“He said to him: What is your name? He said: Jacob” (Genesis 32:28). “He said: No more shall Jacob be said to be your name; rather, Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and you have prevailed” (Genesis 32:29). “He said to him: ‘What is your name?’
He said: ‘Jacob.’ “He said: No more shall Jacob be said to be your name.” “Who confirms the word of His servant and fulfills the counsel of His messengers” (Isaiah 44:26) – Rabbi Berekhya said in the name of Rabbi Levi: Since He “confirms the word of His servant and fulfills the counsel of His messengers,” do we not know that it says: “Of Jerusalem: It will be inhabited; and of the cities of Judah: They will be built” (Isaiah 44:26)?6Namely, from the fact that the Lord fulfills the word of the angel who told Jacob that his name would be changed, we can learn that He will fulfill the word of His prophets who prophesied that Jerusalem would be inhabited. [It refers] to one angel who appeared to our patriarch Jacob.
That is what is written: “He said to him: What is your name.… No [more…] Jacob.” “And fulfills the counsel of His messengers” – as the Holy One blessed be He appeared to our patriarch Jacob in order to fulfill the decree of that angel that said to him: “No [more…] Jacob.” The Holy One blessed be He also said so to him. That is what is written: “God said to him: Your name is Jacob; [your name shall no longer be called Jacob]” (Genesis 35:10) – “no [more] shall Jacob be said.”
Bar Kappara said: Anyone who calls Abraham Abram violates a positive commandment. Rabbi Levi said: A positive commandment and a prohibition. “[Your name] shall no longer be called [Abram]” (Genesis 17:5) – a prohibition; “but your name shall be Abraham” (Genesis 17:5) – a positive commandment. And yet the members of the Great Assembly called him Abram, as it is written: “You are the Lord God who chose Abram…”?
It was relating a narrative and saying that while he was still Abram You chose him. Similarly, let us say that one who calls Sarah Sarai violates a positive command?7And according to Rabbi Levi a positive command and a prohibition (Genesis 17:15). It is, rather, that only he8Abraham. The verse states: “God said to Abraham…you shall not call her name Sarai.”
In the case of Abraham the verse stated “your name shall no longer be called Abram.” was commanded in her regard. Similarly, let us say that one who calls Israel Jacob violates a positive command? It is taught: It is not that the name of Jacob will be uprooted. Rather, “but Israel shall be your name” (Genesis 35:10) – Israel will be primary and Jacob secondary.
Rabbi Zechariah in the name of Rabbi Aḥa: In any case: Your name is Jacob… “but Israel shall be your name” (Genesis 35:10) – Jacob is primary, and Israel is in addition to it. “For you have striven with God and with men, and you have prevailed” – you have wrestled with the heavenly and prevailed over them, and with the earthly and prevailed over them. With the heavenly – this is the angel. Rabbi Ḥama bar Ḥanina said: He was Esau’s ministering angel.
This is what he said to him: “For therefore, I have seen your face, as the sight of the face of angels [penei elohim]” (Genesis 33:10). Just as penei elohim is judgment, so too, your face is judgment.9As it were, Esau is passing judgment on Jacob (see Bereshit Rabba 76:7). Just as penei elohim – “you shall not appear before Me [yera’u fanai] empty-handed” (Exodus 23:15), so too, you, I will not appear before you empty-handed.
With the earthly and you prevailed over them – this is Esau and his chieftains. Alternatively, “for you have striven with God” – it is you whose image is carved on High.10The image of man in the Throne of Glory.