Genesis 32 · Verse 24

Genesis 32:24

And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
Genesis 32:24, King James Version

Genesis 32:24 in other translations

BSBSo Jacob was left all alone, and there a man wrestled with him until daybreak.
WEBJacob was left alone, and wrestled with a man there until the breaking of the day.
ASVAnd Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
YLTAnd Jacob is left alone, and one wrestleth with him till the ascending of the dawn;
DARBYAnd Jacob remained alone; and a man wrestled with him until the rising of the dawn.
BBEThen Jacob was by himself; and a man was fighting with him till dawn.
WebsterAnd Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him, until the breaking of the day.

What does Genesis 32:24 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 32:24-25
24-25. There wrestled a man with him--This mysterious person is called an angel (Ho 12:4) and God (Ge 32:28, 30; Ho 12:5); and the opinion that is most supported is that he was "the angel of the covenant," who, in a visible form, appeared to animate the mind and sympathize with the distress of his pious servant. It has been a subject of much discussion whether the incident described was an actual conflict or a visionary scene. Many think that as the narrative makes no mention in express terms either of sleep, or dream, or vision, it was a real transaction; while others, considering the bodily exhaustion of Jacob, his great mental anxiety, the kind of aid he supplicated, as well as the analogy of former manifestations with which he was favored--such as the ladder--have concluded that it was a vision [Calvin, Hessenberg, Hengstenberg]. The moral design of it was to revive the sinking spirit of the patriarch and to arm him with confidence in God, while anticipating the dreaded scenes of the morrow. To us it is highly instructive; showing that, to encourage us valiantly to meet the trials to which we are subjected, God allows us to ascribe to the efficacy of our faith and prayers, the victories which His grace alone enables us to make.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 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 fullness 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, Isa 9:7), the Messenger of the great counsel or design to redeem fallen man from death, and bring him to eternal glory; see Gen 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 body, or something analogous to it, in order to render himself tangible by Jacob; for as the soul operates on the body by the order of God, so could an angel operate on the body of Jacob during a whole night, and produce in his imagination, by the effect of his power, every requisite idea of corporeity, and in his nerves every sensation of substance, and yet no substantiality be in the case. If angels, in appearing to men, borrow human bodies, as is thought, how can it be supposed that with such gross substances they can disappear in a moment? Certainly they do not take these bodies into the invisible world with them, and the established laws of matter and motion require a gradual disappearing, however swiftly it may be effected. But this is not allowed to be the case, and yet they are reported to vanish instantaneously. Then they must render themselves invisible by a cloud, and this must be of a very dense nature in order to hide a human body. But this very expedient would make their departure still more evident, as the cloud must be more dense and apparent than the body in order to hide it. This does not remove the difficulty. But if they assume a quantity of air or vapor so condensed as to become visible, and modified into the appearance of a human body, they can in a moment dilate and rarefy it, and so disappear; for when the vehicle is rarefied beyond the power of natural vision, as their own substance is invisible they can instantly vanish. From Hos 12:4, we may learn that the wrestling of Jacob, mentioned in this place, was not merely a corporeal exercise, but also a spiritual one; He wept and made supplication unto him. See Clarke on Hos 12:4 (note).

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 32:24-32
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 resolve to take no denial. The fervent prayer is the effectual prayer. The Angel puts a lasting mark of honour upon him, by changing his name. Jacob signifies a supplanter. From henceforth he shall be celebrated, not for craft and artful management, but for true valour. Thou shalt be called Israel, a prince with God, a name greater than those of the great men of the earth. He is a prince indeed that is a prince with God; those are truly honourable that are mighty in prayer. Having power with God, he shall have power with men too; he shall prevail, and gain Esau's favour. Jacob gives a new name to the place. He calls it Peniel, the face of God, because there he had seen the appearance of God, and obtained the favour of God. It becomes those whom God honours, to admire his grace towards them. The Angel who wrestled with Jacob was the second Person in the sacred Trinity, who was afterwards God manifest in the flesh, and who, dwelling in human nature, is called Immanuel, Ho 12:4, 5. Jacob halted on his thigh. It might serve to keep him from being lifted up with the abundance of the revelations. The sun rose on Jacob: it is sun-rise with that soul, which has had communion with God.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Genesis 32:24 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיִּוָּתֵ֥רvai.yi.va.Terand he remainedH3498
יַעֲקֹ֖בya.'a.KoJacobH3290
לְבַדּ֑וֹle.va.Doto only himH905
וַיֵּאָבֵ֥קvai.ye.'a.Vekand he wrestledH79
אִישׁ֙'isha manH376
עִמּ֔וֹi.Mowith himH5973
עַ֖ד'aduntilH5704
עֲל֥וֹתa.Lotcame upH5927
הַשָּֽׁחַר\׃ha.Sha.charthe dawnH7837

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Genesis 32:24

  • Hosea 12:3-5

    He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God: Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Beth–el, and there he spake with us; Even the Lord God of hosts; the Lord is his memorial.

  • Ephesians 6:12

    For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

  • Genesis 32:28

    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.

  • 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.

  • Genesis 32:30

    And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

  • 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.

  • Ephesians 6:18

    Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

  • 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.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:47

    The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.

  • 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.

  • Colossians 4:12

    Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
wrestled.
30:8; Lu 13:24; 22:44; Ro 8:26,27; 15:30; Eph 6:12,18; Col 2:1; 4:12
Heb 5:7
man.
28,30; 48:16; Isa 32:2; Ho 12:3-5; 1Co 15:47
breaking of the day. Heb. ascending of the morning.
Ex 14:27; So 2:17

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Genesis 32:23

    And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had.

  • Genesis 32:24

    And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.

  • Genesis 32:25

    And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.

Read all of Genesis 32

Genesis 32:24 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y quedóse Jacob solo, y luchó con él un varón hasta que rayaba el alba.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Il les prit, et leur fit passer le torrent; et il fit passer ce qui était à lui.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und Jakob blieb allein übrig; und es rang ein Mann mit ihm, bis die Morgenröte aufging.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		mansit solus: et ecce vir luctabatur cum eo usque mane.