Genesis 32:22-32

22 He rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two handmaids, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford of the Yabbok.

23 He took them, and sent them over the stream, and sent over that which he had.

24 Ya`akov was left alone, and wrestled with a man there until the breaking of the day.

25 When he saw that he didn't prevail against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh, and the hollow of Ya`akov's thigh was strained, as he wrestled.

26 The man said, "Let me go, for the day breaks." Ya`akov said, "I won't let you go, unless you bless me."

27 He said to him, "What is your name?" He said, "Ya`akov."

28 He said, "Your name will no longer be called 'Ya`akov,' but, 'Yisra'el,' for you have fought with God and with men, and have prevailed."

29 Ya`akov asked him, "Please tell me your name." He said, "Why is it that you ask what my name is?" He blessed him there.

30 Ya`akov called the name of the place Peni'el: for, he said, "I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved."

31 The sun rose on him as he passed over Peni'el, and he limped because of his thigh.

32 Therefore the children of Yisra'el don't eat the sinew of the hip, which is on the hollow of the thigh, to this day, because he touched the hollow of Ya`akov's thigh in the sinew of the hip.

Genesis 32:22-32 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.