New International VersionWhen Jacob saw them, he said, “This is the camp of God!” So he named that place Mahanaim.
New Living TranslationWhen Jacob saw them, he exclaimed, “This is God’s camp!” So he named the place Mahanaim.
English Standard VersionAnd when Jacob saw them he said, “This is God’s camp!” So he called the name of that place Mahanaim.
Berean Standard BibleWhen Jacob saw them, he said, “This is the camp of God.” So he named that place Mahanaim.
King James BibleAnd when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.
New King James VersionWhen Jacob saw them, he said, “This is God’s camp.” And he called the name of that place Mahanaim.
New American Standard BibleAnd when he saw them, Jacob said, “This is God’s camp.” So he named that place Mahanaim.
NASB 1995Jacob said when he saw them, “This is God’s camp.” So he named that place Mahanaim.
NASB 1977And Jacob said when he saw them, “This is God’s camp.” So he named that place Mahanaim.
Legacy Standard BibleThen Jacob said when he saw them, “This is God’s camp.” So he named that place Mahanaim.
Amplified BibleWhen Jacob saw them, he said, “This is God’s camp.” So he named that place Mahanaim (double camps).
Christian Standard BibleWhen he saw them, Jacob said, “This is God’s camp.” So he called that place Mahanaim.
Holman Christian Standard BibleWhen he saw them, Jacob said, “This is God’s camp.” So he called that place Mahanaim.
American Standard VersionAnd Jacob said when he saw them, This is God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.
Contemporary English VersionWhen Jacob saw them, he said, "This is God's camp." So he named the place Mahanaim.
English Revised VersionAnd Jacob said when he saw them, This is God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationWhen he saw them, Jacob said, "This is God's camp!" He named that place Mahanaim [Two Camps].
Good News TranslationWhen he saw them, he said, "This is God's camp"; so he named the place Mahanaim.
International Standard VersionAs he was watching them, Jacob said, "This must be God's camp," so he named that place Mahanaim.
NET BibleWhen Jacob saw them, he exclaimed, "This is the camp of God!" So he named that place Mahanaim.
New Heart English BibleWhen he saw them, Jacob said, "This is God's camp." He called the name of that place Mahanaim.
Webster's Bible TranslationAnd when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleWhen Jacob saw them, he said, “This is the camp of God.” So he named that place Mahanaim.
World English BibleWhen he saw them, Jacob said, “This is God’s army.” He called the name of that place Mahanaim. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand Jacob says, when he has seen them, “This [is] the camp of God”; and he calls the name of that place “Two Camps.”
Young's Literal Translation and Jacob saith, when he hath seen them, 'This is the camp of God;' and he calleth the name of that place 'Two Camps.'
Smith's Literal TranslationAnd Jacob will say when seeing them, This the camp of God: and he will call the name of that place the camps. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd when he saw them, he said: These are the camps of God, and he called the name of that place Mahanaim, that is, Camps.
Catholic Public Domain VersionWhen he had seen them, he said, “These are the Encampments of God.” And he called the name of that place Mahanaim, that is, ‘Encampments.’
New American BibleWhen Jacob saw them he said, “This is God’s encampment.” So he named that place Mahanaim.
New Revised Standard Versionand when Jacob saw them he said, “This is God’s camp!” So he called that place Mahanaim. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host; so he called the name of that place Mahanaim.
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedAnd Yaquuv said, when he saw them, “This is the camp of God”, and he called the name of that country Makhanim. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And Jacob said when he saw them: 'This is God's camp.' And he called the name of that place Mahanaim.
Brenton Septuagint TranslationAnd Jacob said, when he saw them, This is the Camp of God; and he called the name of that place, Encampments.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Jacob's Fear of Esau1Jacob also went on his way, and the angels of God met him. 2WhenJacob saw them,hesaid,“Thisis the campof God.”So he namedthatplaceMahanaim.3Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom.…
Cross References Joshua 5:13-15Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in His hand. Joshua approached Him and asked, “Are You for us or for our enemies?” / “Neither,” He replied. “I have now come as Commander of the LORD’s army.” Then Joshua fell facedown in reverence and asked Him, “What does my Lord have to say to His servant?” / The Commander of the LORD’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.
