Jacob Prepares to Meet Esau

1  וְיַעֲקֹ֖ב (And Jacob) הָלַ֣ךְ (went) לְדַרְכּ֑וֹ (on his way), וַיִּפְגְּעוּ־ (and met) ב֖וֹ (him) מַלְאֲכֵ֥י (the angels) אֱלֹהִֽים׃ (of God). 2  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) יַעֲקֹב֙ (Jacob) כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר (when) רָאָ֔ם (he saw them), מַחֲנֵ֥ה (The camp) אֱלֹהִ֖ים (of God) זֶ֑ה (this is). וַיִּקְרָ֛א (And he called) שֵֽׁם־ (the name) הַמָּק֥וֹם (of place) הַה֖וּא (that) מַֽחֲנָֽיִם׃פ (Mahanaim).

3  וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח (And sent) יַעֲקֹ֤ב (Jacob) מַלְאָכִים֙ (messengers) לְפָנָ֔יו (before him) אֶל־ (to) עֵשָׂ֖ו (Esau) אָחִ֑יו (his brother) אַ֥רְצָה (to the land) שֵׂעִ֖יר (of Seir), שְׂדֵ֥ה (the field) אֱדֽוֹם׃ (of Edom). 4  וַיְצַ֤ו (And he commanded) אֹתָם֙ (them), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), כֹּ֣ה (Thus) תֹאמְר֔וּן (you⁺ shall say) לַֽאדֹנִ֖י (to my lord) לְעֵשָׂ֑ו (to Esau), כֹּ֤ה (thus) אָמַר֙ (says) עַבְדְּךָ֣ (your servant) יַעֲקֹ֔ב (Jacob): עִם־ (With) לָבָ֣ן (Laban) גַּ֔רְתִּי (I have sojourned) וָאֵחַ֖ר (and I have delayed) עַד־ (until) עָֽתָּה׃ (now). 5  וַֽיְהִי־ (And have) לִי֙ (I) שׁ֣וֹר (oxen) וַחֲמ֔וֹר (and donkeys), צֹ֖אן (flock) וְעֶ֣בֶד (and menservants), וְשִׁפְחָ֑ה (and maidservants); וָֽאֶשְׁלְחָה֙ (and I have sent) לְהַגִּ֣יד (to declare) לַֽאדֹנִ֔י (to my lord), לִמְצֹא־ (to find) חֵ֖ן (favor) בְּעֵינֶֽיךָ׃ (in your eyes).

6  וַיָּשֻׁ֙בוּ֙ (And returned) הַמַּלְאָכִ֔ים (the messengers) אֶֽל־ (to) יַעֲקֹ֖ב (Jacob), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), בָּ֤אנוּ (We came) אֶל־ (to) אָחִ֙יךָ֙ (your brother) אֶל־ (to) עֵשָׂ֔ו (Esau), וְגַם֙ (and also) הֹלֵ֣ךְ (he is coming) לִקְרָֽאתְךָ֔ (to meet you), וְאַרְבַּע־ (and four) מֵא֥וֹת (hundred) אִ֖ישׁ (men are) עִמּֽוֹ׃ (with him).

7  וַיִּירָ֧א (And was afraid) יַעֲקֹ֛ב (Jacob) מְאֹ֖ד (greatly) וַיֵּ֣צֶר (and was distressed). ל֑וֹ () וַיַּ֜חַץ (and he divided) אֶת־ () הָעָ֣ם (the people) אֲשֶׁר־ (who were) אִתּ֗וֹ (with him) וְאֶת־ (and) הַצֹּ֧אן (the flock) וְאֶת־ (and) הַבָּקָ֛ר (the cattle) וְהַגְּמַלִּ֖ים (and the camels) לִשְׁנֵ֥י (into two) מַחֲנֽוֹת׃ (camps), 8  וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (and he said), אִם־ (If) יָב֥וֹא (comes) עֵשָׂ֛ו (Esau) אֶל־ (to) הַמַּחֲנֶ֥ה (camp) הָאַחַ֖ת (the one) וְהִכָּ֑הוּ (and strikes it), וְהָיָ֛ה (then shall be) הַמַּחֲנֶ֥ה (the camp) הַנִּשְׁאָ֖ר (remaining) לִפְלֵיטָֽה׃ (for an escape).

