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Matthew Henry

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 32:32

Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank ,.... Which was contracted by the touch of the angel, and by which it was weakened and benumbed; or the sinew of the part that was out of joint, the sinew or tendon that keeps the thigh bone in the socket, together with the flesh that covered it, or the muscle in which it is; or that sinew, others, that contracts itself and gives motion to the thigh bone to work itself: of this the Israelites eat not: which is upon the... read more

Adam Clarke

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

Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew - What this sinew was neither Jew nor Christian can tell; and it can add nothing either to science, or to a true understanding of the text, to multiply conjectures. I have already supposed that the part which the angel touched or struck was the groin; and if this be right, the sinew, nerve, or muscle that shrank, must be sought for in that place. The serious reader must meet with much instruction in this chapter. After his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 32:24-32

Peniel, or the mysterious contest. I. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE STRUGGLE . 1. The scene. The north bank of Jabbok ( vide Exposition). 2. The time. Night; the most suitable season for soul exercises, such as self-examination ( Psalms 4:4 ), meditation ( Psalms 63:6 ), devotion ( Luke 6:12 ). 3. The circumstances . Jacob was alone. In solitude the human soul discovers most of itself, and enjoys most frequent interviews with God ( Psalms 77:6 ; Daniel 10:8 ; ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 32:24-32

Peniel. The face of God. The patriarchal revelation at its best. The main point, the personal wrestling of the believer with the angel of deliverance. Through that scene Jacob passed as by a baptism (ford Jabbok) into the full enjoyment of confidence in Jehovah, into the theanthropic faith. A man wrestled with him. The faith of Jacob was now to be a faith resting not upon tradition alone, nor upon promises and commandments alone, nor upon past experience alone, but upon a living,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 32:32

Therefore the children of Israel cat not of the sinew which shrank,— the gid hannasheh , rendered by the LXX . τὸ νεῦρον ὅ ἐνάρκησεν, the nerve which became numb, and by the Vulgate nervus qui emarcuit , the nerve which withered, is the long tendon or sinew nervus ischiaticus (the tends Achillis of the Greeks) reaching from the spinal marrow to the ankle. The derivation of hannasheh is unknown (Gesenius), though the LXX . appear to have connected it with nashah , to... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Genesis 32:1-32

- Jacob Wrestles in Prayer3. מחנים machănāyı̂m, Machanaim, “two camps.”22. יבק yaboq, Jabboq; related: בקק bāqaq “gush or gurgle out” or אבק 'ābaq in niphal, “wrestle.” Now Wady Zurka.29. ישׂראל yı̂śrā'ēl, Jisrael, “prince of God.”31. פניאל penı̂y'ēl = פנוּאל penû'ēl, Peniel, Penuel, “face of God.”After twenty years spent in Aram, Jacob now returns to Kenann. As his departure was marked by a great moment in his spiritual life, so he is now approaching to a crisis in his life of no... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Genesis 32:1-32

Preparing to meet Esau (32:1-32)During the twenty years that Jacob had been in Mesopotamia, Esau had established his household in territory to the south near the Dead Sea. Jacob knew that if he was to live in peace in Canaan, he would first have to put things right with Esau. With much fear and anxiety he sent news to Esau that he was coming to meet him (32:1-8).Jacob had by now learnt a humility before God that was lacking the previous time he met Esau. He thanked God for his remarkable... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 32:24-32

PENIEL"And Jacob was left alone, and there wrestled a man with him till the breaking of day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was strained, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel; for thou hast... read more

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