Keraia
Genesis 32

Genesis 32:28

Jacob Wrestles with God · Genesis 32:22–32
Read Genesis 32

Translations

Modern
Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men, and you have prevailed.”
Traditional
And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
Literal
And he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men, and you have prevailed.”
Latin
At ille: Nequaquam, inquit, Jacob appellabitur nomen tuum, sed Israël: quoniam si contra Deum fortis fuisti, quanto magis contra homines prævalebis?

Original

Hebrew
English
Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men, and you have prevailed.”

Notes

Genesis 32:28

  • Jacob: See study note on 25:26.

  • Israel (“God fights”): God first fought with him, but now God would fight for him. Jacob’s name promised hope for him and his descendants.

  • you have struggled with God and with men: Throughout his life, Jacob tried to get God’s blessing using his own skills and by any means necessary. He understood the importance of the blessing but was too self-reliant and proud to accept it freely. He had been fighting God long before this encounter.

  • and have prevailed: He had succeeded in his struggles with Esau and with Laban. Now he received God’s blessing.

Genesis 32:22–32

Jacob went back to the land God promised him. Before this, God met, injured, and blessed him. God also changed his name to Israel. This event was a significant turning point for Jacob.

Theme notes and profiles

Jacob Blessing Symbolic Numbers

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Ebla Tablets Genesis, Book of God, Names of History of Israel Israel (Person) Israelite Jew Nathanael Patriarchs, Period of the Prayer Prayer of Joseph Presence of God

Topics

Answers To Prayer: Jacob Christ is God: Acknowledged by the Old Testament Saints Communion with God: Jacob God: Grace of God: Special Grace: To Jacob Holy Boldness: Jacob Israel: A Name Given to Jacob Jacob: Changed to |Israel| Jesus, the Christ: Divinity of Acknowledged by Old Testament Saints Name: Jacob Power: Spiritual Prayer: Answered: Jacob, for Deliverance from Esau Prayer: Importunity In Prayer: Importunity in Jacob Prayer: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Religion: Outstanding Religious Persons: Jacob Types of Christ: Jacob