Genesis 32:28

He said, “Your name will no longer be called Jacob [Supplanter], but Israel [Wrestles with God / God prevails]; for you have fought with God and with men, and have prevailed.”

One Unity Resource Bible

In The King James Version

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.

In Context

27He said to him, “What is your name?” + 32:27 Asking the Name; this is a very cultural question. To have the name is perceived as having power over that thing. Some religions had secret names of deities to summon. Here, the wrestler is asking Jacob to submit by announcing his name, and the meaning thereof. Compare with (Ex 3:14-15, 6:3) where God gives his memorial name for all generations. Consider, having the name of an evil spirit is sometimes part of casting out and rejecting, deaf, dumb, blind, etc. (Num 5:14; Luke 7:21-23; Mark 9:25) because a name has authority linked to the bearer of the name. He said, “Jacob [Supplanter]”.

29Jacob [Supplanter] asked him, “Please tell me your name.” He said, “Why is it that you ask what my name is?” and he blessed him there. (3)

Read all of Genesis 32

Cross References

Genesis 17:5Your name will no more be called Avram [Exalted father], but your name will be Abraham [Father of a multitude]; for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. + 17:5. Quoted in Rom 4:17-18

Genesis 25:31Jacob [Supplanter] said, “First, sell me your birthright.”

Genesis 31:24God came to Laban [White], the Syrian, in a dream of the night, and said to him, “Be careful that you don’t speak to Jacob [Supplanter] either good or bad.”

Genesis 32:24Jacob [Supplanter] was left alone, and wrestled with a man there until the breaking of the day.

Genesis 33:20He erected an altar there, and called it El-Elohei-Isra'el [God the God of God prevails].

Numbers 13:16These are the names of the men who Moses [Drawn out] sent to spy out the land. Moses [Drawn out] called Hoshea [Yah save] the son of Nun, who Moses [Drawn out] renamed Joshua [Yah Salvation].

Matthew Henry on Genesis 32:25-32

Jacob Wrestles with an Angel. ( b. c. 1739.) 24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 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. 26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. 27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Genesis 32:28