Genesis 32:28

28 Then he said, "Your name won't be Jacob any longer, but Israel, because you struggled with God and with men and won."

Genesis 32:28 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 32:28

And he said, thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but
Israel
That is, not Jacob only, but Israel also, as Ben Melech interprets it, or the one as well as the other; or the one rather and more frequently than the other: for certain it is, that he is often after this called Jacob, and his posterity also the seed of Jacob, though more commonly Israel, and Israelites: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast
prevailed:
this is given as a reason of his name Israel, which signifies a prince of God, or one who as a prince prevails with God; which confutes all other etymologies of the name, as the upright one of God, the man that sees God, or any other: he now prevailed with God in prayer, and by faith got the blessing, as he had prevailed before with Esau and Laban, and got the better of them, and so would again of the former: hence some render the word, "and shall prevail" F9; and indeed this transaction was designed to fortify Jacob against the fear of his brother Esau; and from whence he might reasonably conclude, that if he had power with God, and prevailed to obtain what he desired of him, he would much more be able to prevail over his brother, and even over all that should rise up against him, and oppose him; and this may not only be prophetic of what should hereafter be fulfilled in the person of Jacob, but in his posterity in future times, who should prevail over their enemies, and enjoy all good things by the favour of God: for it may be rendered, "thou hast behaved like a prince with God, and with men", or, "over men thou shalt prevail".


FOOTNOTES:

F9 (lkwt) "praevalebis", V. L. (dunato esh) Sept. so the Targum of Onkelos.

Genesis 32:28 In-Context

26 The man said, "Let me go because the dawn is breaking." But Jacob said, "I won't let you go until you bless me."
27 He said to Jacob, "What's your name?" and he said, "Jacob."
28 Then he said, "Your name won't be Jacob any longer, but Israel, because you struggled with God and with men and won."
29 Jacob also asked and said, "Tell me your name." But he said, "Why do you ask for my name?" and he blessed Jacob there.
30 Jacob named the place Peniel,"because I've seen God face-to-face, and my life has been saved."

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or God struggles or one who struggles with God
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