Genesis 32

All 32 verses in the Clear Bible Translation. Tap a verse to compare the KJV and read what it means.

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1. 1Jacob continued on his journey, and angels of God encountered him.
2. 2When Jacob saw them, he said, "This is God's camp!" So he named that place Mahanaim.
3. 3Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the region of Edom.
4. 4He instructed them, "Say this to my lord Esau: Your servant Jacob says, 'I have been living with Laban and have remained there until now.
5. 5I own oxen, donkeys, flocks, and male and female servants. I am sending word to my lord, hoping to find grace in your eyes.'"
6. 6The messengers came back to Jacob and reported, "We went to your brother Esau, and he is already on his way to meet you with four hundred men."
7. 7Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed. He split the people who were with him, along with the flocks, herds, and camels, into two groups.
8. 8He thought, "If Esau attacks one group, the remaining group can get away."
9. 9Then Jacob prayed, "O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac — LORD, you told me, 'Go back to your homeland and your relatives, and I will treat you well.'
10. 10I am not worthy of the smallest portion of all the mercies and all the faithfulness you have shown your servant. When I crossed this Jordan, I had nothing but my staff, and now I have grown into two groups.
11. 11Please rescue me from my brother, from Esau, because I am afraid he will come and attack me, along with the mothers and their children.
12. 12But you promised, 'I will certainly be good to you, and I will make your descendants as numerous as the sand of the sea, too many to count.'"
13. 13He spent that night there and selected a gift for his brother Esau from what he had with him:
14. 14two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams,
15. 15thirty nursing camels with their young, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten foals.
16. 16He placed them in the care of his servants, each herd in a separate group, and told his servants, "Go ahead of me, and keep some distance between each herd."
17. 17He gave instructions to the one leading the first group: "When my brother Esau meets you and asks, 'Who is your master? Where are you going? And who owns these animals ahead of you?'
18. 18you should answer, 'They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a gift sent to my lord Esau. And Jacob himself is right behind us.'"
19. 19He gave the same instructions to the second group, the third, and everyone following the herds, saying, "This is exactly what you should tell Esau when you come across him."
20. 20"Also be sure to say, 'Your servant Jacob is coming behind us.'" For Jacob thought, "I will calm his anger with these gifts that go before me, and when I finally meet him face to face, perhaps he will receive me favorably."
21. 21So the gifts were sent on ahead, while Jacob himself stayed in the camp that night.
22. 22During the night he got up and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed at the ford of Jabbok.
23. 23After sending them across the stream, he also sent everything else he owned across.
24. 24Jacob was left by himself, and a man wrestled with him until dawn began to break.
25. 25When the man realized he could not overpower Jacob, he struck the socket of Jacob's hip, and Jacob's hip was wrenched out of its joint as they struggled.
26. 26The man said, "Release me, because daylight is coming." But Jacob replied, "I will not release you unless you bless me."
27. 27The man asked him, "What is your name?" He answered, "Jacob."
28. 28Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob but Israel, because like a prince you have power with God and with men and have prevailed."
29. 29Jacob said to him, "Please tell me your name." But he replied, "Why do you ask for my name?" Then he blessed Jacob there.
30. 30Jacob named that place Peniel, saying, "I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been spared."
31. 31The sun rose as he passed beyond Penuel, and he was limping because of his hip.
32. 32For this reason, to this day the children of Israel do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the man struck the socket of Jacob's hip at that tendon.