2 Kings 6:16-17“Do not be afraid,” Elisha answered, “for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” / Then Elisha prayed, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw that the hills were full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
Daniel 10:5-6I lifted up my eyes, and behold, there was a certain man dressed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. / His body was like beryl, his face like the brilliance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of polished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude.
Matthew 4:11Then the devil left Him, and angels came and ministered to Him.
Luke 22:43Then an angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him.
Hebrews 1:14Are not the angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
Revelation 5:11-12Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels encircling the throne, and the living creatures and the elders. And their number was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands. / In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
Revelation 19:10So I fell at his feet to worship him. But he told me, “Do not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who rely on the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
Psalm 34:7The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and he delivers them.
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.
Zechariah 1:8-11I looked out into the night and saw a man riding on a red horse. He was standing among the myrtle trees in the hollow, and behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses. / “What are these, my lord?” I asked. And the angel who was speaking with me replied, “I will show you what they are.” / Then the man standing among the myrtle trees explained, “They are the ones the LORD has sent to patrol the earth.” ...
Zechariah 6:1-8And again I lifted up my eyes and saw four chariots coming out from between two mountains—mountains of bronze. / The first chariot had red horses, the second black horses, / the third white horses, and the fourth dappled horses—all of them strong. ...
Acts 12:7-10Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his wrists. / “Get dressed and put on your sandals,” said the angel. Peter did so, and the angel told him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” / So Peter followed him out, but he was unaware that what the angel was doing was real. He thought he was only seeing a vision. ...
Acts 27:23-24For just last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me / and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And look, God has granted you the lives of all who sail with you.’
Judges 6:11-12Then the angel of the LORD came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to hide it from the Midianites. / And the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon and said, “The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valor.”
Treasury of Scripture And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim. God's. Joshua 5:14 And he said, Nay; butas captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant? 2 Kings 6:17 And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountainwas full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. Psalm 34:7 The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. the name. Joshua 21:38 And out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs,to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Mahanaim with her suburbs, 2 Samuel 2:8,12 But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim; … 2 Samuel 17:24,26,27 Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him… Mahanain. Song of Solomon 6:13 Return, return, O Shulamite; return, return, that we may look upon thee. What will ye see in the Shulamite? As it were the company of two armies. Jump to Previous ArmyCampCampsGod'sHostJacobMahanaimMahana'imJump to Next ArmyCampCampsGod'sHostJacobMahanaimMahana'imGenesis 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.When Jacob saw themJacob, returning to Canaan after years with Laban, encounters angels. This mirrors his earlier vision at Bethel ( Genesis 28:12), reinforcing God's presence and protection. Angels often appear at pivotal moments, as seen with Abraham (Genesis 18) and later with Elisha ( 2 Kings 6:17). This encounter reassures Jacob of divine support as he prepares to meet Esau. he said, “This is the camp of God.”
The term "camp" suggests a temporary dwelling, indicating a divine presence accompanying Jacob. The Hebrew word "machaneh" implies a military encampment, symbolizing God's protection. This reflects the idea of God as a warrior, a theme seen inExodus 15:3. The presence of angels signifies God's readiness to defend and guide His people. So he named that place Mahanaim.
