Genesis 32

Jacob Fears Esau

1 So Jacob went on his way, and a the angels of God met him. 2 When Jacob saw them, he said, "This is God's b camp." And he called the name of that place 1 Mahanaim. 2

3 Then Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother c in the land of Seir, d the 3 country of Edom. 4 And he commanded them, saying, e "Speak thus to my lord Esau, 'Thus your servant Jacob says: "I have dwelt with Laban and stayed there until now. 5 f "I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, and male and female servants; and I have sent to tell my lord, that g I may find favor in your sight." ' "

6 Then the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, "We came to your brother Esau, and h he also is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him." 7 So Jacob was greatly afraid and i distressed; and he divided the people that were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two companies. 8 And he said, "If Esau comes to the one company and 4 attacks it, then the other company which is left will escape."

9 j Then Jacob said, k "O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, the LORD l who said to me, 'Return to your country and to your family, and I will deal well with you': 10 "I am not worthy of the least of all the m mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant; for I crossed over this Jordan with n my staff, and now I have become two companies. 11 o "Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and 5 attack me and p the mother with the children. 12 "For q You said, 'I will surely treat you well, and make your descendants as the r sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude."'

13 So he lodged there that same night, and took what 6 came to his hand as s a present for Esau his brother: 14 two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, 15 thirty milk camels with their colts, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten foals. 16 Then he delivered them to the hand of his servants, every drove by itself, and said to his servants, "Pass over before me, and put some distance between successive droves." 17 And he commanded the first one, saying, "When Esau my brother meets you and asks you, saying, 'To whom do you belong, and where are you going? Whose are these in front of you?' 18 "then you shall say, 'They are your servant Jacob's. It is a present sent to my lord Esau; and behold, he also is behind us."' 19 So he commanded the second, the third, and all who followed the droves, saying, "In this manner you shall speak to Esau when you find him; 20 "and also say, 'Behold, your servant Jacob is behind us."' For he said, "I will t appease him with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face; perhaps he will accept me." 21 So the present went on over before him, but he himself lodged that night in the camp.

Jacob Wrestles with God

22 And he arose that night and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons, u and crossed over the ford of Jabbok. 23 He took them, sent them 7 over the brook, and sent over what he had. 24 Then Jacob was left alone; and v a Man wrestled with him until the 8 breaking of day. 25 Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He 9 touched the socket of his hip; and w the socket of Jacob's hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. 26 And x He said, "Let Me go, for the day breaks." But he said, y "I will not let You go unless You bless me!" 27 So He said to him, "What is your name?" He said, "Jacob." 28 And He said, z "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but 10 Israel; 11 for you have a struggled with God and b with men, and have prevailed." 29 Then Jacob asked, saying, "Tell me Your name, I pray." And He said, c "Why is it that you ask about My name?" And He d blessed him there. 30 So Jacob called the name of the place 12 Peniel: 13 "For e I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved." 31 Just as he crossed over 14 Penuel 15 the sun rose on him, and he limped on his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the children of Israel do not eat the muscle that shrank, which is on the hip socket, because He 16 touched the socket of Jacob's hip in the muscle that shrank.

