Genesis 32:24

32:24 So Jacob was left alone. Then a man ¹  wrestled ²  with him until daybreak. ³ 

Genesis 32:30

32:30 So Jacob named the place Peniel, ⁴  explaining, ⁵  “Certainly ⁶  I have seen God face to face ⁷  and have survived.” ⁸ 

[32:24]  ¹ sn Reflecting Jacob’s perspective at the beginning of the encounter, the narrator calls the opponent simply “a man.” Not until later in the struggle does Jacob realize his true identity.

[32:24]  ² sn The verb translated “wrestled” (וַיֵּאָבֵק, vayye’aveq) sounds in Hebrew like the names “Jacob” (יַעֲקֹב, ya’aqov) and “Jabbok” (יַבֹּק, yabboq). In this way the narrator links the setting, the main action, and the main participant together in the mind of the reader or hearer.

[32:24]  ³ tn Heb “until the rising of the dawn.”

[32:30]  ⁴ sn The name Peniel means “face of God.” Since Jacob saw God face to face here, the name is appropriate.

[32:30]  ⁵ tn The word “explaining” is supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[32:30]  ⁶ tn Or “because.”

[32:30]  ⁷ sn I have seen God face to face. See the note on the name “Peniel” earlier in the verse.

[32:30]  ⁸ tn Heb “and my soul [= life] has been preserved.”