Click
here to show/hide instructions.
Instructions on how to use the page:
The commentary for the selected verse is is displayed below.
All commentary was produced against the King James, so the same verse from that translation may appear as well. Hovering your mouse over a commentary's scripture reference attempts to show those verses.
Use the browser's back button to return to the previous page.
Or you can also select a feature from the Just Verses menu appearing at the top of the page.
Selected Verse: Genesis 32:24 - Strong Concordance
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
Ge 32:24 |
Strong Concordance |
And Jacob [03290] was left [03498] alone; and there wrestled [079] a man [0376] with him until the breaking [05927] of the day [07837]. |
|
King James |
And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
There wrestled a man with him--This mysterious person is called an angel (Hos 12:4) and God (Gen 32:28, Gen 32:30; Hos 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. |
The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917] |
and there wrestled
Jacob's crisis.
Compare (Jos 5:13-15); (Job 42:5); (Job 42:6); (Isa 6:1-8); (Jer 1:4-9); (Eze 1:28); (Eze 2:1-7); (Dan 10:1-12); (Act 9:1-6); (Rev 1:13-18). |
Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
Very early in the morning, a great while before day. Jacob had helped his wives and children over the river, and he desired to be private, and was left alone, that he might again spread his cares and fears before God in prayer. While Jacob was earnest in prayer, stirring up himself to take hold on God, an angel takes hold on him. Some think this was a created angel, one of those that always behold the face of our Father. Rather it was the angel of the covenant, who often appeared in a human shape, before he assumed the human nature. We are told by the prophet, Hos 12:4, how Jacob wrestled, he wept and made supplication; prayers and tears were his weapons. It was not only a corporal, but a spiritual wrestling by vigorous faith and holy desire. |
Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
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). |
5 Even the LORD [03068] God [0430] of hosts [06635]; the LORD [03068] is his memorial [02143].
30 And Jacob [03290] called [07121] the name [08034] of the place [04725] Peniel [06439]: for I have seen [07200] God [0430] face [06440] to face [06440], and my life [05315] is preserved [05337].
28 And he said [0559], Thy name [08034] shall be called [0559] no more Jacob [03290], but Israel [03478]: for as a prince hast thou power [08280] with God [0430] and with men [0582], and hast prevailed [03201].
4 Yea, he had power [07786] over the angel [04397], and prevailed [03201]: he wept [01058], and made supplication [02603] unto him: he found [04672] him in Bethel [01008], and there he spake [01696] with us;
13 And [2532] in [1722] the midst [3319] of the seven [2033] candlesticks [3087] one like [3664] unto the Son [5207] of man [444], clothed with a garment [1746] down to the foot [4158], and [2532] girt [4024] about [4314] the paps [3149] with a golden [5552] girdle [2223].
14 [1161] His [846] head [2776] and [2532] his hairs [2359] were white [3022] like [5616] wool [2053], as white [3022] as [5613] snow [5510]; and [2532] his [846] eyes [3788] were as [5613] a flame [5395] of fire [4442];
15 And [2532] his [846] feet [4228] like [3664] unto fine brass [5474], as [5613] if they burned [4448] in [1722] a furnace [2575]; and [2532] his [846] voice [5456] as [5613] the sound [5456] of many [4183] waters [5204].
16 And [2532] he had [2192] in [1722] his [846] right [1188] hand [5495] seven [2033] stars [792]: and [2532] out of [1537] his [846] mouth [4750] went [1607] a sharp [3691] twoedged [1366] sword [4501]: and [2532] his [846] countenance [3799] was as [5613] the sun [2246] shineth [5316] in [1722] his [846] strength [1411].
17 And [2532] when [3753] I saw [1492] him [846], I fell [4098] at [4314] his [846] feet [4228] as [5613] dead [3498]. And [2532] he laid [2007] his [846] right [1188] hand [5495] upon [1909] me [1691], saying [3004] unto me [3427], Fear [5399] not [3361]; I [1473] am [1510] the first [4413] and [2532] the last [2078]:
18 [2532] I am he that liveth [2198], and [2532] was [1096] dead [3498]; and [2532], behold [2400], I am [1510] alive [2198] for [1519] evermore [165] [165], Amen [281]; and [2532] have [2192] the keys [2807] of hell [86] and [2532] of death [2288].
