֣ן הַזֶּ֔ה וְעַתָּ֥ה הָיִ֖יתִי לִשְׁנֵ֥י מַחֲנֽוֹת׃
Genesis 32:11
הַצִּילֵ֥נִי נָ֛א מִיַּ֥ד אָחִ֖י מִיַּ֣ד עֵשָׂ֑ו כִּֽי־יָרֵ֤א אָנֹכִי֙ אֹת֔וֹ פֶּן־יָב֣וֹא וְהִכַּ֔נִי אֵ֖ם עַל־בָּנִֽים׃
Genesis 32:12
וְאַתָּ֣ה אָמַ֔רְתָּ הֵיטֵ֥ב אֵיטִ֖יב עִמָּ֑ךְ וְשַׂמְתִּ֤י אֶֽת־זַרְעֲךָ֙ כְּח֣וֹל הַיָּ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־יִסָּפֵ֖ר מֵרֹֽב׃
Genesis 32:13
וַיָּ֥לֶן שָׁ֖ם בַּלַּ֣יְלָה הַה֑וּא וַיִּקַּ֞ח מִן־הַבָּ֧א בְיָד֛וֹ מִנְחָ֖ה לְעֵשָׂ֥ו אָחִֽיו׃
Genesis 32:14
עִזִּ֣ים מָאתַ֔יִם וּתְיָשִׁ֖ים עֶשְׂרִ֑ים רְחֵלִ֥ים מָאתַ֖יִם וְאֵילִ֥ים עֶשְׂרִֽים׃
Genesis 32:15
גְּמַלִּ֧ים מֵינִיק֛וֹת וּבְנֵיהֶ֖ם שְׁלֹשִׁ֑ים פָּר֤וֹת אַרְבָּעִים֙ וּפָרִ֣ים עֲשָׂרָ֔ה אֲתֹנֹ֣ת עֶשְׂרִ֔ים וַעְיָרִ֖ם עֲשָׂרָֽה׃
Genesis 32:16
וַיִּתֵּן֙ בְּיַד־עֲבָדָ֔יו עֵ֥דֶר עֵ֖דֶר לְבַדּ֑וֹ וַ֤יֹּאמֶר אֶל־עֲבָדָיו֙ עִבְר֣וּ לְפָנַ֔י וְרֶ֣וַח תָּשִׂ֔ימוּ בֵּ֥ין עֵ֖דֶר וּבֵ֥ין עֵֽדֶר׃
Genesis 32:17
וַיְצַ֥ו אֶת־הָרִאשׁ֖וֹן לֵאמֹ֑ר כִּ֣י יִֽפְגָּשְׁךָ֞ עֵשָׂ֣ו אָחִ֗י וִשְׁאֵֽלְךָ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לְמִי־אַ֙תָּה֙ וְאָ֣נָה תֵלֵ֔ךְ וּלְמִ֖י אֵ֥לֶּה לְפָנֶֽיךָ׃
Genesis 32:18
וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֙ לְעַבְדְּךָ֣ לְיַעֲקֹ֔ב מִנְחָ֥ה הִוא֙ שְׁלוּחָ֔ה לַֽאדֹנִ֖י לְעֵשָׂ֑ו וְהִנֵּ֥ה גַם־ה֖וּא אַחֲרֵֽינוּ׃
Genesis 32:19
וַיְצַ֞ו גַּ֣ם אֶת־הַשֵּׁנִ֗י גַּ֚ם אֶת־הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֔י גַּ֚ם אֶת־כָּל־הַהֹ֣לְכִ֔ים אַחֲרֵ֥י הָעֲדָרִ֖ים לֵאמֹ֑ר כַּדָּבָ֤ר הַזֶּה֙ תְּדַבְּר֣וּן אֶל־עֵשָׂ֔ו בְּמֹצַאֲכֶ֖ם אֹתֽוֹ׃
Genesis 32:20
וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֕ם גַּ֗ם הִנֵּ֛ה עַבְדְּךָ֥ יַעֲקֹ֖ב אַחֲרֵ֑ינוּ כִּֽי־אָמַ֞ר אֲכַפְּרָ֣ה פָנָ֗יו בַּמִּנְחָה֙ הַהֹלֶ֣כֶת לְפָנָ֔י וְאַחֲרֵי־כֵן֙ אֶרְאֶ֣ה פָנָ֔יו אוּלַ֖י יִשָּׂ֥א פָנָֽי׃
Genesis 32:21
וַתַּעֲבֹ֥ר הַמִּנְחָ֖ה עַל־פָּנָ֑יו וְה֛וּא לָ֥ן בַּלַּֽיְלָה־הַה֖וּא בַּֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃
Genesis 32:22
וַיָּ֣קָם׀ בַּלַּ֣יְלָה ה֗וּא וַיִּקַּ֞ח אֶת־שְׁתֵּ֤י נָשָׁיו֙ וְאֶת־שְׁתֵּ֣י שִׁפְחֹתָ֔יו וְאֶת־אַחַ֥ד עָשָׂ֖ר יְלָדָ֑יו וַֽיַּעֲבֹ֔ר אֵ֖ת מַעֲבַ֥ר יַבֹּֽק׃
Genesis 32:23
וַיִּקָּחֵ֔ם וַיַּֽעֲבִרֵ֖ם אֶת־הַנָּ֑חַל וַֽיַּעֲבֵ֖ר אֶת־אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ׃
Genesis 32:24
וַיִּוָּתֵ֥ר יַעֲקֹ֖ב לְבַדּ֑וֹ וַיֵּאָבֵ֥ק אִישׁ֙ עִמּ֔וֹ עַ֖ד עֲל֥וֹת הַשָּֽׁחַר׃
and Jacob was left to himself alone, and a man grappled with him until the ascending of the dawn.
