“Jacob asked and said: Tell me, please, your name. He said: Why is it that you ask after my name? And he blessed him there” (Genesis 32:30). “Jacob asked and said: Tell me, please, your name” – Rav said in the name of Rabbi Yosei bar Dostai: One verse says: “He sets a number for the stars, and calls them [all] by names [shemot]” (Psalms 147:4), and one verse says: “He who brings out their host by number, calling all of them by name [beshem]” (Isaiah 40:26).
Rather, it teaches that there is change there.11At any given time there is one name, but the names change over time, which is reflected in the plural word “names.” The name that he is called now is unlike the name that he will be called after time, as it is stated: “The angel of the Lord said to him: Why do you ask my name? It is unknown [peli]” (Judges 13:18) – I do not know to what name I will be changed.