Jacob Wrestles All Night by the River Yabbok

Genesis 32:25-33

And Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the dawn. And when he saw that he could not prevail against him, he touched the socket of his thigh, and the socket of Jacob's thigh was dislocated as he wrestled with him. And he said: Let me go, for the dawn has broken. And he said: I will not let you go unless you bless me. And he said to him: What is your name? And he said: Jacob. And he said: Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed. And Jacob asked and said: Tell me, please, your name. And he said: Why is it that you ask for my name? And he blessed him there. And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, for: I have seen God face to face, and my life was delivered. And the sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, and he was limping on his thigh. Therefore the children of Israel do not eat the sinew of the thigh-vein which is on the socket of the thigh, to this day, because he touched the socket of Jacob's thigh on the sinew of the thigh-vein.

Themes

Original Sources

  • Genesis 32:25-33

Biblical References