Paraphrase: Once Jacob had everyone and everything in place, he returned to the other side of the stream alone. There in the darkness of the night, his thoughts went back to all that God had promised him at Bethel. He remembered how God had spoken to him in his dream: “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your seed. Your seed will also be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and in you and in your seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. “Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” (Genesis 28:13-15) Jacob thought of all that he had done over the years to secure these blessings for himself. He thought of his struggles with Laban; he thought of his wives and all his children; he thought of all the success he had realized in business. The thought of this, however, brought him no peace. Bearing down on him was Esau who had seen it necessary to bring with him a large body of armed men. The thought of all this filled Jacob with anxiety and despair especially when he remembered how he and Esau had separated, the last time they had been together. (Genesis 27:41) His situation was desperate.
As Jacob was pondering all this, he was terrified when a man suddenly appeared out of the darkness and without warning seized him. Caught off guard, Jacob defended himself as best he could. Down the two of them went to the ground. Back and forth, they rolled through the dirt and grass making a considerable mess of themselves each trying to gain the mastery over the other. The fight dragged on and on until finally the darkness began to lift and the sun began to rise.
Comments:
Note the nifal triangle in וַיִּוָּתֵר. The alef in וַיֵּאָבֵק will not accept the dagesh (being a guttural) and so causes the previous vowel to lengthen.
Genesis 32:25
וַיַּ֗רְא כִּ֣י לֹ֤א יָכֹל֙ ל֔וֹ וַיִּגַּ֖ע בְּכַף־יְרֵכ֑וֹ וַתֵּ֙קַע֙ כַּף־יֶ֣רֶךְ יַעֲקֹ֔ב בְּהֵֽאָבְק֖וֹ עִמּֽוֹ׃
and he saw that he was not able to prevail over him, and he touched on hollow of his thigh, and the hollow of his thigh was dislocated, Jacob in his grappling with him.
Paraphrase: Now when Jacob’s assailant realized that he was not going to overcome Jacob in this struggle, he leaned in and dislocated Jacob’s hip.
Comments:
Genesis 32:26
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר שַׁלְּחֵ֔נִי כִּ֥י עָלָ֖ה הַשָּׁ֑חַר וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ לֹ֣א אֲשַֽׁלֵּחֲךָ֔ כִּ֖י אִם־בֵּרַכְתָּֽנִי׃
and he said, “Send me for the dawn ascends.” And he said, “I will not send you unless you bless me.”
Paraphrase: Whatever thoughts Jacob might have had that he might be able to overcome this man by his superior strength were now dashed to pieces. Groaning in pain and completely helpless, Jacob realized that he had not been grappling with any human person. Immediately, he threw himself upon the Man and took firm hold of Him. “Let go,” the Man said, “the sun is rising, and I must be on My way.” Then Jacob cried out in his helpless anguish (Hosea 12:4), “I will not release you until you give me the blessings you promised me at Bethel. Everything I have done to secure these blessings has failed; and now, Esau is about to destroy me completely. If you don’t take over for me, I and my loved ones are finished.”
Comments:
See §163 paragraph 1 for כִּי אִם.
Genesis 32:27
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלָ֖יו מַה־שְּׁמֶ֑ךָ וַיֹּ֖אמֶר יַעֲקֹֽב׃
and he said to him, “What is your name?” and he said, “Jacob.”
Paraphrase: Then the Man asked Jacob, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Jacob.”
