Read Genesis 32:3-33:17 at Bible Gateway.
the teaching tools of scripture
Hebrew paragraph divisions
Gen 32:3-33:17 {s} Jacob renamed Israel, “Upright of El”
Strong themes of the parashah
None in this parashah
Gen 32:3-33:17 chiastic structure
1a) Gen 32:3-5, Jacob sent messengers to Esau in Seir;
1b) Gen 32:6-21, Jacob’s fear + precaution + prayer + present;
1) Gen 32:6-7a, Esau coming with 400 men + Jacob was greatly afraid;
2) Gen 32:7b-8, He divided his household into two companies as a precaution;
3) Gen 32:9-12, Jacob’s prayer for deliverance;
4) Gen 32:13-21, Jacob’s present for Esau;
1a) Gen 32:13a, So he lodged there that same night;
1b) Gen 32:13b, And took what came to his hand as a present for Esau his brother;
central axis) Gen 32:14-20, Flocks and herds sent hoping to appease him, so that perhaps he will accept him;
2b) Gen 32:21a, So the present went on over before him;
2a) Gen 32:21b, But he himself lodged that night in the camp;
1c) Gen 32:22-25, He sent his household over the brook + a Man wrestled with him + the socket of his hip;
1) Gen 32:22-23, He sent his household over the brook;
2) Gen 32:24, Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day;
3) Gen 32:25, He put the socket of Jacob’s hip out of joint as He wrestled with him;
1d) Gen 32:26, Jacob said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me;”
1e) Gen 32:27, So He said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob;”
central axis) Gen 32:28, And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed;”
2e) Gen 32:29a, Jacob asked His name, and He said, “Why is it that you ask about My name;”
2d) Gen 32:29b, And He blessed him there;
2c) Gen 32:30-32, I have seen God face to face + he crossed over Penuel + the socket of his hip;
2) Gen 32:30, “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved;”
1) Gen 32:31a, Just as he crossed over Penuel the sun rose on him;
3) Gen 32:31b-32, He limped on his hip, because He touched the socket of his hip;
2b) Gen 33:1-11, Jacob’s fear + precaution + prayer answered + present accepted;
1) Gen 33:1a, Jacob lifted his eyes, and Esau was coming with 400 hundred men;
2) Gen 33:1b-3, He divided his household + crossed over before them until he came near to his brother;
3) Gen 33:4-7, Jacob’s prayer answered as Esau embraced him;
4) Gen 33:8-11, Jacob’s present accepted;
2a) Gen 33:12-17 {s} Esau returned that day on his way to Seir.
Theme of the parashah
Jacob renamed Israel, “Upright of El” (Jacob’s new man identity)
Finding Messiah in Torah
In the C pair of the chiastic structure, we see that these two Scriptures are a paired element:
Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Gen 32:24
So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” Gen 32:30
Who did Jacob wrestle with, Man or God? It is God and Man, a preincarnate appearance of the Lord Yeshua haMashiach. These are the places in the Torah that taught the apostles and Paul, what the doctrines of the nature of Messiah Yeshua were.
Studies relevant to this parashah
jacob’s night of indecision
the deity of messiah, parts one, two, three, four, five
Additional readings for this parashah
Psa 27 (my notes) | Oba 1 (my notes) | Jam 1 (my notes)
Further study off site
Israel: Hebrew word study – Brad Scott
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