28
He said,וַיֹּאמֶר“Your nameשִׁמְךָwill no longerלֹא עוֹדbe calledיֵאָמֵרJacob,יַעֲקֹבbutכִּי אִםIsrael,יִשְׂרָאֵלforכִּיyou have struggledשָׂרִיתָwith Elohimעִם אֱלֹהִיםand with menוְעִם אֲנָשִׁיםand have prevailed.”וַתּוּכָל
Genesis 32:28
Study it in the app“He said, “Your name will no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have struggled with Elohim and with men and have prevailed.””
With the Hebrew beneath
Genesis 32:28, word by word
- He saidיֹּאמֶרyomer
say
To say with the mouth to someone what one thinks or wants, or to answer him.
Where else “yomer” appears- “Your nameשִׁמְshim
name
The word by which a person, place or thing is called and recognized.
Where else “shim” appears- Jacobיַעֲקֹבyaakov
Jacob
Jacob, the younger son of Isaac and Rebekah, twin brother of Esau and father of the twelve tribes. In Hebrew "Yaakov" sounds like "heel" and "supplant" (Genesis 25:26; 27:36). God later gave him the name Israel; the name also stands for his descendants, the people of Israel.
Where else “yaakov” appears- Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyisrael
Israel
Israel, the new name Jacob received from God, explained as "you have striven with God" (Genesis 32:28); then the name of the people that came from him and, after the division, of the northern kingdom.
Where else “yisrael” appears- you have struggledשָׂרִיתָsarita
strive, prevail
Strive, struggle hard, prevail. It occurs only in Genesis 32:28 and Hosea 12.
Where else “sarita” appears- with Elohimאֱלֹהִיםelohim
Elohim
The one true God, the Creator; the word is plural but means one.
Where else “elohim” appears- and with menאֲנָשִׁיםanashim
man
An adult male person; also each man of a people, a trade or a place.
Where else “anashim” appears- and have prevailedתּוּכָלtuchal
prevail
To come out victorious against someone stronger or greater.
Where else “tuchal” appears
Translation note
“Israel” sounds like “he struggles with El” or “El struggles” (sara, “to struggle”).
The context
27He said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.”
28 · This verse (above)
29Jacob asked and said, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask about my name?” And he blessed him there.
To study Genesis 32 in a group
1. What it says
What did Jacob do before meeting Esau, and what happened to him at the Jabbok (vv. 7-24)?
2. What it means
What is the meaning of Jacob receiving the name Israel (v. 28)?
3. How I live it
What fear can you bring honestly to Elohim in prayer today?