The Meaning of Genesis 32:31 Explained

Genesis 32:31

KJV: And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh.

YLT: and the sun riseth on him when he hath passed over Penuel, and he is halting on his thigh;

Darby: And as he passed over Peniel, the sun rose upon him; and he limped upon his hip.

ASV: And the sun rose upon him as he passed over Penuel, and he limped upon his thigh.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And as he passed over  Penuel  the sun  rose  upon him, and he halted  upon his thigh. 

What does Genesis 32:31 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 32:31 mean?

And rose on him the sun just as he crossed over - Penuel and he limped on his hip
וַיִּֽזְרַֽח־ ל֣וֹ הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר עָבַ֖ר אֶת־ פְּנוּאֵ֑ל וְה֥וּא צֹלֵ֖עַ עַל־ יְרֵכֽוֹ

וַיִּֽזְרַֽח־  And  rose 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: זָרַח  
Sense: to rise, come forth, break out, arise, rise up, shine.
ל֣וֹ  on  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ  the  sun 
Parse: Article, Noun, common singular
Root: שֶׁמֶשׁ  
Sense: sun.
כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר  just  as 
Parse: Preposition-k, Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
עָבַ֖ר  he  crossed  over 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָבַר 
Sense: to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
פְּנוּאֵ֑ל  Penuel 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: פְּנוּאֵל 
Sense: a Benjamite, son of Shashak, brother of Iphedeiah of the family of Saul.
וְה֥וּא  and  he 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, third person masculine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
צֹלֵ֖עַ  limped 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: צָלַע  
Sense: to limp, be lame.
יְרֵכֽוֹ  his  hip 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: יָרֵךְ  
Sense: thigh, side, loin, base.