Genesis 32:25 kjv

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.

Genesis 32:25 nkjv

Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob's hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him.

Genesis 32:25 niv

When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man.

Genesis 32:25 esv

When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him.

Genesis 32:25 nlt

When the man saw that he would not win the match, he touched Jacob's hip and wrenched it out of its socket.

Genesis 32 verses

Genesis 32 25 Meaning

This verse marks a critical turning point in Jacob's nocturnal wrestling match. The mysterious "man," recognizing Jacob's stubborn tenacity and prolonged resistance, demonstrates divine power by subtly touching Jacob's hip socket, instantly dislocating it. This singular, precise action physically incapacitates Jacob, breaking his self-reliance and forcing him into a state of complete dependence and spiritual humility, a prerequisite for his transformation.

Genesis 32 25 Context

Genesis chapter 32 describes Jacob's deeply anxious return to the land of Canaan to meet his estranged brother Esau, whom he had defrauded decades earlier. Fearing Esau's retribution (Gen 32:7), Jacob divided his camp, prayed fervently (Gen 32:9-12), and sent conciliatory gifts ahead of him. After sending his family and all his possessions across the Jabbok ford, Jacob was left alone at night (Gen 32:22-24). This moment of solitude and vulnerable anxiety precedes the wrestling match. The wrestling signifies Jacob's internal struggle with God, his past, and his fear, culminating in a pivotal encounter that demands a radical shift from his inherent self-reliance to profound dependence on God.

Genesis 32 25 Word analysis

• When the man saw (וירא כי - vayyar' ki): The "man" (אִישׁ - ish) is initially unnamed, enhancing the mystery of the encounter. Later context (Gen 32:30, Hos 12:4-5) reveals this figure to be divine. The phrasing indicates divine awareness of Jacob's tenacity. It signifies a shift from Jacob's wrestling against the figure to the figure's deliberate action upon Jacob.
• that he did not prevail against Jacob (כי לא יכל לו - ki lo yakol lo): This is a crucial theological point. "Did not prevail" does not imply divine weakness but rather a conscious choice to allow the struggle to persist and escalate. The divine figure permitted Jacob to seemingly "hold his own" for a prolonged period, suggesting that the purpose of the wrestle was not immediate overpower but a process of spiritual exhaustion and breaking for transformation. It highlights God's patience and purposeful engagement with Jacob's tenacious spirit.
• he touched (ויגע - vayyiga): This Hebrew word implies a contact, often gentle or precise, rather than a forceful strike. It shows the effortless nature of the divine power. A single, focused touch from the divine being was sufficient to accomplish what prolonged physical wrestling could not: incapacitate Jacob and redirect his strength. This subtle action underscores God's omnipotence and control.
• the socket of his thigh (כף ירכו - kaf yereko): Kaf literally means "palm" or "hollow," referring to the hollow of the hip joint. Yerek is "thigh," often signifying strength, the power of movement, or the source of posterity (e.g., Exod 1:5, Judg 8:30). By striking this specific joint, the man targeted Jacob's literal and metaphorical "strength," his ability to stand, move, and rely on himself. It targets his very capacity for independent action.
• and the socket of Jacob's thigh was put out of joint (ותקע כף ירך יעקב - vatteqa kaf yerekh Ya'akov): Teqah means "to be dislocated," "pierced," or "torn away." It conveys a sudden, forceful displacement. This immediate physical debilitation forced Jacob to abandon reliance on his physical strength and cunning. It created an enduring physical mark (the limp) that served as a constant reminder of this divine encounter and his new reliance on God.
• as he wrestled with him (בהאבקו עמו - bəhe'abko ‘immo): The word for "wrestled" (from abaq, "to roll in dust," also relates to "dust," like avaq) is in the Hithpael stem, implying continuous, reciprocal action, a persistent grappling. Even after the disabling touch, Jacob clung on (as implied in the next verse), showcasing his unbroken will but now channeled differently – not in physical contest, but in desperate supplication.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:
  • "When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob": This phrase does not mean the divine being lacked power; rather, it suggests a purposeful allowance for Jacob's struggle to continue until the necessary spiritual work was accomplished. The "man" knew Jacob's tenacity would lead him to press on even when physically outmatched. This allowance underscores divine grace and the purpose of the struggle: transformation, not mere victory.
  • "he touched the socket of his thigh, and the socket of Jacob's thigh was put out of joint": This entire action signifies the breaking of Jacob's self-reliance. The thigh is a locus of physical strength and independence. The dislocation meant Jacob could no longer rely on his own powerful, deceitful maneuvering, which had marked much of his life. This incapacitation was necessary to make him utterly dependent on God, leading to his new identity, Israel, meaning "God strives" or "one who strives with God." It’s God's way of demonstrating His authority and bringing about true humility.
  • "as he wrestled with him": The continued nature of the wrestling, even during the moment of injury, shows Jacob's deep determination. This persistent clinging, even after being incapacitated, transitions from a physical fight to a desperate, Spirit-led clinging for blessing, marking the true spiritual shift.

Genesis 32 25 Bonus section

The unique dietary practice among the people of Israel (Gen 32:32) to not eat the "sinew of the thigh" that shrinks serves as a perpetual, visible, and communal memorial to this pivotal encounter and Jacob's subsequent limp. It connects future generations to Jacob's wrestling with God, his injury, and his profound transformation. This verse also illustrates a key biblical principle: God sometimes uses weakness or affliction as a means to draw individuals into deeper dependence on Him and to impart greater blessings or new identities, much like Paul's "thorn in the flesh" (2 Cor 12:7-10).

Genesis 32 25 Commentary

Genesis 32:25 describes the decisive moment in Jacob's spiritual battle at the Jabbok. The mysterious opponent, identified later as divine, reveals ultimate power not through brute force, but through a singular, precise, and incapacitating touch. The deliberate act of dislocating Jacob's hip socket effectively shatters his self-sufficient strength and reliance on his own physical prowess and cunning. This physical brokenness is not a defeat but a catalyst for Jacob's spiritual breakthrough. It forces him from a posture of physical contention to one of desperate, clinging dependence. The wound symbolizes God's grace in stripping Jacob of his human confidence, preparing him to walk henceforth not on his own might, but as "Israel," one who has wrestled with God and, in his brokenness, prevailed in finding God's blessing and dependence. It teaches that true spiritual victory often begins when human strength gives way to divine enablement through a humbling encounter.