Mahanaim means "two camps," possibly referring to Jacob's camp and the angelic host. This duality underscores the coexistence of the earthly and the divine. Mahanaim later becomes a significant location in Israel's history, serving as a refuge for David (2 Samuel 17:24). The naming of places often marks significant spiritual encounters, as seen with Bethel and Peniel, highlighting God's ongoing relationship with His people. Persons / Places / Events 1. JacobThe central figure in this passage, Jacob is returning to his homeland after years of living with his uncle Laban. He is preparing to meet his brother Esau, whom he fears due to their past conflict. 2. Angels of GodThese are the divine messengers Jacob encounters. Their presence signifies God's protection and guidance as Jacob returns to Canaan. 3. MahanaimThe name Jacob gives to the place where he encounters the angels. The name means "two camps" in Hebrew, indicating both his camp and the camp of God's angels. Teaching Points God's Presence in Our JourneyJust as Jacob encountered God's angels on his journey, believers can trust in God's presence and protection in their own life's journey. Naming Our Encounters with GodJacob named the place Mahanaim to commemorate his encounter with God. We should also remember and mark significant spiritual experiences in our lives. Facing Fears with FaithJacob was fearful of meeting Esau, yet God reassured him through the presence of angels. We can face our fears with faith, knowing God is with us. Divine ProtectionThe presence of angels signifies God's protection. Believers can find comfort in knowing that God watches over them, even when they cannot see it. Spiritual AwarenessJacob's recognition of the divine camp encourages us to be spiritually aware and sensitive to God's work around us. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1.What is the meaning of Genesis 32:2?
2.How does Genesis 32:2 illustrate God's protection in our daily lives?
3.What can we learn from Jacob's encounter with angels in Genesis 32:2?
4.How does Genesis 32:2 connect to Hebrews 1:14 about ministering spirits?
5.How can we recognize and trust God's presence like Jacob in Genesis 32:2?
6.What steps can we take to seek God's guidance as Jacob did?
7.What is the significance of the angels meeting Jacob in Genesis 32:2?
8.How does Genesis 32:2 relate to God's protection over Jacob?
9.Why does Jacob name the place Mahanaim in Genesis 32:2?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Genesis 32?
11.What are the names and meanings of Israel's twelve tribes?
12.Hosea 12:3-4: How can Jacob physically wrestle with God if God is portrayed elsewhere as omnipotent and spiritual?
13.Why does Jacob's claim of seeing God 'face to face' (Gen. 32:30) not conflict with John 1:18, which says no one has ever seen God?
14.Jesus says, 'No one has seen God' (John 1:18), but Genesis 32:30 says Jacob saw God face to face. Isn't this a contradiction?What Does Genesis 32:2 Mean When Jacob saw them— “Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.” (Genesis 32:1) • The Lord opens Jacob’s eyes to the unseen realm, much like Elisha’s servant in2 Kings 6:17. • God’s angels are not random passers-by;Hebrews 1:14 calls them “ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation.” • After twenty hard years with Laban (Genesis 31:38-41) and on the eve of facing Esau, Jacob receives this heavenly escort as tangible reassurance that the God who promised to bring him home (Genesis 28:15) is actively doing so.
he said• Jacob immediately interprets what he sees rather than dismissing it. Faith recognizes God’s hand (John 20:29). • His verbal response echoes earlier patriarchal moments—Abram’s “Here now is the fear of God” (Genesis 20:11) and Isaac’s blessing (Genesis 27:27)—where speech confirms perception. • A spoken confession often precedes decisive action;Romans 10:10 notes that belief and confession operate together.
"This is the camp of God."• “Camp” translates Jacob’s sense of a military encampment.Psalm 34:7: “The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and he delivers them.” • The phrase underscores protection: before Jacob confronts an earthly host (Esau’s 400 men,Genesis 32:6), God shows him a superior heavenly host. • It recalls Bethel (“house of God,”Genesis 28:17). Now Jacob sees not just a house but a camp, highlighting movement with him on the journey (Exodus 13:21-22). •Revelation 19:14 pictures armies of heaven following Christ; Scripture consistently presents God as commanding real angelic forces.
