Verse 1
Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.
Verse 2
When he saw them, Jacob said, "This is God's host." He called the name of that place Mahanaim.
Verse 3
Jacob sent messengers in front of him to Esau, his brother, to the land of Seir, the field of Edom.
Verse 4
He commanded them, saying, "This is what you shall tell my lord, Esau: 'This is what your servant, Jacob, says. I have lived as a foreigner with Laban, and stayed until now.
Verse 5
I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, men-servants, and maid-servants. I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find favor in your sight.'"
Verse 6
The messengers returned to Jacob, saying, "We came to your brother Esau. Not only that, but he comes to meet you, and four hundred men with him."
Verse 7
Then Jacob was greatly afraid and was distressed: and he divided the people who were with him, and the flocks, and the herds, and the camels, into two companies;
Verse 8
and he said, "If Esau comes to the one company, and strikes it, then the company which is left will escape."
Verse 9
Jacob said, "God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, Yahweh, who said to me, 'Return to your country, and to your relatives, and I will do you good.'
Verse 10
I am not worthy of the least of all the loving kindnesses, and of all the truth, which you have shown to your servant; for with just my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I have become two companies.
Verse 11
Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he come and strike me, and the mothers with the children.
Verse 12
You said, 'I will surely do you good, and make your seed as the sand of the sea, which can't be numbered because there are so many.'"
Verse 13
He lodged there that night, and took from that which he had with him, a present for Esau, his brother:
Verse 14
two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams,
Verse 15
thirty milk camels and their colts, forty cows, ten bulls, twenty she-donkeys and ten foals.
Verse 16
He delivered them into the hands of his servants, every herd by itself, and said to his servants, "Pass over before me, and put a space between herd and herd."
Verse 17
He commanded the foremost, saying, "When Esau, my brother, meets you, and asks you, saying, 'Whose are you? Where are you going? Whose are these before you?'
Verse 18
Then you shall say, 'They are your servant, Jacob's. It is a present sent to my lord, Esau. Behold, he also is behind us.'"
Verse 19
He commanded also the second, and the third, and all that followed the herds, saying, "This is how you shall speak to Esau, when you find him.
Verse 20
You shall say, 'Not only that, but behold, your servant, Jacob, is behind us.'" For, he said, "I will appease him with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face. Perhaps he will accept me."
Verse 21
So the present passed over before him: and he himself lodged that night in the camp.
Verse 22
He rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two handmaids, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford of the Jabbok.
Verse 23
He took them, and sent them over the stream, and sent over that which he had.
Verse 24
Jacob was left alone, and wrestled with a man there until the breaking of the day.
Verse 25
When he saw that he didn't prevail against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh, and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was strained, as he wrestled.
Verse 26
The man said, "Let me go, for the day breaks." Jacob said, "I won't let you go, unless you bless me."
Verse 27
He said to him, "What is your name?" He said, "Jacob."
Verse 28
He said, "Your name will no longer be called 'Jacob,' but, 'Israel,' for you have fought with God and with men, and have prevailed."
Verse 29
Jacob asked him, "Please tell me your name." He said, "Why is it that you ask what my name is?" He blessed him there.
Verse 30
Jacob called the name of the place Peniel{Peniel means "face of God."}: for, he said, "I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved."
Verse 31
The sun rose on him as he passed over Peniel, and he limped because of his thigh.
Verse 32
Therefore the children of Israel don't eat the sinew of the hip, which is on the hollow of the thigh, to this day, because he touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew of the hip.