Genesis — Chapter 32

King James Version (KJV)

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Genesis 32:1 And Jacob went on his way, and the ^Rangels of God met him.

Genesis 32:2 And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is ^RGod’s host: and he called the name of that place ^TMahanaim.

Genesis 32:3 And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the ^Tcountry of Edom.

Genesis 32:4 And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak unto ^Rmy lord Esau; Thy servant Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there until now:

Genesis 32:5 And I ^Rhave oxen, and asses, flocks, and menservants, and womenservants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight.

Genesis 32:6 And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, ^Rand four hundred men with him.

Genesis 32:7 Then Jacob was ^Rgreatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands;

Genesis 32:8 And said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then ^Rthe other company which is left shall escape.

Genesis 32:9 And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee:

Genesis 32:10 ^TI am ^Rnot worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands.

Genesis 32:11 ^RDeliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother ^Twith the children.

Genesis 32:12 And ^Rthou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.

Genesis 32:13 And he lodged there that same night; and took of that which came to his hand a present for Esau his brother;

Genesis 32:14 Two hundred she goats, and twenty he goats, two hundred ewes, and twenty rams,

Genesis 32:15 Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and ten bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals.

Genesis 32:16 And he delivered them into the hand of his servants, every drove by themselves; and said unto his servants, Pass over before me, and put a ^Rspace betwixt drove and drove.

Genesis 32:17 And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my brother meeteth thee, and asketh thee, saying, Whose art thou? and whither goest thou? and whose are these before thee?

Genesis 32:18 Then thou shalt say, They be thy servant Jacob’s; it is a present sent unto my lord Esau: and, behold, also he is behind us.

Genesis 32:19 And so commanded he the second, and the third, and all that followed the droves, saying, On this manner shall ye speak unto Esau, when ye find him.

Genesis 32:20 And say ye moreover, Behold, thy servant Jacob is behind us. For he said, ^RI will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept ^Tof me.

Genesis 32:21 So went the present over before him: and himself lodged that night in the company.

Genesis 32:22 And he rose up that night, and took ^Rhis two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok.

Genesis 32:23 And he took them, and ^Tsent them over the brook, and sent over that he had.

Genesis 32:24 And Jacob was left alone; and there ^Rwrestled a man with him until the ^Tbreaking of the day.

Genesis 32:25 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 32:26 And he said, ^RLet me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

Genesis 32:27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.

Genesis 32:28 And he said, ^RThy name shall be called no more Jacob, but ^TIsrael: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

Genesis 32:29 And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, ^RWherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.

Genesis 32:30 And Jacob called the name of the place ^RTPeniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

Genesis 32:31 And as he passed over Penuel the sun ^Rrose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh.

Genesis 32:32 Therefore the children of Israel ^Reat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh in the sinew that shrank.

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📖 What We’re Reading

Genesis 32:1–8 — Jacob Fears Esau

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

Jacob encounters the angels of God and then learns that Esau is approaching with four hundred men. He divides his company as he prepares for the meeting.

Key Truth: Fear drives Jacob to prepare carefully and seek God.

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📖 What We’re Reading

Genesis 32:9–12 — Jacob Prays

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

Jacob humbly remembers God’s command and promises, acknowledges God’s mercies, and asks for deliverance from Esau.

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📖 What We’re Reading

Genesis 32:13–23 — Gifts Sent Before Jacob

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

Jacob sends carefully arranged gifts ahead to Esau while his family crosses the brook.

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📖 What We’re Reading

Genesis 32:24–32 — Jacob Wrestles and Is Named Israel

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

Jacob wrestles until daybreak, receives a blessing, and is given the name Israel.

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