Meaning two camps. See note S.S. 6:13^2a.

Although Jacob had prayed in vv. 9-12, he did not trust in his prayer but continued to exercise his human wisdom by sending gifts to Esau to appease him.

According to Hosea 12:4, this man was the Angel of Jehovah, Christ (see note Exo. 3:2^1b). The Lord as a man wrestled with Jacob so that He might touch Jacob’s natural strength, signified by the socket of Jacob’s hip at the thigh muscle (vv. 25, 32). The Lord’s wrestling with Jacob lasted a considerable time, fully exposing how natural Jacob was.

Lit., He.

The touching of the socket of Jacob’s hip at the thigh muscle (v. 32), the strongest muscle in the body, signifies the touching of Jacob’s natural life, his natural strength. This was the beginning of Jacob’s transformation. As Gen. 33 shows (see note Gen. 33:4¹ and note Gen. 33:17¹), after this experience Jacob was still natural. Nevertheless, although there was no change in Jacob’s outward living, his natural life, his inward natural strength, had been dealt with by the Lord. This is signified by the fact that Jacob walked with a limp (v. 31). The way of religion is to change man’s outward behavior; the way of God in His economy is to touch man’s inward life in order to change his inward being.

Lit., He.

Lit., he.

Here the Lord asked Jacob his name to cause Jacob to realize who he was — Jacob, the supplanter (see note Gen. 25:26^2b).

Meaning one who struggles with God. The changing of Jacob’s name to Israel indicates that God would eventually transform Jacob. See note Gen. 17:5^2a.

It does not say that the man came to Jacob before wrestling with him (v. 24), nor does it say that the man left Jacob after wrestling with him. This means that the Lord who wrestled with Jacob was with him all the time and never left him. Cf. John 20:26 and note John 20:26³.

Meaning the face of God.

In the dark night Jacob was strong, and every part of him was whole. After being touched by the Lord, Jacob was lame, but he was in the shining of the heavenly light.