1 And [1161] Saul [4569], yet [2089] breathing out [1709] threatenings [547] and [2532] slaughter [5408] against [1519] the disciples [3101] of the Lord [2962], went [4334] unto the high priest [749],
2 And desired [154] of [3844] him [846] letters [1992] to [1519] Damascus [1154] to [4314] the synagogues [4864], that [3704] if [1437] he found [2147] any [5100] of this way [3598], whether [5037] they were [5607] men [435] or [2532] women [1135], he might bring them [71] bound [1210] unto [1519] Jerusalem [2419].
3 And [1161] as he [846] journeyed [4198] [1722], he came [1096] near [1448] Damascus [1154]: and [2532] suddenly [1810] there shined round about [4015] him [846] a light [5457] from [575] heaven [3772]:
4 And [2532] he fell [4098] to [1909] the earth [1093], and heard [191] a voice [5456] saying [3004] unto him [846], Saul [4549], Saul [4549], why [5101] persecutest thou [1377] me [3165]?
5 And [1161] he said [2036], Who [5101] art thou [1488], Lord [2962]? And [1161] the Lord [2962] said [2036], I [1473] am [1510] Jesus [2424] whom [3739] thou [4771] persecutest [1377]: it is hard [4642] for thee [4671] to kick [2979] against [4314] the pricks [2759].
6 And [5037] he trembling [5141] and [2532] astonished [2284] said [2036], Lord [2962], what [5101] wilt thou have [2309] me [3165] to do [4160]? And [2532] the Lord [2962] said unto [4314] him [846], Arise [450], and [2532] go [1525] into [1519] the city [4172], and [2532] it shall be told [2980] thee [4671] what [5101] thou [4571] must [1163] do [4160].
1 In the third [07969] year [08141] of Cyrus [03566] king [04428] of Persia [06539] a thing [01697] was revealed [01540] unto Daniel [01840], whose name [08034] was called [07121] Belteshazzar [01095]; and the thing [01697] was true [0571], but the time appointed [06635] was long [01419]: and he understood [0995] the thing [01697], and had understanding [0998] of the vision [04758].
2 In those days [03117] I Daniel [01840] was mourning [056] three [07969] full [03117] weeks [07620].
3 I ate [0398] no pleasant [02532] bread [03899], neither came [0935] flesh [01320] nor wine [03196] in my mouth [06310], neither did I anoint [05480] myself at all [05480], till three [07969] whole [03117] weeks [07620] were fulfilled [04390].
4 And in the four [0702] and twentieth [06242] day [03117] of the first [07223] month [02320], as I was by the side [03027] of the great [01419] river [05104], which is Hiddekel [02313];
5 Then I lifted up [05375] mine eyes [05869], and looked [07200], and behold a certain [0259] man [0376] clothed [03847] in linen [0906], whose loins [04975] were girded [02296] with fine gold [03800] of Uphaz [0210]:
6 His body [01472] also was like the beryl [08658], and his face [06440] as the appearance [04758] of lightning [01300], and his eyes [05869] as lamps [03940] of fire [0784], and his arms [02220] and his feet [04772] like in colour [05869] to polished [07044] brass [05178], and the voice [06963] of his words [01697] like the voice [06963] of a multitude [01995].
7 And I Daniel [01840] alone saw [07200] the vision [04759]: for the men [0582] that were with me saw [07200] not the vision [04759]; but [061] a great [01419] quaking [02731] fell [05307] upon them, so that they fled [01272] to hide [02244] themselves.
8 Therefore I was left alone [07604], and saw [07200] this great [01419] vision [04759], and there remained [07604] no strength [03581] in me: for my comeliness [01935] was turned [02015] in me into corruption [04889], and I retained [06113] no strength [03581].