9  וַיֹּאמֶר֮ (And said), יַעֲקֹב֒ (Jacob) אֱלֹהֵי֙ (O God) אָבִ֣י (of my father) אַבְרָהָ֔ם (Abraham), וֵאלֹהֵ֖י (and God) אָבִ֣י (of my father) יִצְחָ֑ק (Isaac), יְהוָ֞ה (YHWH) הָאֹמֵ֣ר (the One saying) אֵלַ֗י (to me), שׁ֧וּב (Return) לְאַרְצְךָ֛ (to your land), וּלְמוֹלַדְתְּךָ֖ (and to your kindred), וְאֵיטִ֥יבָה (and I will do good) עִמָּֽךְ׃ (with you). 10  קָטֹ֜נְתִּי (I am not worthy) מִכֹּ֤ל (of all) הַחֲסָדִים֙ (the kindnesses) וּמִכָּל־ (and of all) הָ֣אֱמֶ֔ת (the faithfulness) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) עָשִׂ֖יתָ (You have done) אֶת־ (for) עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ (Your servant). כִּ֣י (For) בְמַקְלִ֗י (with my staff) עָבַ֙רְתִּי֙ (I passed over) אֶת־ () הַיַּרְדֵּ֣ן (the Jordan) הַזֶּ֔ה (this), וְעַתָּ֥ה (and now) הָיִ֖יתִי (I have become) לִשְׁנֵ֥י (two) מַחֲנֽוֹת׃ (camps). 11  הַצִּילֵ֥נִי (Deliver me) נָ֛א (please), מִיַּ֥ד (from the hand) אָחִ֖י (of my brother), מִיַּ֣ד (from the hand) עֵשָׂ֑ו (of Esau). כִּֽי־ (For) יָרֵ֤א (fear) אָנֹכִי֙ (I) אֹת֔וֹ (him), פֶּן־ (lest) יָב֣וֹא (he come) וְהִכַּ֔נִי (and strike me) אֵ֖ם (mother) עַל־ (with) בָּנִֽים׃ (sons). 12  וְאַתָּ֣ה (And You) אָמַ֔רְתָּ (said), הֵיטֵ֥ב (Doing good) אֵיטִ֖יב (I will do good) עִמָּ֑ךְ (with you) וְשַׂמְתִּ֤י (and I will make) אֶֽת־ () זַרְעֲךָ֙ (your seed) כְּח֣וֹל (as the sand) הַיָּ֔ם (of the sea), אֲשֶׁ֥ר (which) לֹא־ (not) יִסָּפֵ֖ר (shall be counted) מֵרֹֽב׃ (for multitude).

13  וַיָּ֥לֶן (And he lodged) שָׁ֖ם (there) בַּלַּ֣יְלָה (the night) הַה֑וּא (that), וַיִּקַּ֞ח (and he took) מִן־ (from) הַבָּ֧א (what is coming) בְיָד֛וֹ (into his hand) מִנְחָ֖ה (as a gift) לְעֵשָׂ֥ו (for Esau) אָחִֽיו׃ (his brother): 14  עִזִּ֣ים (Female goats) מָאתַ֔יִם (two hundred) וּתְיָשִׁ֖ים (and male goats) עֶשְׂרִ֑ים (twenty), רְחֵלִ֥ים (ewes) מָאתַ֖יִם (two hundred) וְאֵילִ֥ים (and rams) עֶשְׂרִֽים׃ (twenty). 15  גְּמַלִּ֧ים (Camels) מֵינִיק֛וֹת (nursing) וּבְנֵיהֶ֖ם (and their young) שְׁלֹשִׁ֑ים (thirty), פָּר֤וֹת (cows) אַרְבָּעִים֙ (forty), וּפָרִ֣ים (and bulls) עֲשָׂרָ֔ה (ten), אֲתֹנֹ֣ת (female donkeys) עֶשְׂרִ֔ים (twenty), וַעְיָרִ֖ם (and male donkeys) עֲשָׂרָֽה׃ (ten). 16  וַיִּתֵּן֙ (And he gave them) בְּיַד־ (into the hand) עֲבָדָ֔יו (of his servants), עֵ֥דֶר (every) עֵ֖דֶר (herd) לְבַדּ֑וֹ (by itself), וַ֤יֹּאמֶר (and he said) אֶל־ (to) עֲבָדָיו֙ (his servants), עִבְר֣וּ (Pass over) לְפָנַ֔י (before me), וְרֶ֣וַח (and some distance) תָּשִׂ֔ימוּ (put) בֵּ֥ין (between) עֵ֖דֶר (herd) וּבֵ֥ין (and between) עֵֽדֶר׃ (herd).

