Jacob Wrestles With God

But during the night he got up and wakened his two wives and his two concubines and eleven children, and took them across the Jordan River at the Jabbok ford, then returned again to the camp and was there alone; and a Man wrestled with him until dawn. And when the Man saw that he couldn't win the match, he struck Jacob's hip, and knocked it out of joint at the socket.

Then the Man said, "Let me go, for it is dawn."

But Jacob panted, "I will not let you go until you bless me."

"What is your name?" the Man asked.

"Jacob," was the reply.

"It isn't anymore!" the Man told him. "It is Israel--one who has power with God. Because you have been strong with God, you shall prevail with men."

"What is your name?" Jacob asked him.

"No, you mustn't ask," the Man told him. And he blessed him there.

Jacob named the place "Peniel" ("The Face of God"), for he said, "I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is spared." The sun rose as he started on, and he was limping because of his hip. (That is why the people of Israel still do not eat the sciatic muscle where it attaches to the hip.)

Jacob Meets Esau »

TEXT SOURCE: (Genesis 32:22-32) The Children's Living Bible, ©1970 Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton Illinois 60187
TITLE SOURCE: The New Student Bible, ©1992 Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids Michigan 49530