The Meaning of Genesis 32:2 Explained

Genesis 32:2

KJV: And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.

YLT: and Jacob saith, when he hath seen them, 'This is the camp of God;' and he calleth the name of that place 'Two Camps.'

Darby: And when Jacob saw them he said, This is the camp of God. And he called the name of that place Mahanaim.

ASV: And Jacob said when he saw them, This is God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And when Jacob  saw them,  he said,  This [is] God's  host:  and he called  the name  of that place  Mahanaim. 

What does Genesis 32:2 Mean?

Study Notes

Mahanaim
i.e. two hosts, or bands -- the visible band, Jacob and his servants; the invisible band, God's angels. Cf. 2 Kings 6:13-17 .

Context Summary

Genesis 32:1-12 - Jacob Fears To Meet Esau
Before we encounter our Esaus we are sure to meet God's angels. If only our eyes are not holden we shall perceive them. The world is full of angel help! There are more for us than against us! The Captain of the Lord's hosts is as near us as He was to Joshua, and His squadrons await our cry. "Thinkest thou," said our Lord, "that I cannot beseech my Father, and He shall even now send more than twelve legions of angels!" In times of trial we betake ourselves to God, and are justified in claiming His protection, so long as we can show that we are on His plan and doing His will. It was the news brought by his messengers of Esau's approach that elicited from Jacob this marvelous prayer; but his prayer did not prevent him making what plans he could for the safety of his dear ones. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 32

1  Jacob's vision at Mahanaim
3  His message to Esau
6  He is afraid of Esau's coming
9  He prays for deliverance
13  He sends a present to Esau, and passes the brook Jabbok
24  He wrestles with an angel at Peniel, where he is called Israel
31  He halts

What do the individual words in Genesis 32:2 mean?

And said Jacob when saw them The camp of God this [is] and he called the name of place that Mahanaim -
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יַעֲקֹב֙ כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר רָאָ֔ם מַחֲנֵ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֖ים זֶ֑ה וַיִּקְרָ֛א שֵֽׁם־ הַמָּק֥וֹם הַה֖וּא מַֽחֲנָֽיִם פ

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר  And  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יַעֲקֹב֙  Jacob 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יַעֲקֹב  
Sense: son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the 2 patriarchs of the tribes of Israel.
רָאָ֔ם  saw  them 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine plural
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
מַחֲנֵ֥ה  The  camp 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct
Root: מַחֲנֶה  
Sense: encampment, camp.
אֱלֹהִ֖ים  of  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
זֶ֑ה  this  [is] 
Parse: Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
וַיִּקְרָ֛א  and  he  called 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.
שֵֽׁם־  the  name 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
הַמָּק֥וֹם  of  place 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָקֹום  
Sense: standing place, place.
הַה֖וּא  that 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, third person masculine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
מַֽחֲנָֽיִם  Mahanaim 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מַחֲנַיִם  
Sense: a place east of the Jordan, named from Jacob’s encounter with angels.
פ  - 
Parse: Punctuation