1 J acob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.

Jacob went on his way, and God’s angels met him.

2 W hen he saw them, Jacob said, “This is God’s army.” He called the name of that place Mahanaim.

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

3 J acob sent messengers in front of him to Esau, his brother, to the land of Seir, the field of Edom.

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

4 H e commanded them, saying, “This is what you shall tell my lord, Esau: ‘This is what your servant, Jacob, says. I have lived as a foreigner with Laban, and stayed until now.

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

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

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.’”

6 T he messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau. Not only that, but he comes to meet you, and four hundred men with him.”

The 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.”

7 T hen Jacob was greatly afraid and was distressed. He divided the people who were with him, and the flocks, and the herds, and the camels, into two companies;

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

8 a nd he said, “If Esau comes to the one company, and strikes it, then the company which is left will escape.”

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

9 J acob said, “God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, Yahweh, who said to me, ‘Return to your country, and to your relatives, and I will do you good,’

Then 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.’

10 I am not worthy of the least of all the loving kindnesses, and of all the truth, which you have shown to your servant; for with just my staff I crossed over this Jordan; and now I have become two companies.

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.

11 P lease deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he come and strike me, and the mothers with the children.

Save 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.

12 Y ou said, ‘I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which can’t be numbered because there are so many.’”

But 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.’”

13 H e stayed there that night, and took from that which he had with him, a present for Esau, his brother:

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

14 t wo hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams,

Two hundred female goats, twenty male goats, two hundred female sheep, twenty rams,

15 t hirty milk camels and their colts, forty cows, ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten foals.

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

16 H e delivered them into the hands of his servants, every herd by itself, and said to his servants, “Pass over before me, and put a space between herd and herd.”

He 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.”

17 H e commanded the foremost, saying, “When Esau, my brother, meets you, and asks you, saying, ‘Whose are you? Where are you going? Whose are these before you?’

He 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?’

18 T hen you shall say, ‘They are your servant, Jacob’s. It is a present sent to my lord, Esau. Behold, he also is behind us.’”

then you say, ‘These belong to your servant Jacob. It is a gift sent to my lord Esau. And he is coming behind us.’”

19 H e commanded also the second, and the third, and all that followed the herds, saying, “This is how you shall speak to Esau, when you find him.

He 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.

20 Y ou shall say, ‘Not only that, but 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.”

And 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.”

21 S o the present passed over before him, and he himself stayed that night in the camp.

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

22 H e rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed over the ford of the Jabbok.

But 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.

23 H e took them, and sent them over the stream, and sent over that which he had.

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

24 J acob was left alone, and wrestled with a man there until the breaking of the day.

Then Jacob was left alone. And a man fought with him until morning.

25 W hen he saw that he didn’t prevail against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh, and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was strained, as he wrestled.

When 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.

26 T he man said, “Let me go, for the day breaks.” Jacob said, “I won’t let you go, unless you bless me.”

The 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.”

27 H e said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob”.

The man asked him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob.”

28 H e said, “Your name will no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have fought with God and with men, and have prevailed.”

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

29 J acob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” He said, “Why is it that you ask what my name is?” He blessed him there.

Then 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.

30 J acob called the name of the place Peniel: for, he said, “I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”

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

31 T he sun rose on him as he passed over Peniel, and he limped because of his thigh.

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

32 T herefore the children of Israel don’t eat the sinew of the hip, which is on the hollow of the thigh, to this day, because he touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh in the sinew of the hip.

So 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.