Genesis 32 · Verse 29

Genesis 32:29

And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.
Genesis 32:29, King James Version

Genesis 32:29 in other translations

BSBAnd Jacob requested, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed Jacob there.
WEBJacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” He said, “Why is it that you ask what my name is?” So he blessed him there.
ASVAnd Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.
YLTAnd Jacob asketh, and saith, ‘Declare, I pray thee, thy name;' and he saith, ‘Why is this, thou askest for My name?' and He blesseth him there.
DARBYAnd Jacob asked and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, How is it that thou askest after my name? And he blessed him there.
BBEThen Jacob said, What is your name? And he said, What is my name to you? Then he gave him a blessing.
WebsterAnd Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name: And he said, why is it that thou dost ask after my name? and he blessed him there.

What does Genesis 32:29 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
29. Jacob asked, Tell me ... thy name--The request was denied that he might not be too elated with his conquest nor suppose that he had obtained such advantage over the angel as to make him do what he pleased.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 29 Tell me, I pray thee, thy name - It is very likely that Jacob wished to know the name of this angel, that he might invoke him in his necessities: but this might have led him into idolatry, for the doctrine of the incarnation could be but little understood at this time; hence, he refuses to give himself any name, yet shows himself to be the true God, and so Jacob understood him; (see Gen 32:28); but he wished to have heard from his own lips that name by which he desired to be invoked and worshipped. Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? - Canst thou be ignorant who I am? And he blessed him there - gave him the new heart and the new nature which God alone can give to fallen man, and by the change he wrought in him, sufficiently showed who he was. After this clause the Aldine edition of the Septuagint, and several MSS., add ὁ εστι θαυμαστον, or και τουτο εστι θαυμαστον, which is wonderful; but this addition seems to have been taken from Jdg 13:18.

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…

Read the full comment on Genesis 32:24-32 →

Genesis 32:29 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.

וַיִּשְׁאַ֣לvai.yish.'Aland he askedH7592
יַעֲקֹ֗בya.'a.KoJacobH3290
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merand he saidH559
הַגִּֽידָה\־ha.gi.dah-tell !H5046
נָּ֣אna'pleaseH4994
שְׁמֶ֔ךָshe.Me.khaname yourH8034
וַיֹּ֕אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
לָ֥מָּהLa.mah<to> why?H4100
זֶּ֖הzehthisH2088
תִּשְׁאַ֣לtish.'Aldo you askH7592
לִשְׁמִ֑יlish.Mito name myH8034
וַיְבָ֥רֶךְvay.Va.rekhand he blessedH1288
אֹת֖וֹ'o.To<obj.> himH853
שָֽׁם\׃ShamthereH8033

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

Cross references for Genesis 32:29

  • Job 11:7

    Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?

  • Isaiah 9:6

    For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

  • Judges 13:16-18

    And the angel of the Lord said unto Manoah, Though thou detain me, I will not eat of thy bread: and if thou wilt offer a burnt offering, thou must offer it unto the Lord. For Manoah knew not that he was an angel of the Lord. And Manoah said unto the angel of the Lord, What is thy name, that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honour? And the angel of the Lord said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?

  • Hosea 6:1

    Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.

  • Genesis 27:28-29

    Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine: Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother’s sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.

  • Genesis 28:13-14

    And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

  • Luke 1:19

    And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.

  • Proverbs 30:4

    Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?

  • Genesis 28:3-4

    And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people; And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham.

  • Genesis 32:26-27

    And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.

  • Deuteronomy 29:29

    The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Wherefore.
27; De 29:29; Jud 13:16-18; Job 11:7; Pr 30:4; Isa 9:6; Lu 1:19
blessed.
26; 27:28,29; 28:3,4,13,14; Ho 6:1

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

Context

  • 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.

  • Genesis 32:29

    And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.

  • 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.

Read all of Genesis 32

Genesis 32:29 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Entonces Jacob le preguntó, y dijo: Declárame ahora tu nombre. Y él respondió: ¿Por qué preguntas por mi nombre? Y bendíjolo allí.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et il dit: Ton nom ne sera plus appelé Jacob, mais Israël; car tu as lutté avec Dieu et avec les hommes, et tu as prévalu.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und Jakob fragte und sprach: Tue mir doch deinen Namen kund! Da sprach er: Warum doch fragst du nach meinem Namen? Und er segnete ihn daselbst.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Interrogavit eum Jacob: Dic mihi, quo appellaris nomine? Respondit: Cur quæris nomen meum? Et benedixit ei in eodem loco.