The Meaning of Genesis 32:25 Explained

Genesis 32:25

KJV: 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.

YLT: and he seeth that he is not able for him, and he cometh against the hollow of his thigh, and the hollow of Jacob's thigh is disjointed in his wrestling with him;

Darby: And when he saw that he did not prevail against him, he touched the joint of his thigh; and the joint of Jacob's thigh was dislocated as he wrestled with him.

ASV: 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 strained, as he wrestled with him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Genesis 32:25 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 32:13-32 - Jacob Wrestles And Prevails
There is a fulsomeness in Jacob's address to Esau, which sounds inconsistent with the noblest manhood and the firmest faith. Why should he speak of "my lord" Esau, and endeavor to appease his wrath with soft speeches and rich gifts? Evidently much had to be effected in his character before he could become one of the great spiritual forces of the world, and his supreme discipline came in that midnight wrestle. The Angel who wrestled with him could have been none other than the Son of man, who is also the Angel of the Covenant and Son of God. It was not that Jacob wrestled with the Angel, but that the Angel wrestled with him, as though to discover and reveal his weakness, and to constrain him to quit reliance on his own strength and to learn to cling with the tenacious grip of a lame man, who dare not let go, lest he fall to the earth. Ah, it is well to be even maimed, if through the withered thigh we may learn to lay hold on the everlasting strength of God, and learn His secret Name! [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 32:25 mean?

And when He saw that not He did prevail against him then He touched the socket of his hip and was out of joint the socket of the hip of Jacob as He wrestled with him
וַיַּ֗רְא כִּ֣י לֹ֤א יָכֹל֙ ל֔וֹ וַיִּגַּ֖ע בְּכַף־ יְרֵכ֑וֹ וַתֵּ֙קַע֙ כַּף־ יֶ֣רֶךְ יַעֲקֹ֔ב בְּהֵֽאָבְק֖וֹ עִמּֽוֹ

וַיַּ֗רְא  And  when  He  saw 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
כִּ֣י  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
יָכֹל֙  He  did  prevail 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָכֹל  
Sense: to prevail, overcome, endure, have power, be able.
ל֔וֹ  against  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
וַיִּגַּ֖ע  then  He  touched 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָגַע  
Sense: to touch, reach, strike.
בְּכַף־  the  socket 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: כַּף  
Sense: palm, hand, sole, palm of the hand, hollow or flat of the hand.
יְרֵכ֑וֹ  of  his  hip 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: יָרֵךְ  
Sense: thigh, side, loin, base.
וַתֵּ֙קַע֙  and  was  out  of  joint 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: יָקַע  
Sense: to be dislocated, be alienated.
כַּף־  the  socket 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: כַּף  
Sense: palm, hand, sole, palm of the hand, hollow or flat of the hand.
יֶ֣רֶךְ  of  the  hip 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: יָרֵךְ  
Sense: thigh, side, loin, base.
יַעֲקֹ֔ב  of  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.
בְּהֵֽאָבְק֖וֹ  as  He  wrestled 
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Nifal, Infinitive construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָבַק  
Sense: (Niphal) to wrestle, grapple (get dusty), bedust.
עִמּֽוֹ  with  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: עִם  
Sense: with.