Genesis 32:24-29

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 32:24-32

We have here the remarkable story of Jacob's wrestling with the angel and prevailing, which is referred to, Hos. 12:4. Very early in the morning, a great while before day, Jacob had helped his wives and his children over the river, and he desired to be private, and was left alone, that he might again more fully spread his cares and fears before God in prayer. Note, We ought to continue instant in prayer, always to pray and not to faint: frequency and importunity in prayer prepare us for mercy.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible 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 Antiqu. l. 1. c. 20. sect. 2. 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 Morch Nevochim,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 32:25

And when he saw that he prevailed not against him ,.... That he, the man, or the Son of God in the form of man, prevailed not against Jacob, by casting him to the ground, or causing him to desist and leave off wrestling with him; not because he could not, but because he would not, being willing to encourage the faith of Jacob against future trials and exercises, and especially under his present one: besides, such were the promises that this divine Person knew were made to Jacob, and so... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 32:26

And he said, let me go, for the day breaketh ,.... This was said that he might seem to be a man that was desirous of going about his business, as men do early in the morning; though the true reason perhaps was, that his form might not be more distinctly seen by Jacob, and much less by any other person: and he said, I will not let thee go except thou bless me ; for by his touching his thigh, and the effect of that, he perceived he was more than a man, even a divine Person, and therefore... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 32:27

And he said unto him, what is thy name ?.... Which question is put, not as being ignorant of it, but in order to take occasion from it, and the change of it, to show that he had granted his request, and had blessed him, and would yet more and more: and he said, Jacob ; the name given him at his birth, and by which he had always been called, and therefore tells it him at once, not staying to ask the reason of the question. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible 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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 32:29

And Jacob asked him , and said, tell me , I pray thee, thy name ,.... Being asked his own name, and told it, and having another given him more significative and expressive, he is emboldened to ask the person that wrestled with him what was his name; Exodus 3:13 ; for Jacob knew that he was God, as appears by his earnest desire to be blessed by him; and he knew it by the declaration just made, that he had power with God as a prince; but he hoped to have some name, taken by him from the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 32:24

And there wrestled a man with him - This was doubtless the Lord Jesus Christ, who, among the patriarchs, assumed that human form, which in the fullness of time he really took of a woman, and in which he dwelt thirty-three years among men. He is here styled an angel, because he was μεγαλης βουλης Αγγελος , (see the Septuagint, Isaiah 9:7 ;), the Messenger of the great counsel or design to redeem fallen man from death, and bring him to eternal glory; see Genesis 16:7 . But it may be... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 32:25

The hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint - What this implies is difficult to find out; it is not likely that it was complete luxation of the thigh bone. It may mean no more than he received a stroke on the groin, not a touch; for the Hebrew word נגע naga often signifies to smite with violence, which stroke, even if comparatively slight, would effectually disable him for a time, and cause him to halt for many hours, if not for several days. I might add that in this place - the groin,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 32:26

Let me go, for the day breaketh - Probably meaning, that as it was now morning, Jacob must rejoin his wives and children, and proceed on their journey. Though phantoms are supposed to disappear when the sun rises, that could be no reason in this case. Most of the angelic appearances mentioned in the Old and New Testaments took place in open day, which put their reality out of question. read more

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