1 J acob went on his way, and God’s angels met him.

So Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.

2 W hen Jacob saw them, he said, “This is God’s camp!” So he gave the place the name Mahanaim.

When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is God’s camp.” And he called the name of that place Mahanaim.

3 J acob sent men to carry news before him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom.

Then Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother in the land of Seir, the country of Edom.

4 H e told them, “Say this to my lord Esau: ‘Your servant Jacob says, “I have been living with Laban, and stayed there until now.

And he commanded them, saying, “Speak thus to my lord Esau, ‘Thus your servant Jacob says: “I have dwelt with Laban and stayed there until now.

5 I have cattle and donkeys and flocks and men and women servants. And I have sent to tell my lord, hoping to find favor in your eyes.’”

I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, and male and female servants; and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find favor in your sight.”’”

6 T he men that carried the news returned to Jacob and said, “We came to your brother Esau. He is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.”

Then the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and he also is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.”

7 T hen Jacob was afraid and troubled. And he divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and cattle and camels, into two groups.

So Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people that were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two companies.

8 F or he said, “If Esau comes to the one group and destroys it, then the other group will get away.”

And he said, “If Esau comes to the one company and attacks it, then the other company which is left will escape.”

9 T hen Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O Lord, Who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to those of your family, and I will bring good to you.’

Then Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, the Lord who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your family, and I will deal well with you’:

10 I have not earned any of the loving-kindness and faith which You have shown to your servant. For I had crossed this Jordan with only my walking stick. And now I have become two large groups.

I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant; for I crossed over this Jordan with my staff, and now I have become two companies.

11 S ave me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the power of Esau. For I am afraid of him. I am afraid he will come and kill us all, the mothers with the children.

Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and attack me and the mother with the children.

12 B ut You said, ‘I will bring good to you. I will make your children like the sand of the sea. There will be too many to number.’”

For You said, ‘I will surely treat you well, and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’”

13 S o Jacob stayed there that night. Then he chose a gift from what he had for his brother Esau:

So he lodged there that same night, and took what came to his hand as a present for Esau his brother:

14 T wo hundred female goats, twenty male goats, two hundred female sheep, twenty rams,

two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams,

15 t hirty milk camels and their young ones, forty cows, ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys.

thirty milk camels with their colts, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten foals.

16 H e put them into the care of his servants, every group of animals by itself. Then he said to his servants, “Go in front of me. And keep the groups of animals apart.”

Then he delivered them to the hand of his servants, every drove by itself, and said to his servants, “Pass over before me, and put some distance between successive droves.”

17 H e told the one in front, “When my brother Esau meets you and asks, ‘To whom do you belong, and where are you going, and who owns these animals in front of you?’

And he commanded the first one, saying, “When Esau my brother meets you and asks you, saying, ‘To whom do you belong, and where are you going? Whose are these in front of you?’

18 t hen you say, ‘These belong to your servant Jacob. It is a gift sent to my lord Esau. And he is coming behind us.’”

then you shall say, ‘They are your servant Jacob’s. It is a present sent to my lord Esau; and behold, he also is behind us.’”

19 H e also told the second and the third and all those who followed the animals, “This is what you are to say to Esau when you meet him.

So he commanded the second, the third, and all who followed the droves, saying, “In this manner you shall speak to Esau when you find him;

20 A nd be sure to say, ‘Your servant Jacob is coming behind us.’” For he said, “I will take away his anger with the gift that goes in front of me. Then when I meet him, he might receive me.”

and also say, ‘Behold, your servant Jacob is behind us.’” For he said, “I will appease him with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face; perhaps he will accept me.”

21 S o the gift went in front of him, while he stayed that night in the tent. Jacob’s Name Is Changed to Israel

So the present went on over before him, but he himself lodged that night in the camp. Wrestling with God

22 B ut he got up that same night and crossed the Jabbok River, with his two wives, the two women who served him, and his eleven children.

And he arose that night and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed over the ford of Jabbok.

23 H e took them and sent them to the other side of the river with all that he had.

He took them, sent them over the brook, and sent over what he had.

24 T hen Jacob was left alone. And a man fought with him until morning.

Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day.

25 W hen the man saw that he was not winning he touched the joint of Jacob’s thigh. And Jacob’s thigh was put out of joint while he fought with him.

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.

26 T he man said, “Let me go. For the morning has come.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you pray that good will come to me.”

And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!”

27 T he man asked him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob.”

So He said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob.”

28 A nd the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel. For you have fought with God and with men, and have won.”

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.”

29 T hen Jacob asked him, “Tell me, what is your name?” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he prayed that good would come to Jacob.

Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.” And He said, “Why is it that you ask about My name?” And He blessed him there.

30 S o Jacob gave the place the name of Peniel. For he said, “I have seen God face to face, and yet I am still alive.”

So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”

31 T he sun rose upon him as he passed through Peniel. It was hard to walk on his leg.

Just as he crossed over Penuel the sun rose on him, and he limped on his hip.

32 S o to this day the sons of Israel do not eat the meat from inside the joint of the thigh, because he touched this part of the joint on Jacob’s leg.

Therefore to this day the children of Israel do not eat the muscle that shrank, which is on the hip socket, because He touched the socket of Jacob’s hip in the muscle that shrank.