9 Yet heard [08085] I the voice [06963] of his words [01697]: and when I heard [08085] the voice [06963] of his words [01697], then was I in a deep sleep [07290] on my face [06440], and my face [06440] toward the ground [0776].
10 And, behold, an hand [03027] touched [05060] me, which set [05128] me upon my knees [01290] and upon the palms [03709] of my hands [03027].
11 And he said [0559] unto me, O Daniel [01840], a man [0376] greatly beloved [02532], understand [0995] the words [01697] that I speak [01696] unto thee, and stand [05975] upright [05977]: for unto thee am I now sent [07971]. And when he had spoken [01696] this word [01697] unto me, I stood [05975] trembling [07460].
12 Then said [0559] he unto me, Fear [03372] not, Daniel [01840]: for from the first [07223] day [03117] that thou didst set [05414] thine heart [03820] to understand [0995], and to chasten [06031] thyself before [06440] thy God [0430], thy words [01697] were heard [08085], and I am come [0935] for thy words [01697].
1 And he said [0559] unto me, Son [01121] of man [0120], stand [05975] upon thy feet [07272], and I will speak [01696] unto thee.
2 And the spirit [07307] entered [0935] into me when he spake [01696] unto me, and set [05975] me upon my feet [07272], that I heard [08085] him that spake [01696] unto me.
3 And he said [0559] unto me, Son [01121] of man [0120], I send [07971] thee to the children [01121] of Israel [03478], to a rebellious [04775] nation [01471] that hath rebelled [04775] against me: they and their fathers [01] have transgressed [06586] against me, even unto this very [06106] day [03117].
4 For they are impudent [07186] [06440] children [01121] and stiffhearted [02389] [03820]. I do send [07971] thee unto them; and thou shalt say [0559] unto them, Thus saith [0559] the Lord [0136] GOD [03069].
5 And they, whether they will hear [08085], or whether they will forbear [02308], (for they are a rebellious [04805] house [01004],) yet shall know [03045] that there hath been a prophet [05030] among [08432] them.
6 And thou, son [01121] of man [0120], be not afraid [03372] of them, neither be afraid [03372] of their words [01697], though briers [05621] and thorns [05544] be with thee, and thou dost dwell [03427] among scorpions [06137]: be not afraid [03372] of their words [01697], nor be dismayed [02865] at their looks [06440], though they be a rebellious [04805] house [01004].
7 And thou shalt speak [01696] my words [01697] unto them, whether they will hear [08085], or whether they will forbear [02308]: for they are most rebellious [04805].
28 As the appearance [04758] of the bow [07198] that is in the cloud [06051] in the day [03117] of rain [01653], so was the appearance [04758] of the brightness [05051] round about [05439]. This was the appearance [04758] of the likeness [01823] of the glory [03519] of the LORD [03068]. And when I saw [07200] it, I fell [05307] upon my face [06440], and I heard [08085] a voice [06963] of one that spake [01696].
4 Then the word [01697] of the LORD [03068] came unto me, saying [0559],
5 Before [02962] I formed [03335] thee in the belly [0990] I knew [03045] thee; and before thou camest forth [03318] out of the womb [07358] I sanctified [06942] thee, and I ordained [05414] thee a prophet [05030] unto the nations [01471].
6 Then said [0559] I, Ah [0162], Lord [0136] GOD [03069]! behold, I cannot [03045] speak [01696]: for I am a child [05288].
7 But the LORD [03068] said [0559] unto me, Say [0559] not, I am a child [05288]: for thou shalt go [03212] to all that I shall send [07971] thee, and whatsoever I command [06680] thee thou shalt speak [01696].
8 Be not afraid [03372] of their faces [06440]: for I am with thee to deliver [05337] thee, saith [05002] the LORD [03068].
9 Then the LORD [03068] put forth [07971] his hand [03027], and touched [05060] my mouth [06310]. And the LORD [03068] said [0559] unto me, Behold, I have put [05414] my words [01697] in thy mouth [06310].
