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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 32:26

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 32:30

And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel ,.... In Genesis 32:31 ; Penuel, which signifies the face of God, or God hath looked upon me, or hath had respect to me: there was afterwards a city built here, called by the same name; see Judges 8:8 ; it is said F11 Bunting's Travels, p. 72. 74. to be four miles from Mahanaim; the reason of it follows: for I have seen God face to face : it may be observed, that in wrestling men are face to face, and in this position were Jacob and... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 32:28

Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel - ושראל Yisrael , from שר sar , a prince, or שרה sarah , he ruled as a prince, and אל el , God; or rather from איש ish , a man, (the א aleph being dropped), and ראה raah , he saw, אל el , God; and this corresponds with the name which Jacob imposed on the place, calling it פניאל peniel , the faces of God, or of Elohim, which faces being manifested to him caused him to say, Genesis 32:30 , פנים אל פנים... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 32:29

Tell me, I pray thee, thy name - It is very likely that Jacob wished to know the name of this angel, that he might invoke him in his necessities: but this might have led him into idolatry, for the doctrine of the incarnation could be but little understood at this time; hence, he refuses to give himself any name, yet shows himself to be the true God, and so Jacob understood him; (see Genesis 32:28 ;); but he wished to have heard from his own lips that name by which he desired to be invoked... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 32:26

Verse 26 26.Let me go. God concedes the praise of victory to his servant, and is ready to depart, as if unequal to him in strength: not because a truce was needed by him, to whom it belongs to grant a truce or peace whenever he pleases; but that Jacob might rejoice over the grace afforded to him. A wonderful method of triumphing; where the Lord, to whose power all praise is entirely due, yet chooses that feeble man shall excel as a conqueror, and thus raises him on high with special eulogy. At... read more

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