And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.

GENESIS 32:29KJV
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Genesis 32:29 (KJV)

What does Genesis 32:29 mean?

Genesis 32:29 describes Jacob asking the mysterious man he wrestled with to reveal his name, but the man does not answer directly and instead blesses Jacob at that place. The verse highlights a moment of mystery and blessing, where Jacob seeks to know more about the one he has encountered.

In this scene, Jacob has just spent the night wrestling with a figure who is often understood as a divine being or angel. After Jacob receives a new name, he asks for the other’s name, but the man responds with a question, not giving his name. The blessing that follows marks this as a significant spiritual encounter for Jacob, emphasizing the importance of the blessing over the identity of the blesser.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 32:29

  • שֵׁם (shem, "name"): This word means "name," but in Hebrew thought, a name often represents character, identity, or essence. Jacob’s request to know the man’s name is a request to understand who he truly is.
  • בָּרַךְ (barakh, "blessed"): This word means "to bless." The blessing given here is significant, showing approval or favor from the mysterious figure, even though his identity remains hidden.

Why Genesis 32:29 matters

  • Genesis 32:29 shows that Jacob’s encounter is not just physical but deeply spiritual, as he seeks to know the identity of the one who blesses him.
  • The refusal to reveal the name underlines the mysterious nature of God’s encounters with people in the Bible, where not everything is explained or revealed.
  • This verse connects to the larger story of Jacob’s transformation, as he moves from seeking control to receiving blessing and a new identity from God.

Where else these words appear

“it” Hebrew H2088 · used in 37 verses

  • Genesis 5:1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;
  • Exodus 13:8 And thou shalt shew thy son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the LORD did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt.
  • 1 Kings 17:24 And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth.