New International VersionSo Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak.
New Living TranslationThis left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break.
English Standard VersionAnd Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day.
Berean Standard BibleSo Jacob was left all alone, and there a man wrestled with him until daybreak.
King James BibleAnd Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
New King James VersionThen Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day.
New American Standard BibleThen Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak.
NASB 1995Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak.
NASB 1977Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak.
Legacy Standard BibleThen Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until the breaking of dawn.
Amplified BibleSo Jacob was left alone, and a Man [came and] wrestled with him until daybreak.
Christian Standard BibleJacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak.
Holman Christian Standard BibleJacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak.
American Standard VersionAnd Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
Contemporary English VersionAfterwards, Jacob went back and spent the rest of the night alone. A man came and fought with Jacob until just before daybreak.
English Revised VersionAnd Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationSo Jacob was left alone. Then a man wrestled with him until dawn.
Good News Translationbut he stayed behind, alone. Then a man came and wrestled with him until just before daybreak.
International Standard VersionAnd so Jacob was left alone, and he struggled with a man until daybreak.
NET BibleSo Jacob was left alone. Then a man wrestled with him until daybreak.
New Heart English BibleThen Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the rising of the dawn.
Webster's Bible TranslationAnd Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him, until the breaking of the day. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleSo Jacob was left all alone, and there a man wrestled with him until daybreak.
World English BibleJacob was left alone, and wrestled with a man there until the breaking of the day. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd Jacob is left alone, and One wrestles with him until the ascending of the dawn;
Young's Literal Translation And Jacob is left alone, and one wrestleth with him till the ascending of the dawn;
Smith's Literal TranslationAnd Jacob will be left alone by himself, and a man will wrestle with him till the ascending of the morning. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleHe remained alone: and behold a man wrestled with him till morning.
Catholic Public Domain Versionhe remained alone. And behold, a man wrestled with him until morning.
New American BibleJacob was left there alone. Then a man wrestled with him until the break of dawn.
New Revised Standard VersionJacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd Jacob was left alone; and there a man wrestled with him until daybreak.
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedAnd Yaquuv remained alone, and a man fought with him until the rising of dawn. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
Brenton Septuagint TranslationAnd Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him till the morning.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Jacob Wrestles with God… 23He took them and sent them across the stream, along with all his possessions. 24So Jacobwas leftall alone,and there a manwrestledwith himuntildaybreak.25When the man saw that he could not overpower Jacob, he struck the socket of Jacob’s hip and dislocated it as they wrestled.…
Cross References Hosea 12:3-4In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel, and in his vigor he wrestled with God. / Yes, he struggled with the angel and prevailed; he wept and sought His favor; he found Him at Bethel and spoke with Him there—
Exodus 33:11Thus the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young assistant Joshua son of Nun would not leave the tent.
1 Kings 19:11-13Then the LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD. Behold, the LORD is about to pass by.” And a great and mighty wind tore into the mountains and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. / After the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a still, small voice. / When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
Job 23:6Would He contend with me in His great power? No, He would certainly take note of me.
Psalm 17:15As for me, I will behold Your face in righteousness; when I awake, I will be satisfied in Your presence.
Psalm 34:7The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and he delivers them.
Psalm 77:2In the day of trouble I sought the Lord; through the night my outstretched hands did not grow weary; my soul refused to be comforted.
Psalm 91:11-12For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. / They will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
Isaiah 41:10Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
Isaiah 49:25Indeed, this is what the LORD says: “Even the captives of the mighty will be taken away, and the plunder of the tyrant will be retrieved; I will contend with those who contend with you, and I will save your children.
Daniel 10:8-19So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision. No strength remained in me; my face grew deathly pale, and I was powerless. / I heard the sound of his words, and as I listened, I fell into a deep sleep, with my face to the ground. / Suddenly, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. ...
Matthew 4:1-11Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. / After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry. / The tempter came to Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” ...
Matthew 26:36-46Then Jesus went with His disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and He told them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” / He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. / Then He said to them, “My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.” ...
Mark 1:12-13At once the Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness, / and He was there for forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels ministered to Him.
Luke 22:39-46Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed Him. / When He came to the place, He told them, “Pray that you will not enter into temptation.” / And He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, where He knelt down and prayed, ...