Comments:
Genesis 32:28
וַיֹּ֗אמֶר לֹ֤א יַעֲקֹב֙ יֵאָמֵ֥ר עוֹד֙ שִׁמְךָ֔ כִּ֖י אִם־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כִּֽי־שָׂרִ֧יתָ עִם־אֱלֹהִ֛ים וְעִם־אֲנָשִׁ֖ים וַתּוּכָֽל׃
and he said, “Not Jacob, your name will be called again, but Israel for you contended with God and with men and prevailed.
Paraphrase: “Truly your name is Jacob which means deceiver (Genesis 27:36) and so you have lived.” said the Man. “Your life has been marked by repeated attempts to gain your objectives by deceit and fraud. You have fought with all sorts of men and come out on top. Now, however, you have wrestled with God Himself. Even here, however, you have won the day. You well know that this victory came, not by your superior strength, but by taking your place before Me as a humble suppliant for mercy. This is how one prevails with God. (Isaiah 64:7) Now, your name will no longer be Jacob but Israel. This new name testifies to your victory over Me and will be a constant reminder to you of how to prevail with God.”
Comments:
See §163 paragraph 1 for כִּי אִם.
On Jacob’s name, see Boyd. Obviously, the Man already knows Jacob’s name. Jacob’s answer here is “a confession of guilt.” (Wenham)
Genesis 32:29
וַיִּשְׁאַ֣ל יַעֲקֹ֗ב וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הַגִּֽידָה־נָּ֣א שְׁמֶ֔ךָ וַיֹּ֕אמֶר לָ֥מָּה זֶּ֖ה תִּשְׁאַ֣ל לִשְׁמִ֑י וַיְבָ֥רֶךְ אֹת֖וֹ שָֽׁם׃
and Jacob asked and said, “Please reveal Your Name.” And He said, “Why is this that you ask for My Name?” And He blessed him there.
Paraphrase: Jacob was humbled by God’s mercy to him and let go of Him. “What is Your Name?” he asked.
“Why do you want to know My Name?” the Man asked. “That’s not important for you right now. What matters for you is to keep up a perfect confidence in My word of promise. (Psalm 119:49) Don’t think for a minute that I will fail to give you all that I promised. I have not forgotten what I said to you at Bethel nor will this Esau and all his armed men stand in My way. All that I have spoken to you will surely be done. Fear not; only believe. (Luke 8:50)”
Comments:
Genesis 32:30
וַיִּקְרָ֧א יַעֲקֹ֛ב שֵׁ֥ם הַמָּק֖וֹם פְּנִיאֵ֑ל כִּֽי־רָאִ֤יתִי אֱלֹהִים֙ פָּנִ֣ים אֶל־פָּנִ֔ים וַתִּנָּצֵ֖ל נַפְשִֽׁי׃
and Jacob called the name of the place Peniel because I have seen God face to face and my life was rescued.
Paraphrase: Then, the Man left and went away leaving Jacob exhausted and completely drained of all energy. For all that, Jacob looked around with a profound sense of relief and peace. Across the stream, he could see his children starting to leave their tents and the servants were beginning their daily routine. At his feet, he could see the signs of the terrible struggle which had just taken place. Jacob was deeply moved when he reflected on what had happened to him that night. Was it really possible that he had wrestled with God Himself? The pain in his hip gave him the answer. “This place is now Peniel,” he announced. “This is the place where God took hold of my life, forced me to own my own helplessness, and thus gave me the ability to overcome Him. I have faced God and come out on top, not because of my superior power but by taking my place before Him as a humble suppliant seeking His mercy. Truly, God delivers the needy when he cries, the poor also, and him who has no helper. (Psalm 72:12) Now I do not need to fear Esau or his armed band any longer. My life has been rescued by God’s almighty power. Therefore, shall my mouth and heart show forth the praise of the Lord from this time forth and forever more. Amen.”
Comments:
Genesis 32:31
וַיִּֽזְרַֽח־ל֣וֹ הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר עָבַ֖ר אֶת־פְּנוּאֵ֑ל וְה֥וּא צֹלֵ֖עַ עַל־יְרֵכֽוֹ׃
and the sun was rising before him when he crossed Peniel, and he was limping on his thigh.
Paraphrase: As the sun continued to rise, Jacob crossed the stream, left Peniel behind, and returned to his family. It was clear to all that he had been injured since he was limping along favoring the leg which the angel had touched. Jacob related the whole story to them.
Comments:
Genesis 32:32
עַל־כֵּ֡ן לֹֽא־יֹאכְל֨וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל אֶת־גִּ֣יד הַנָּשֶׁ֗ה אֲשֶׁר֙ עַל־כַּ֣ף הַיָּרֵ֔ךְ עַ֖ד הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה כִּ֤י נָגַע֙ בְּכַף־יֶ֣רֶךְ יַעֲקֹ֔ב בְּגִ֖יד הַנָּשֶֽׁה׃