  1. Cross References
    Numbers 22:31
    Then the LORD opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw ...
    2 Kings 6:16
    So he answered, "Do not fear, for those who are...
    2 Kings 6:17
    And Elisha prayed, and said, "LORD, I pray, ope...
    Psalms 34:7
    The angel of the LORD encamps all around those ...
    Psalms 91:1
    He who dwells in the secret place of the Most H...
    Hebrews 1:14
    Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth...
  2. Cross References
    Joshua 5:14
    So He said, "No, but as Commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, "What does my Lord say to His servant?
    Psalms 103:21
    Bless the LORD, all you His hosts, You ministers of His, who do His pleasure.
    Psalms 148:2
    Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts!
    Luke 2:13
    And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
  3. Cross References
    Genesis 14:6
    And the Horites in their mountain of Seir, as far as El Paran, which is by the wilderness.
    Genesis 33:14
    "Please let my lord go on ahead before his servant. I will lead on slowly at a pace which the livestock that go before me, and the children, are able to endure, until I come to my lord in Seir."
    Genesis 33:16
    So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir.
  4. Cross References
    Genesis 25:30
    And Esau said to Jacob, "Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary." Therefore his name was called Edom.
    Genesis 36:6 - 9
    Then Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the persons of his household, his cattle and all his animals, and all his goods which he had gained in the land of Canaan, and went to a country away from the presence of his brother Jacob.
    Deuteronomy 2:5
    Do not meddle with them, for I will not give you any of their land, no, not so much as one footstep, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession.
    Joshua 24:4
    To Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. To Esau I gave the mountains of Seir to possess, but Jacob and his children went down to Egypt.
  5. Cross References
    Proverbs 15:1
    A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.
  6. Cross References
    Genesis 30:43
    Thus the man became exceedingly prosperous, and had large flocks, female and male servants, and camels and donkeys.
  7. Cross References
    Genesis 33:8
    Then Esau said, "What do you mean by all this company which I met?" And he said, " These are to find favor in the sight of my lord.
    Genesis 33:15
    And Esau said, "Now let me leave with you some of the people who are with me." But he said, "What need is there? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.
  8. Cross References
    Genesis 33:1
    Now Jacob lifted his eyes and looked, and there, Esau was coming, and with him were four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two maidservants.
  9. Cross References
    Genesis 32:11
    Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and attack me and the mother with the children.
    Genesis 35:3
    "Then let us arise and go up to Bethel; and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me in the way which I have gone."
  10. Cross References
    Psalms 50:15
    Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.
  11. Cross References
    Genesis 28:13
    And behold, the LORD stood above it and said: "I am the LORD God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants.
    Genesis 31:42
    "Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuked you last night."
  12. Cross References
    Genesis 31:3
    Then the LORD said to Jacob, "Return to the land of your fathers and to your family, and I will be with you.
    Genesis 31:13
    'I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and where you made a vow to Me. Now arise, get out of this land, and return to the land of your family."'
  13. Cross References
    Genesis 24:27
    And he said, "Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His mercy and His truth toward my master. As for me, being on the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master's brethren.
  14. Cross References
    Job 8:7
    Though your beginning was small, Yet your latter end would increase abundantly.
  15. Cross References
    Psalms 59:1
    Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; Defend me from those who rise up against me.
    Psalms 59:2
    Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, And save me from bloodthirsty men.
  16. Cross References
    Hosea 10:14
    Therefore tumult shall arise among your people, And all your fortresses shall be plundered As Shalman plundered Beth Arbel in the day of battle - A mother dashed in pieces upon her children.
  17. Cross References
    Genesis 28:13 - 15
    And behold, the LORD stood above it and said: "I am the LORD God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants.
  18. Cross References
    Genesis 22:17
    Blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.
  19. Cross References
    Genesis 43:11
    And their father Israel said to them, "If it must be so, then do this: Take some of the best fruits of the land in your vessels and carry down a present for the man - a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds.
  20. Cross References
    Proverbs 21:14
    A gift in secret pacifies anger, And a bribe behind the back, strong wrath.
  21. Cross References
    Numbers 21:24
    Then Israel defeated him with the edge of the sword, and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as the people of Ammon; for the border of the people of Ammon was fortified.
    Deuteronomy 3:16
    And to the Reubenites and the Gadites I gave from Gilead as far as the River Arnon, the middle of the river as the border, as far as the River Jabbok, the border of the people of Ammon.
    Joshua 12:2
    One king was Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon and ruled half of Gilead, from Aroer, which is on the bank of the River Arnon, from the middle of that river, even as far as the River Jabbok, which is the border of the Ammonites.
  22. Cross References
    Joshua 5:13 - 15
    And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, " Are You for us or for our adversaries?
    Hosea 12:2 - 4
    The LORD also brings a charge against Judah, And will punish Jacob according to his ways; According to his deeds He will recompense him.
  23. Cross References
    Matthew 26:41
    "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
    2 Corinthians 12:7
    And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.
  24. Cross References
    Luke 24:28
    Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther.
  25. Cross References
    Hosea 12:4
    Yes, he struggled with the Angel and prevailed; He wept, and sought favor from Him. He found Him in Bethel, And there He spoke to us -
  26. Cross References
    Genesis 35:10
    And God said to him, "Your name is Jacob; your name shall not be called Jacob anymore, but Israel shall be your name." So He called his name Israel.
    1 Kings 18:31
    And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come, saying, "Israel shall be your name.
    2 Kings 17:34
    To this day they continue practicing the former rituals; they do not fear the LORD, nor do they follow their statutes or their ordinances, or the law and commandment which the LORD had commanded the children of Jacob, whom He named Israel.
  27. Cross References
    Hosea 12:3
    He took his brother by the heel in the womb, And in his strength he struggled with God.
    Hosea 12:4
    Yes, he struggled with the Angel and prevailed; He wept, and sought favor from Him. He found Him in Bethel, And there He spoke to us -
  28. Cross References
    Genesis 25:31
    But Jacob said, "Sell me your birthright as of this day.
    Genesis 27:33
    Then Isaac trembled exceedingly, and said, "Who? Where is the one who hunted game and brought it to me? I ate all of it before you came, and I have blessed him - and indeed he shall be blessed.
  29. Cross References
    Judges 13:17
    Then Manoah said to the Angel of the LORD, "What is Your name, that when Your words come to pass we may honor You?
    Judges 13:18
    And the Angel of the LORD said to him, "Why do you ask My name, seeing it is wonderful?
  30. Cross References
    Genesis 35:9
    Then God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Padan Aram, and blessed him.
  31. Cross References
    Genesis 16:13
    Then she called the name of the LORD who spoke ...
    Exodus 24:10
    And they saw the God of Israel. And there was u...
    Exodus 24:11
    But on the nobles of the children of Israel He ...
    Exodus 33:20
    But He said, "You cannot see My face; for no ma...
    Numbers 12:8
    I speak with him face to face, Even plainly, an...
    Deuteronomy 5:24
    And you said: 'Surely the LORD our God has show...
    Judges 6:22
    Now Gideon perceived that He was the Angel of t...
    Isaiah 6:5
    So I said: "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because...
    Matthew 5:8
    Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall s...
    1 Corinthians 13:12
    For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then fac...
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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