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The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

Genesis 32:24

GENESIS—NOTE ON Genesis 32:24 a man wrestled. By the time their contest ends, Jacob is convinced that his opponent is God himself (see v. Genesis 32:30). This is possible, since God had previously come to Abraham in human form (Genesis 18:1).

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See also Genesis 32:24 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    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...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    - 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....

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    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 p...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    THE WRESTLING OF JACOB. The narrative, for which Hosea 12:3 should be compared. is distributed between J and E by recent critics. Gunkel attributes Genesis 32:23_ a_, Genesis 32:25_ a_,...

  • B. W. Johnson's Bible Commentary

    II. THE STRUGGLE IN THE NIGHT. 24. AND JACOB WAS LEFT ALONE. After his prayer he had proceeded with his preparations which had occupied the day. He had first prepared. splendid present for his brothe...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    A MAN. Hebrew. _'ish._ App-14. Called "God" (verses: Genesis 32:28; Genesis 32:30), an "Angel", and Jehovah Elohim, 350. national sanctuary (Joshua 24:1). Now _Nablous,_ corruption of Neapolis, the (N...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Jacob's Wrestling with the Angel This passage forms the climax of Jacob's history. It records the occasion on which his name is changed to Israel, and describes his personal meeting with the Divine B...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _And Jacob … alone_ It is natural to suppose that Jacob remained behind to think and to pray at this crisis of his life. He was given over to anxious fears; the darkness and loneliness intensified the...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    THERE WRESTLED A MAN WITH HIM, &C.— From the prophet Hosea, ch. Genesis 12:5. it appears undeniable, that this _man_ or _person,_ who wrestled with Jacob, was the same with _him_ who appeared to him a...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    2. _Jacob's Reconciliation with Esau: The Biblical Account_ (Genesis 32:1 to Genesis 33:17) 1 And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. 2 And Jacob said when he saw them, This is God's...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _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 oppos...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE APPROACH OF ESAU. JACOB WRESTLES WITH THE ANGEL 1. The angels of God] God had given Jacob, by an angelic vision, a pledge of His watchful love, when he left his home (Genesis 28:12). Now that he...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOD’S ANCIENT PEOPLE GENESIS _ALUN OWEN_ CHAPTER 32 JACOB PREPARES TO MEET ESAU V1 Jacob continued his journey. God’s *angels met him V2 and Jacob saw them. He said, ‘This is God’s army!’ So he c...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    This was God, who appeared as a man. We know that from verse 28 (‘struggled with God’) and from verse 30 (‘seen God’s face’)....

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    THE TÔLDÔTH ISAAC (Genesis 25:19 to Genesis 35:29). THE BIRTH OF ISAAC’S SONS. Abraham begat Isaac — The _Tôldôth_ in its original form gave probably a complete genealogy of Isaac, tracing up his des...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    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...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    _[Genesis 32:25]_ וַ יִּוָּתֵ֥ר יַעֲקֹ֖ב לְ בַדֹּ֑ו...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    JACOB AT PENIEL Genesis 32:1 "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." James 4:10 JACOB had a double reason for wishing to leave Padan-aram. He believed in the promise...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    JACOB WRESTLES AND PREVAILS Genesis 32:13 There is a fulsomeness in Jacob's address to Esau, which sounds inconsistent with the noblest manhood and the firmest faith. Why should he speak of “my lord”...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    This is unquestionably one of the great Chapter s of the Bible, and it is significant how constant and powerful is its appeal to all who live on the principle of faith. It gives the account of the thi...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    WRESTLING WITH GOD As Jacob continued his journey toward home, angels met him. He called the name of that place Mahanaim, or "two camps" because there were two armies encamped there, the angels and h...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a (h) man with him until the breaking of the day. (h) That is, God in the form of a man....