So he named that place Mahanaim.• “Mahanaim” means “two camps,” capturing the dual reality: Jacob’s company and God’s. • Naming memorializes divine intervention (Genesis 22:14;Joshua 4:7). It invites future generations to remember that God’s presence is not confined to sacred sites but travels with His covenant people (Deuteronomy 31:8). • The location later becomes a Levitical city and David’s refuge (2 Samuel 17:24), a historical reminder of God’s shelter in crisis.
summaryGenesis 32:2 reveals a moment when God lets Jacob see angelic guardians, assuring him that the covenant promises remain intact. Jacob’s quick confession, the naming of Mahanaim, and the concept of “two camps” teach believers that divine protection surrounds God’s people even when looming threats appear larger. The verse anchors courage in God’s literal, active presence rather than in human calculation. (2) Mahanaim.--That is, the two camps,his own and that of the angels; or, possibly, two camps of angels, one on either side of him. Mahanaim was in the tribe of Gad, and became an important town. (See 2Samuel 2:8; 2Samuel 17:24; 1Kings 4:14.) Verse 2. - And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host: - Mahaneh Elohim; i. e. the army (cf. Genesis 1:9; Exodus 14:24) or camp ( 1 Samuel 14:15; Psalm 27:3) of God, as opposed to the Mahanoth, or bands of Jacob himself ( vide ver. 7, 10) - and he called the name of that place Manahan. - i. e. Two armies or camps, from the root חָנַה decline or bend, and hence to fix oneself down or encamp; meaning either a multitudinous host, reading the dual for a plural (Malvenda), or two bands of angels, one before, welcoming him to Canaan, and another behind, conducting him from Mesopotamia (Jarchi and others), or one on either side to typify the completeness of his protection, as in Psalm 34:8 (Calvin, Bush, Gcrlach, 'Speaker's Commentary'), or, as the best expositors interpret, his own company and the heavenly host (Abort Ezra, Clericus, Dathe, Keil, Lange, Rosenmüller, Kalisch, Murphy). Mahanaim, afterwards a distinguished city in the territory of Gad ( Joshua 13:26), and frequently referred to in subsequent Scripture ( 2 Samuel 2:8; 2 Samuel 17:24; 27; 19:32; 1 Kings 4:14), as well as mentioned by Josephus ('Ant.,' 7.9, 8), as a strong and beautiful city, has been identified with Mahneh, a deserted ruin six or seven miles north-west by north of Ajlun (Mount Gilead), and about twenty miles from the Jabbok ( vide 'Robinson,' vol. 3. App. 166; and cf. Tristram, 'The Land of Israel, p. 483); but the narrative appears to say that Mahanaim lay not north of Ga-leed, but between that place and Jabbok. Hence Porter suggests Gerasa, the most splendid ruin east of the Jordan, and bordering on the Jabbok, as occupying the site of Mahanaim ( vide Kitto s 'Cyclopedia,' art. Mahanaim, and cf. 'Handbook for S. and P.' 2. 311, seq.).
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew Whenכַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר(ka·’ă·šer)Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834:Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that[Jacob] saw them,רָאָ֔ם(rā·’ām)Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 7200:To see[he]יַעֲקֹב֙(ya·‘ă·qōḇ)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3290:Jacob -- a son of Isaac, also his descsaid,וַיֹּ֤אמֶר(way·yō·mer)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559:To utter, say“Thisזֶ֑ה(zeh)Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088:This, thatis the campמַחֲנֵ֥ה(ma·ḥă·nêh)Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 4264:An encampment, an armyof God.”אֱלֹהִ֖ים(’ĕ·lō·hîm)Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430:gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlativeSo he namedוַיִּקְרָ֛א(way·yiq·rā)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7121:To call, proclaim, readthatהַה֖וּא(ha·hū)Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931:He, self, the same, this, that, as, areplaceהַמָּק֥וֹם(ham·mā·qō·wm)Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4725:A standing, a spot, a conditionMahanaim.מַֽחֲנָֽיִם׃(ma·ḥă·nā·yim)Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4266:Mahanaim -- 'two camps', a place East of the Jordan
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OT Law: Genesis 32:2 When he saw them Jacob said This (Gen. Ge Gn) |
