Genesis 32:24

24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak.

Genesis 32:24 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
English Standard Version (ESV)
24 And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day.
New Living Translation (NLT)
24 This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break.
The Message Bible (MSG)
24 But Jacob stayed behind by himself, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak.
American Standard Version (ASV)
24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
24 So Jacob was left alone. Then a man wrestled with him until dawn.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
24 Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
24 So Jacob was left alone. A man struggled with him until morning.

Genesis 32:24 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 32:24

And Jacob was left alone
On the other side of Jabbok, his family and cattle having passed over it; and this solitude he chose, in order to spend some time in prayer to God for the safety of him and his: and there wrestled a man with him;
not a phantasm or spectre, as Josephus F5 calls him; nor was this a mere visionary representation of a man, to the imagination of Jacob; or done in the vision of prophecy, as Maimonides F6; but it was something real, corporeal, and visible: the Targum of Jonathan says, it was an angel in the likeness of a man, and calls him Michael, which is not amiss, since he is expressly called an angel, ( Hosea 12:4 ) ; and if Michael the uncreated angel is meant, it is most true; for not a created angel is designed, but a divine Person, as appears from Jacob's desiring to be blessed by him; and besides, being expressly called God, ( Genesis 32:28 Genesis 32:30 ) ; and was, no doubt, the Son of God in an human form; who frequently appeared in it as a token and pledge of his future incarnation: and "this wrestling" was real and corporeal on the part of both; the man took hold of Jacob, and he took hold of the man, and they strove and struggled together for victory as wrestlers do; and on Jacob's part it was also mental and spiritual, and signified his fervent and importunate striving with God in prayer; or at least it was attended with earnest and importunate supplications; see ( Hosea 12:4 ) ; and this continued until the breaking of the day:
how long this conflict lasted is not certain, perhaps not long; since after Jacob rose in the night he had a great deal of business to do, and did it before this affair happened; as sending his wives, children, servants, and cattle over the brook: however, this may denote, that in the present state or night of darkness, wrestling in prayer with God must be continued until the perfect state commences, when the everlasting day of glory will break.


FOOTNOTES:

F5 Antiqu. l. 1. c. 20. sect. 2.
F6 Morch Nevochim, par. 2. c. 42. p. 310.

Genesis 32:24 In-Context

22 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok.
23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions.
24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak.
25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man.
26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

Cross References 2

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