Genesis 32:28 kjv

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.

Genesis 32:28 nkjv

And He said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed."

Genesis 32:28 niv

Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome."

Genesis 32:28 esv

Then he said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed."

Genesis 32:28 nlt

"Your name will no longer be Jacob," the man told him. "From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won."

Genesis 32 verses

Genesis 32 28 Meaning

This verse declares a monumental change for Jacob following his overnight wrestling with a mysterious divine being. His old name, Jacob (Hebrew: Ya'akov), which connoted "supplanter" or "deceiver," is replaced with Israel (Hebrew: Yisra'el). This new name signifies "He strives with God" or "God strives" and reflects his persistent struggle and victory with a divine power, a victory that extends to his dealings with people. It marks a shift from his former cunning character to a divinely conferred identity, demonstrating that strength and overcoming come through faithful and tenacious engagement with the Most High.

Genesis 32 28 Context

Genesis chapter 32 recounts Jacob's journey back to the land of Canaan, fearing a confrontation with his estranged brother, Esau. Years earlier, Jacob had deceived Esau and his father Isaac to steal the birthright and blessing. Now, Jacob is immensely wealthy but deeply anxious about meeting Esau again. He sends his family and possessions ahead, then finds himself alone by the Jabbok River ford during the night. It is there, in this place of isolation and vulnerability, that he encounters a mysterious "man" and wrestles with him until daybreak. This wrestling match, both physical and spiritual, is the crucible that forces Jacob to confront his own nature and deeply engage with God. The dislocated hip he sustains serves as a permanent reminder of this divine encounter and his newfound dependence on God, directly preceding the pronouncement of his name change in verse 28.

Genesis 32 28 Word analysis

• Then the man said (וַיֹּאמֶר - vayyomer): This refers to the divine antagonist with whom Jacob had wrestled all night. The use of "man" masks a divine identity that is hinted at and later understood.
• Your name (שִׁמְךָ - shim'kha): In ancient Hebrew culture, a name was not merely a label but intimately linked to a person's character, reputation, and destiny. A name change signifies a profound, divine redefinition of identity and purpose.
• will no longer be (לֹא יֵאָמֵר עוֹד - lo ye'amer od): A strong, definitive negation. It emphasizes the complete cessation of the old identity associated with Jacob's former character.
• Jacob (יַעֲקֹב - Ya'akov): This name means "he grasps the heel" (from his birth narrative, Gen 25:26) and became synonymous with "supplanter" or "deceiver," reflecting his character of cunning and self-reliance in his interactions with Esau and Laban.
• but Israel (כִּי אִם יִשְׂרָאֵל - ki im Yisra'el): The Hebrew Yisra'el is derived from the root sarah (to strive, contend, wrestle, rule) and El (God). The most common interpretations are "He strives with God" or "God strives/rules." It encapsulates Jacob's lifelong struggle but now frames it within a direct, divine encounter and a prevailing outcome.
• because (כִּי - ki): This conjunction provides the direct explanation and divine rationale for the monumental name change.
• you have struggled (שָׂרִיתָ - sarita): This is the Qal perfect form of the verb sarah (to strive, contend, wrestle). It precisely defines the action for which the new name "Israel" is given. It denotes an intense, prolonged, and earnest effort in contending.
• with God (עִם־אֱלֹהִים - im 'Elohim): This specifies the ultimate nature of Jacob's opponent in the wrestling match, identifying him as the Divine (God in His generic sense). It confirms the spiritual, rather than merely human, dimension of the encounter.
• and with humans (וְעִם־אֲנָשִׁים - ve'im 'anashim): This extends the struggle from the divine realm to Jacob's interpersonal relationships. It encompasses his past conflicts with Esau and Laban, suggesting that his spiritual struggle with God empowers him for more righteous and prevailing human interactions.
• and have overcome (וַתּוּכָל - vattoochal): Derived from the verb yakol (to be able, to prevail, to overcome). This final clause highlights that Jacob's struggle was not in vain; it resulted in triumph or persistence unto success. It implies enduring the trial and emerging victorious through divine grace, even if marked by physical weakness.

• "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel": This phrase marks the pinnacle of Jacob's transformation. It signifies a complete severance from his past identity defined by human manipulation and deceit, moving into a divinely sanctioned identity based on a profound engagement with God.
• "because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome": This entire phrase acts as the divine explanation and justification for Jacob's new identity. It reveals that God honors earnest, persistent spiritual striving, which also positively impacts one's ability to navigate and overcome challenges in the human sphere. The overcoming implies that even in apparent weakness (his dislocated hip), he prevailed in gaining the divine blessing and a transformed character.

Genesis 32 28 Bonus section

• The place name Penuel ("face of God") given by Jacob in the following verse (Gen 32:30) reinforces the reality and intimacy of this divine encounter, as Jacob declares he has seen God face to face and his life was preserved, a remarkable act of grace.
• Jacob's limp after the encounter serves as a constant, tangible reminder of his brokenness, the divine power he faced, and the source of his new strength – not his own prowess, but God's overcoming power in weakness. This echoes in Christian understanding where God's power is made perfect in weakness (2 Cor 12:9-10).
• The struggle with God can be understood not as a hostile confrontation but as an earnest, sometimes painful, seeking of His will and blessing. It is the wrestle of faith and prayer, where the believer tenaciously clings to God despite challenges, knowing true victory comes from Him.
• The change from "Jacob" (representing his past deception and striving for human gain) to "Israel" (representing his future role as the progenitor of a nation, founded on his wrestling and prevailing with God) is prophetic. It set the character for the future nation that would also "strive" with God throughout its history.

Genesis 32 28 Commentary

Genesis 32:28 is a theological lynchpin, encapsulating the essence of a transformative divine encounter. Jacob, whose life was defined by self-serving stratagems and constant grappling for advantage (epitomized by his name "Supplanter"), meets God in a wrestling match that is both physical and deeply spiritual. The name change to "Israel" signifies that true spiritual power and a blessed identity are not attained through human cunning or raw strength, but through tenacious, even desperate, engagement with God. This "struggle" (the meaning of Israel) implies a fervent, unyielding pursuit of God's blessing and will, even when it involves pain or brokenness (symbolized by his limping hip). Jacob prevailed, not by defeating God, but by refusing to let go until he received a blessing, thereby showing an overcoming faith that changes his destiny and forms the foundational identity for the nation that would bear his new name. His triumph was one of persistence and surrender, marking him as one who strives with God and prevails, an identity extended to his interactions with humanity.