The Meaning of Genesis 32:28 Explained

Genesis 32:28

KJV: And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

YLT: And he saith, 'Thy name is no more called Jacob, but Israel; for thou hast been a prince with God and with men, and dost prevail.'

Darby: And he said, Thy name shall not henceforth be called Jacob, but Israel; for thou hast wrestled with God, and with men, and hast prevailed.

ASV: And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for thou hast striven with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And he said,  Thy name  shall be called  no more Jacob,  but Israel:  for as a prince hast thou power  with God  and with men,  and hast prevailed. 

What does Genesis 32:28 Mean?

Study Notes

shall be no more called Jacob
Both names are applied to the nation descended from Jacob. When used characteristically "Jacob" is the name for the natural posterity of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; "Israel" for the spiritual part of the nation. See Isaiah 9:8 . The "word" was sent to all the people, "Jacob," but it "lighted upon Israel," i.e. was comprehended by the spiritual part of the people. See "Israel" Genesis 12:2 ; Genesis 12:3 .
.
Jacob
Summary: Israel, so named from the grandson of Abraham, was chosen for a fourfold mission:
(1) To witness to the unity of God in the midst of universal idolatry Deuteronomy 6:4 ; Isaiah 43:10 ; Isaiah 43:12
(2) to illustrate to the nations the blessedness of serving the true God Deuteronomy 33:26-29 ; 1 Chronicles 17:20 ; 1 Chronicles 17:21 ; Psalms 144:15 .
(3) to receive, preserve, and transmit the Scripture Deuteronomy 4:5-8 ; Romans 3:1 ; Romans 3:2 .
(4) to produce, as to His humanity, the Messiah Genesis 3:15 ; Genesis 12:3 ; Genesis 22:18 ; Genesis 28:10-14 ; Genesis 49:10 ; 2 Samuel 7:12-16 ; Isaiah 7:14 ; Isaiah 9:6 ; Matthew 1:1 ; Romans 1:3 . According to the prophets, Israel, regathered from all nations, restored to her own land and converted, is yet to have her greatest earthly exaltation and glory. See "Kingdom (O.T.)"; Genesis 1:26 ; Zechariah 12:8 .
(See Scofield " Zechariah 12:8 ") N.T. Luke 1:31-33 ; 1 Corinthians 15:24 .
"Davidic Covenant" (See Scofield " 2 Samuel 7:16 ") .
For Another Point of View: See Topic 301242

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 32:28 mean?

And He said not Jacob shall be called anymore Your name - but Israel for you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed
וַיֹּ֗אמֶר לֹ֤א יַעֲקֹב֙ יֵאָמֵ֥ר עוֹד֙ שִׁמְךָ֔ כִּ֖י אִם־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כִּֽי־ שָׂרִ֧יתָ עִם־ אֱלֹהִ֛ים וְעִם־ אֲנָשִׁ֖ים וַתּוּכָֽל

וַיֹּ֗אמֶר  And  He  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.
יֵאָמֵ֥ר  shall  be  called 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
עוֹד֙  anymore 
Parse: Adverb
Root: עֹוד  
Sense: a going round, continuance adv.
שִׁמְךָ֔  Your  name 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
כִּ֖י  - 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
שָׂרִ֧יתָ  you  have  struggled 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׂרָה  
Sense: contend, have power, contend with, persist, exert oneself, persevere.
אֱלֹהִ֛ים  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
וְעִם־  and  with 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: עִם  
Sense: with.
אֲנָשִׁ֖ים  men 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
וַתּוּכָֽל  and  have  prevailed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: יָכֹל  
Sense: to prevail, overcome, endure, have power, be able.