Genesis 32:1-6

Jacob Fears Esau

1 Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.

2 And when Jacob saw them he said, “This is God’s ¹camp! ” So he called the name of that place ²Mahanaim. ^[a]

3 And Jacob sent^[b] messengers before him to Esau his brother in the land of ³Seir, 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 ⁴I may find favor in your sight. ’”

6 And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and ⁵he is coming to meet you, and there are four hundred men with him. ”

Genesis 32:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 32

This chapter informs us of Jacob's proceeding on in his journey, and of his being met and guarded by an host of angels, Ge 32:1,2; of his sending messengers to his brother Esau, acquainting him with his increase, and desiring his favour and good will, Ge 32:3-5, who return and report to him, that Esau was coming to him with four hundred men, which put him into a panic, and after devising ways and means for the security of himself; and those with him, at least a part, if not the whole, Ge 32:6-8; then follows a prayer of his to God, pressing his unworthiness of mercies, and his sense of them, imploring deliverance from his brother, and putting the Lord in mind of his promises, Ge 32:9-12; after which we have an account of the wise methods he took for the safety of himself and family, by sending a present to his brother, dividing those who had the charge of it into separate companies, and directing them to move at a proper distance from each other, he, his wives and children, following after, Ge 32:13-23; when they were over the brook Jabbok, he stopped, and being alone, the Son of God in an human form appeared to him, and wrestled with him, with whom Jacob prevailed, and got the blessing, and hence had the name of Israel, Ge 32:24-28; and though he could not get his name, he perceived it was a divine Person he had wrestled with, and therefore called the name of the place Penuel, Ge 32:29-31; the hollow of his thigh being touched by him with whom he wrestled, which put it out of joint, he halted as he went over Penuel, in commemoration of which the children of Israel eat not of that part of the thigh, Ge 32:31,32.

Cross References

• 1. 32:2 [Josh. 5:14; Luke 2:13]
• 2. 32:2 Josh. 21:38; 2 Sam. 2:8; 17:24, 27; 1 Kgs. 2:8
• 3. 32:3 ch. 36:8, 9; Deut. 2:5; Josh. 24:4
• 4. 32:5 ch. 33:8, 15
• 5. 32:6 ch. 33:1

Footnotes

• [a] 32:2 'Mahanaim' means 'two camps'
• [b] 32:3 Or 'had sent'