Treasury of Scripture And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. wrestled. Genesis 30:8 And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali. Luke 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. Luke 22:44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. man. Genesis 32:28,30 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed… Genesis 48:16 The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth. Isaiah 32:2 And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. breaking of the day. Exodus 14:27 And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. Song of Solomon 2:17 Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether. Jump to Previous AloneAscendingBreakingDawnDaybreakFightingJacobRisingWrestledJump to Next AloneAscendingBreakingDawnDaybreakFightingJacobRisingWrestledGenesis 32 1.Jacob's vision at Mahanaim.3.His message to Esau.6.He is afraid of Esau's coming.9.He prays for deliverance.13.He sends a present to Esau, and passes the brook Jabbok.24.He wrestles with an angel at Peniel, where he is called Israel.31.He halts.So Jacob was left all aloneJacob's solitude is significant, as it often precedes divine encounters in Scripture. Being alone allows for introspection and vulnerability, setting the stage for a transformative experience. This moment follows Jacob's strategic planning to appease Esau, highlighting his fear and anxiety. The isolation can be seen as a metaphor for spiritual solitude, where one is stripped of distractions and forced to confront their own nature and God. and there a man wrestled with him
The "man" is later revealed to be a divine being, often interpreted as an angel or a theophany, a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ. Wrestling symbolizes struggle and conflict, both physical and spiritual. This encounter reflects Jacob's lifelong struggles, including his contentious relationships with Esau and Laban. The wrestling match can be seen as a physical manifestation of Jacob's internal struggles with God and his identity. until daybreak
The duration of the struggle, lasting until daybreak, signifies perseverance and the relentless nature of spiritual battles. Daybreak symbolizes a new beginning, enlightenment, and revelation. In biblical terms, light often represents truth and divine presence. The timing suggests that Jacob's struggle leads to a transformation, as he emerges with a new identity and blessing. This moment foreshadows the dawn of a new era in Jacob's life, marked by his name change to Israel, meaning "he struggles with God." Persons / Places / Events 1. JacobThe central figure in this passage, Jacob is the son of Isaac and Rebekah, and the twin brother of Esau. At this point in his life, Jacob is returning to Canaan after years of living with his uncle Laban. He is preparing to meet Esau, whom he fears due to their past conflict. 2. The ManThis mysterious figure wrestles with Jacob throughout the night. Traditionally, this "man" is understood to be a divine being, often interpreted as an angel or a theophany (an appearance of God). 3. WrestlingThe event of wrestling signifies a spiritual struggle and transformation for Jacob. It is a pivotal moment in his life, marking a change in his identity and relationship with God. 4. DaybreakThe timing of the wrestling match, lasting until daybreak, symbolizes a new beginning and the dawning of a new phase in Jacob's life. 5. PenielAlthough not mentioned in verse 24, Peniel is the place where this event occurs. Jacob names it Peniel, meaning "face of God," because he believes he has seen God face to face. Teaching Points Perseverance in Prayer and StruggleJust as Jacob wrestled with the man until daybreak, believers are encouraged to persist in prayer and spiritual struggles, trusting that God will bring about transformation and blessing. Identity and TransformationJacob's wrestling leads to a change in his identity, symbolized by his new name, Israel. This teaches that encounters with God can transform our identity and purpose. Divine EncountersThe wrestling match signifies a personal encounter with God. Believers should seek and cherish moments of divine interaction, understanding that they can lead to profound spiritual growth. Facing Fears with FaithJacob's fear of meeting Esau is juxtaposed with his wrestling with God. This teaches that facing our fears with faith can lead to divine intervention and peace. God's Sovereignty and GraceDespite Jacob's past deceit, God chooses to engage with him, demonstrating His sovereignty and grace. This reassures believers that God's plans and purposes prevail despite human flaws. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Genesis 32
How could Jacob wrestle with God (Gen. 32:24–30) when Exodus 33:20 states no one can see God and live?
What is the significance of Jacob wrestling with God?
Hosea 12:3–4: How can Jacob physically wrestle with God if God is portrayed elsewhere as omnipotent and spiritual?
How does transformation reflect spiritual renewal in the Bible?(24) There wrestled.--This verb, abak,occurs only here, and without doubt it was chosen because of its resemblance to the name Jabbok. Its probable derivation is from a word signifying dust,because wrestlers were quickly involved in a cloud of dust, or because, as was the custom in Greece, they rubbed their bodies with it. A man.--Such he seemed to be to Jacob; but Hosea (Genesis 12:4) calls him an angel; and, inGenesis 32:30, Jacob recognises in him a manifestation of the Deity, as Hagar had done before, when an angel appeared to her (Genesis 16:13). There is no warrant for regarding the angel as an incarnation of Deity, any more than in the case of Manoah (Judges 13:22); but it was a manifestation of God mediately by His messenger, and was one of the many signs indicative of a more complete manifestation by the coming of the Word in the flesh. The opposite idea of many modern commentators, that the narrative is an allegory, is contradicted by the attendant circumstances, especially by the change of Jacob's name, and his subsequent lameness, to which national testimony was borne by the customs of the Jews. Verse 24. - And Jacob was left alone (probably on the north bank of the Jabbok; but vide on ver. 23); and there wrestled - thus assaulting in his strong point one who had been a wrestler or heel-catcher from his youth (Murphy). The old word נֶךאבַק, niph. of אָבַק, unused, a dehorn, from חָבַק, dust, because in wrestling the dust is raised (Aben Ezra, Gesenius), or a weakened form of חָבַק, to wind round, to embrace (Furst), obviously contains an allusion to the Jabbok ( vide on ver. 22) - a man - called an angel by Hosea ( Genesis 12:4), and God by Jacob (ver. 30); but videinfra -with him until the breaking of the day - literally, the ascending of the morning.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew So Jacobיַעֲקֹ֖ב(ya·‘ă·qōḇ)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3290:Jacob -- a son of Isaac, also his descwas leftוַיִּוָּתֵ֥ר(way·yiw·wā·ṯêr)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3498:To jut over, exceed, to excel, to remain, be left, to leave, cause to abound, preserveall alone,לְבַדּ֑וֹ(lə·ḇad·dōw)Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 905:Separation, a part of the body, branch of a, tree, bar for, carrying, chief ofand [there] a manאִישׁ֙(’îš)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 582:Man, mankindwrestledוַיֵּאָבֵ֥ק(way·yê·’ā·ḇêq)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 79:To bedust, grapplewith himעִמּ֔וֹ(‘im·mōw)Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5973:With, equally withuntilעַ֖ד(‘aḏ)Preposition
Strong's 5704:As far as, even to, up to, until, whiledaybreak.עֲל֥וֹת(‘ă·lō·wṯ)Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5927:To ascend, in, actively
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OT Law: Genesis 32:24 Jacob was left alone and wrestled (Gen. Ge Gn) |