1 In the year [08141] that king [04428] Uzziah [05818] died [04194] I saw [07200] also [0853] the Lord [0136] sitting [03427] upon a throne [03678], high [07311] and lifted up [05375], and his train [07757] filled [04392] [0853] the temple [01964].
2 Above [04605] it stood [05975] the seraphims [08314]: each one [0259] had six [08337] wings [03671]; with twain [08147] he covered [03680] his face [06440], and with twain [08147] he covered [03680] his feet [07272], and with twain [08147] he did fly [05774].
3 And one cried [07121] unto another, and said [0559], Holy [06918], holy [06918], holy [06918], is the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635]: the whole earth [0776] is full [04393] of his glory [03519].
4 And the posts [0520] of the door [05592] moved [05128] at the voice [06963] of him that cried [07121], and the house [01004] was filled [04390] with smoke [06227].
5 Then said [0559] I, Woe [0188] is me! for I am undone [01820]; because I am a man [0376] of unclean [02931] lips [08193], and I dwell [03427] in the midst [08432] of a people [05971] of unclean [02931] lips [08193]: for mine eyes [05869] have seen [07200] the King [04428], the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635].
6 Then flew [05774] one [0259] of the seraphims [08314] unto me, having a live coal [07531] in his hand [03027], which he had taken [03947] with the tongs [04457] from off the altar [04196]:
7 And he laid [05060] it upon my mouth [06310], and said [0559], Lo, this hath touched [05060] thy lips [08193]; and thine iniquity [05771] is taken away [05493], and thy sin [02403] purged [03722].
8 Also I heard [08085] the voice [06963] of the Lord [0136], saying [0559], Whom shall I send [07971], and who will go [03212] for us? Then said [0559] I, Here am I; send [07971] me.
6 Wherefore I abhor [03988] myself, and repent [05162] in dust [06083] and ashes [0665].
5 I have heard [08085] of thee by the hearing [08088] of the ear [0241]: but now mine eye [05869] seeth [07200] thee.
13 And it came to pass, when Joshua [03091] was by Jericho [03405], that he lifted up [05375] his eyes [05869] and looked [07200], and, behold, there stood [05975] a man [0376] over against him with his sword [02719] drawn [08025] in his hand [03027]: and Joshua [03091] went [03212] unto him, and said [0559] unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries [06862]?
14 And he said [0559], Nay; but as captain [08269] of the host [06635] of the LORD [03068] am I now come [0935]. And Joshua [03091] fell [05307] on his face [06440] to the earth [0776], and did worship [07812], and said [0559] unto him, What saith [01696] my lord [0113] unto his servant [05650]?
15 And the captain [08269] of the LORD'S [03068] host [06635] said [0559] unto Joshua [03091], Loose [05394] thy shoe [05275] from off thy foot [07272]; for the place [04725] whereon thou standest [05975] is holy [06944]. And Joshua [03091] did [06213] so.
4 Yea, he had power [07786] over the angel [04397], and prevailed [03201]: he wept [01058], and made supplication [02603] unto him: he found [04672] him in Bethel [01008], and there he spake [01696] with us;
4 Yea, he had power [07786] over the angel [04397], and prevailed [03201]: he wept [01058], and made supplication [02603] unto him: he found [04672] him in Bethel [01008], and there he spake [01696] with us;
4 Yea, he had power [07786] over the angel [04397], and prevailed [03201]: he wept [01058], and made supplication [02603] unto him: he found [04672] him in Bethel [01008], and there he spake [01696] with us;
7 And the angel [04397] of the LORD [03068] found her [04672] by a fountain [05869] of water [04325] in the wilderness [04057], by the fountain [05869] in the way [01870] to Shur [07793].
7 Of the increase [04766] of his government [04951] and peace [07965] there shall be no end [07093], upon the throne [03678] of David [01732], and upon his kingdom [04467], to order [03559] it, and to establish [05582] it with judgment [04941] and with justice [06666] from henceforth even for [05704] ever [05769]. The zeal [07068] of the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635] will perform [06213] this.