17  וַיְצַ֥ו (And he commanded) אֶת־ () הָרִאשׁ֖וֹן (the first one), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), כִּ֣י (When) יִֽפְגָּשְׁךָ֞ (meets you) עֵשָׂ֣ו (Esau) אָחִ֗י (my brother) וִשְׁאֵֽלְךָ֙ (and asks you), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), לְמִי־ (To whom) אַ֙תָּה֙ (are you)? וְאָ֣נָה (And where) תֵלֵ֔ךְ (are you going)? וּלְמִ֖י (And to whom are) אֵ֥לֶּה (these) לְפָנֶֽיךָ׃ (before you)? 18  וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֙ (And you shall say), לְעַבְדְּךָ֣ (To your servant) לְיַעֲקֹ֔ב (Jacob); מִנְחָ֥ה (a gift) הִוא֙ (it is), שְׁלוּחָ֔ה (sent) לַֽאדֹנִ֖י (to my lord) לְעֵשָׂ֑ו (to Esau). וְהִנֵּ֥ה (And behold), גַם־ (also) ה֖וּא (he is) אַחֲרֵֽינוּ׃ (behind us).

19  וַיְצַ֞ו (And he commanded) גַּ֣ם (also) אֶת־ () הַשֵּׁנִ֗י (the second), גַּ֚ם (also) אֶת־ () הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֔י (the third) גַּ֚ם (also) אֶת־ () כָּל־ (all) הַהֹ֣לְכִ֔ים (those going) אַחֲרֵ֥י (after) הָעֲדָרִ֖ים (the herds), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), כַּדָּבָ֤ר (In the manner) הַזֶּה֙ (this) תְּדַבְּר֣וּן (you⁺ shall speak) אֶל־ (to) עֵשָׂ֔ו (Esau), בְּמֹצַאֲכֶ֖ם (when you⁺ find) אֹתֽוֹ׃ (him). 20  וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֕ם (And you⁺ shall say) גַּ֗ם (also), הִנֵּ֛ה (Behold), עַבְדְּךָ֥ (your servant) יַעֲקֹ֖ב (Jacob is) אַחֲרֵ֑ינוּ (behind us). כִּֽי־ (For) אָמַ֞ר (he said), אֲכַפְּרָ֣ה (I will cover) פָנָ֗יו (his face) בַּמִּנְחָה֙ (with the gift) הַהֹלֶ֣כֶת (that goes) לְפָנָ֔י (before my face), וְאַחֲרֵי־ (and after) כֵן֙ (that) אֶרְאֶ֣ה (I will see) פָנָ֔יו (his face); אוּלַ֖י (perhaps) יִשָּׂ֥א (he will lift up) פָנָֽי׃ (my face).

21  וַתַּעֲבֹ֥ר (And passed over) הַמִּנְחָ֖ה (the gift) עַל־ (before) פָּנָ֑יו (his face), וְה֛וּא (and he) לָ֥ן (lodged) בַּלַּֽיְלָה־ (the night) הַה֖וּא (that) בַּֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃ (in the camp).

Jacob Wrestles with God

22  וַיָּ֣קָם׀ (And he rose) בַּלַּ֣יְלָה (the night) ה֗וּא (that), וַיִּקַּ֞ח (and he took) אֶת־ () שְׁתֵּ֤י (two) נָשָׁיו֙ (his wives), וְאֶת־ (and) שְׁתֵּ֣י (two) שִׁפְחֹתָ֔יו (his maidservants), וְאֶת־ (and) אַחַ֥ד (one) עָשָׂ֖ר (and ten) יְלָדָ֑יו (his sons), וַֽיַּעֲבֹ֔ר (and he passed over) אֵ֖ת () מַעֲבַ֥ר (the ford) יַבֹּֽק׃ (of Jabbok). 23  וַיִּקָּחֵ֔ם (And he took them) וַיַּֽעֲבִרֵ֖ם (and caused them to pass over) אֶת־ () הַנָּ֑חַל (the stream), וַֽיַּעֲבֵ֖ר (and he caused to pass over) אֶת־ () אֲשֶׁר־ (what) לוֹ׃ (belonged to him).