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    A man, &c. This was an angel in human shape, as we learn from Osee xii. 4. He is called God, ver. 28 and 30, because he represented the person of the Son of God. This wrestling, in which Jacob, assist...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Reader! do you know what it is to be left alone to enjoy communion with God in Christ? Have you sent away all earthly concerns, and all natural connections, how near and dear soever they may be, in or...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    Having already shown the position of Isaac, I resume briefly with the remark that he stands before us clearly as the representative of the Son, and this too as dead, risen, and in heaven. All will und...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _THE DIVINE ANTAGONIST_ ‘And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.’ Genesis 32:24 There are two decisive and determining moments in the life of Jaco...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    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 th...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 29 THROUGH 35. I have no doubt that in the two wives, as I have said, we have the Gentiles and Israel: Rachel first loved on the earth, but not possessed; but...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    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 a...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. Ver. 24. _And Jacob was left alone._] Purposely, for secret prayer: so the Church gets her into "the clefts...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Jacob was left alone_ In some private place, that he might more freely and ardently pour out his soul in prayer, and again spread his cares and fears before God. _There wrestled a man with him_ The e...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Iacobs vision at Mahanaim. 3 His message to Esau. 6 He is afraid of Esaus comming. 9 He prayeth for deliuerance. 13 Hee sendeth a present to Esau. 24 He wrestleth with an Angel at Peniel, where...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day, until the morning dawned and its brightness arose in the eastern sky. Jacob, having crossed first with his fa...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The Struggle at Peniel...

  • Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures

    FIFTH SECTION _Jacob’s return. His fear of Esau. His night wrestlings with God. Peniel. The name Israel. Meeting and reconciliation with Esau._ GENESIS 32:3 TO GENESIS 33:16 3And Jacob sent messenge...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    RETURNING TO FACE ESAU As Jacob continues his journey we are told that the angels of God met him (v.1). It was not God Himself as yet who met him, but the angels were no doubt intended as an encourage...

  • Marginal Notes in the King James Version (1611)

    BREAKING OF THE DAY: _ Heb._ Ascending of the morning...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    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 i...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    In some private place, it matters not on which side Jabbok, that he might more freely and ardently pour out his soul unto God. THERE WRESTLED A MAN WITH HIM, an angel, yea, the Angel of the covenant,...

  • Notes on the Pentateuch by Charles Henry Mackintosh

    And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him." Still God's grace follows him, notwithstanding all. "Nothing changeth God's affection." Whom He loves, and as He loves, He loves to the end....

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Genesis 32:24 Jacob H3290 left H3498 (H8735) Man H376 wrestled H79 (H8735) breaking H5927 (H8800) day...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘And Jacob was left alone and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he did not prevail against him he touched the hollow of his thigh, and the hollow of Jac...

  • Scofield's Bible Commentary

    AND THERE WRESTLED Jacob's crisis. Compare (Joshua 5:13); (Job 42:5); (Job 42:6); (Isaiah 6:1); ...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Genesis 32:1 , GENESIS 32:24 Every man lives two lives an outward and an inward. The one is that denoted in the former text: _Jacob went on his way._The other is denoted in the latter text: _Jacob wa...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Genesis 32 I. God selects men for His work on earth, not because of their personal agreeableness, but because of their adaptation to the work they have to perform. II. There is something affecting in...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Genesis 32:1. _And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him._ What an encouragement the visit of these angels must have been to Jacob after the strife which he had had with Laban! But, de...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    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 farewel...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Jacob had just come out of a great trouble. God's gracious interposition had delivered him out of the hand of the angry Laban, Laban the churl, who cared for Jacob only for what he could get out of hi...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Genesis 32:1. _And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim._ Jacob was about to enter...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    We shall read three short portions of Scripture, all illustrative of the great truth that God has sometimes given grace to his people to overcome himself, the Almighty has condescended to be vanquishe...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Jacob becomes Israel. Preparation for meeting Esau. Wrestling against the angel. CHARACTERS: Jacob, Esau, angel. CONCLUSION: Either we lean on God or on our own plans. The arrangements of...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Genesis 32:2. _Mahanaim,_ two camps or hosts, or the camp of God; a city in Gilead, mentioned in Joshua 13:26; Joshua 21:38; denoting that the angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear hi...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him_ THE CRISIS IN JACOB’S LIFE From this description of a day and a night in the life of Jacob we learn three things. 1. This is a crisis, a tu...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— Genesis 32:24. Wrestled.] The Heb. word only occurs in this place. It seems to be derived from a word signifying “dust,” and the allusion is probably to the dust excited by the combat...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    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 wr...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Shall we turn in our Bibles to Genesis chapter thirty-two? Now in the thirty-first chapter we had the parting of Laban, Jacob's uncle as he kisses his grandchildren goodbye, as he sets up the stone an...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    wrestled. Genesis 30:8 Luke 13:24 Luke 22:44 Romans 8:26 Romans 8:27...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Very early in the morning, a great while before day. Jacob had helped his wives and children over the river, and he desired to be private, and was left alone, that he might again spread his cares and...

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