Genesis 32:24

_AND JACOB WAS LEFT ALONE; AND THERE WRESTLED A MAN WITH HIM UNTIL THE BREAKING OF THE DAY._ There wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day - an unknown person appeared suddenly to oppose his entrance into Canaan. Jacob engaged in the encounter with all the mental energy, and grasped his opponent with all the physical tenacity he could exert; until the stronger, unable to shake him off or to vanquish him, touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh-the socket of the fermoral joint-which was followed by an instant and total inability to continue the contest х_ TEEQA`_ (H8629), was dislocated]. This mysterious person is called an angel by Jacob himself (Genesis 48:15-16), and God (Genesis 32:28;...

24._There wrestled a man with him _(107) Although this vision was particularly useful to Jacob himself, to teach him beforehand that many conflicts awaited him, and that he might certainly conclude that he should be the conqueror in them all; there is yet not the least doubt that the Lord exhibited, in his person, a specimen of the temptations — common to all his people — which await them, and must be constantly submitted to, in this transitory life. Wherefore it is right to keep in view this designs of the vision, which is to represent all the servants of God in this world as wrestlers; because the Lord exercises them with various kinds of conflicts. Moreover, it is not said that Satan, or any mortal man, wrestled with Jacob, but God himself: to teach us that our faith is tried by him; and whenever we are tempted, our business is truly with him, not only because we fight under his auspi...

24-32 A great while before day, Jacob being alone, more fully spread his fears before God in prayer. While thus employed, One in the likeness of a man wrestled with him. When the spirit helpeth our infirmities, and our earnest and vast desires can scarcely find words to utter them, and we still mean more than we can express, then prayer is indeed wrestling with God. However tried or discouraged, we shall prevail; and prevailing with Him in prayer, we shall prevail against all enemies that strive with us. Nothing requires more vigour and unceasing exertion than wrestling. It is an emblem of the true spirit of faith and prayer. Jacob kept his ground; though the struggle continued long, this did not shake his faith, nor silence his prayer. He will have a blessing, and had rather have all his bone put out of joint than go away without one. Those who would have the blessing of Christ, must r...

Verse 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 fulness 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 asked, Had he here a real human body, or only its _form_? The latter, doubtless. How then could he wrestle with Jacob? It need not be supposed that this angel must have assumed a human

- Jacob Wrestles in Prayer 3. 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 _p__e__nı̂y'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 spi

EXPOSITION GENESIS 32:24 AND JACOB WAS LEFT ALONE (probably on the north bank of the Jabbok; but _vide_ on Genesis 32:23); 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 נֶאֱבַק, 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 Genesis 32:22)—A MAN—called an angel by Hosea ...

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 e 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 f; but it was something real, corporeal, and visible: the Targum of Jonathan says, it was an angel in the likeness of a man, and calls him Michael, which is not amiss, since he is expressly called an angel, Hosea 12:4; and if Michael the uncreated angel is meant, it is most true; for not a created angel is designed, but a divine Person, as appears from Jacob's desiring to be blessed by him; and besides, being expressly called God,...

Genesis 32:1. _And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him._ When he left the promised land, he had a vision of angels, ascending and descending upon the ladder, as if to bid him farewell. Now that he is going back, the angels are there again to speed him on his way home to the land of the covenant, the land which the Lord had promised to give to Abraham and his seed. Genesis 32:2. _And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim._ The marginal reading is «Two hosts, or, camps.» The angels of the Lord were encamping round about the man who feared him, though shore had been much in his character and conduct which the Lord could not approve....

AND THERE WRESTLED Jacob's crisis. Compare (Joshua 5:13); (Job 42:5); (Job 42:6); (Isaiah 6:1); (Jeremiah 1:4); (Ezekiel 1:28); (Ezekiel 2:1); (Daniel 10:1); (Acts 9:1); ...

CHAPTER 32 JACOB'S FEAR OF ESAU AND PRAYER AT PENIEL _ 1. The vision at Mahanaim (Genesis 32:1)_ 2. The message to Esau (Genesis 32:3) 3. Esau's coming and Jacob's fear (Genesis 32:6) 4. Jacob's prayer (Genesis 32:9) 5. Preparing to meet Esau (Genesis 32:13) 6. Jacob's prayer at Peniel (Genesis 32:24) What a welcome it was when he came near to his land, that the angels of God met him. They were like divine amb