24  וַיִּוָּתֵ֥ר (And was left) יַעֲקֹ֖ב (Jacob) לְבַדּ֑וֹ (alone), וַיֵּאָבֵ֥ק (and wrestled) אִישׁ֙ (a man) עִמּ֔וֹ (with him) עַ֖ד (until) עֲל֥וֹת (the breaking) הַשָּֽׁחַר׃ (of the dawn). 25  וַיַּ֗רְא (And he saw) כִּ֣י (that) לֹ֤א (not) יָכֹל֙ (he did prevail) ל֔וֹ (against him), וַיִּגַּ֖ע (and he touched) בְּכַף־ (the socket) יְרֵכ֑וֹ (of his hip). וַתֵּ֙קַע֙ (And was out of joint) כַּף־ (the socket) יֶ֣רֶךְ (of the hip) יַעֲקֹ֔ב (of Jacob) בְּהֵֽאָבְק֖וֹ (as he wrestled) עִמּֽוֹ׃ (with him). 26  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And he said), שַׁלְּחֵ֔נִי (Let Me go), כִּ֥י (for) עָלָ֖ה (has broken) הַשָּׁ֑חַר (the day).

וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (And he said), לֹ֣א (Not) אֲשַֽׁלֵּחֲךָ֔ (I will send you away), כִּ֖י (unless) אִם־ () בֵּרַכְתָּֽנִי׃ (you bless me).

27  וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (And he said) אֵלָ֖יו (to him), מַה־ (What is) שְּׁמֶ֑ךָ (your name)?

וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (And he said), יַעֲקֹֽב׃ (Jacob).

28  וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (And he said), לֹ֤א (No) יַעֲקֹב֙ (Jacob) יֵאָמֵ֥ר (shall be called) עוֹד֙ (longer) שִׁמְךָ֔ (your name), כִּ֖י () אִם־ (but) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (Israel); כִּֽי־ (for) שָׂרִ֧יתָ (you have striven) עִם־ (with) אֱלֹהִ֛ים (God) וְעִם־ (and with) אֲנָשִׁ֖ים (men), וַתּוּכָֽל׃ (and you have prevailed).

29  וַיִּשְׁאַ֣ל (And asked) יַעֲקֹ֗ב (Jacob) וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (and said), הַגִּֽידָה־ (Tell me), נָּ֣א (please), שְׁמֶ֔ךָ (Your name).

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (And he said), לָ֥מָּה (Why) זֶּ֖ה (this) תִּשְׁאַ֣ל (do you ask) לִשְׁמִ֑י (about My name)? וַיְבָ֥רֶךְ (And he blessed) אֹת֖וֹ (him) שָֽׁם׃ (there).

30  וַיִּקְרָ֧א (And called) יַעֲקֹ֛ב (Jacob) שֵׁ֥ם (the name) הַמָּק֖וֹם (of the place) פְּנִיאֵ֑ל (Peniel), כִּֽי־ (For) רָאִ֤יתִי (I have seen) אֱלֹהִים֙ (God) פָּנִ֣ים (face) אֶל־ (to) פָּנִ֔ים (face), וַתִּנָּצֵ֖ל (and has been delivered) נַפְשִֽׁי׃ (my soul).

31  וַיִּֽזְרַֽח־ (And rose) ל֣וֹ (on him) הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ (the sun) כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר (as) עָבַ֖ר (he passed over) אֶת־ () פְּנוּאֵ֑ל (Penuel), וְה֥וּא (and he) צֹלֵ֖עַ (was limping) עַל־ (on) יְרֵכֽוֹ׃ (his hip). 32  עַל־ (Upon) כֵּ֡ן (thus) לֹֽא־ (not) יֹאכְל֨וּ (do eat) בְנֵֽי־ (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל (of Israel) אֶת־ () גִּ֣יד (the sinew) הַנָּשֶׁ֗ה (tendon) אֲשֶׁר֙ (which) עַל־ (is on) כַּ֣ף (the socket) הַיָּרֵ֔ךְ (of the hip) עַ֖ד (to) הַיּ֣וֹם (the day) הַזֶּ֑ה (this), כִּ֤י (because) נָגַע֙ (he touched) בְּכַף־ (the socket) יֶ֣רֶךְ (hip) יַעֲקֹ֔ב (of Jacob's) בְּגִ֖יד (in the sinew) הַנָּשֶֽׁה׃ (the tendon).