SEV Biblia, Chapter 32:24
¶ Y se quedó Jacob solo, y luchó con él un varón, hasta que el alba subía.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Genesis 32:24
Verse 24. And there wrestled a man with him] This was doubtless the Lord Jesus Christ, who, among the patriarchs, assumed that human form, which in the fullness of time he really took of a woman, and in which he dwelt thirty-three years among men. He is here styled an angel, because he was megalhv boulhv aggelov, (see the Septuagint, Isa. ix. 7,) the Messenger of the great counsel or design to redeem fallen man from death, and bring him to eternal glory; see chap. xvi. 7. But it may be asked, Had he here a real human body, or only its form? The latter, doubtless. How then could he wrestle with Jacob? It need not be supposed that this angel must have assumed a human body, or something analagous to it, in order to render himself tangible by Jacob; for as the soul operates on the body by the order of God, so could an angel operate on the body of Jacob during a whole night, and produce in his imagination, by the effect of his power, every requisite idea of corporeity, and in his nerves every sensation of substance, and yet no substantiality be in the case.
If angels, in appearing to men, borrow human bodies, as is thought, how can it be supposed that with such gross substances they can disappear in a moment? Certainly they do not take these bodies into the invisible world with them, and the established laws of matter and motion require a gradual disappearing, however swiftly it may be effected. But this is not allowed to be the case, and yet they are reported to vanish instantaneously. Then they must render themselves invisible by a cloud, and this must be of a very dense nature in order to hide a human body. But this very expedient would make their departure still more evident, as the cloud must be more dense and apparent than the body in order to hide it. This does not remove the difficulty. But if they assume a quantity of air or vapor so condensed as to become visible, and modified into the appearance of a human body, they can in a moment dilate and rarefy it, and so disappear; for when the vehicle is rarefied beyond the power of natural vision, as their own substance is invisible they can instantly vanish.
From Hos. xii. 4, we may learn that the wrestling of Jacob, mentioned in this place, was not merely a corporeal exercise, but also a spiritual one; He wept and made supplication unto him. See the notes there. See on ""Hos. xii. 4"".
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 24-32 - A great while before day, Jacob being alone, more fully spread his fears before God in prayer. While thus employed, One in the likeness of a man wrestled with him. When the spirit helpeth our infirmities, an our earnest and vast desires can scarcely find words to utter them, an we still mean more than we can express, then prayer is indeed wrestlin with God. However tried or discouraged, we shall prevail; an prevailing with Him in prayer, we shall prevail against all enemie that strive with us. Nothing requires more vigour and unceasin exertion than wrestling. It is an emblem of the true spirit of fait and prayer. Jacob kept his ground; though the struggle continued long this did not shake his faith, nor silence his prayer. He will have blessing, and had rather have all his bone put out of joint than go away without one. Those who would have the blessing of Christ, mus resolve to take no denial. The fervent prayer is the effectual prayer The Angel puts a lasting mark of honour upon him, by changing his name Jacob signifies a supplanter. From henceforth he shall be celebrated not for craft and artful management, but for true valour. Thou shalt be called Israel, a prince with God, a name greater than those of the great men of the earth. He is a prince indeed that is a prince with God; those are truly honourable that are mighty in prayer. Having powe with God, he shall have power with men too; he shall prevail, and gai Esau's favour. Jacob gives a new name to the place. He calls it Peniel the face of God, because there he had seen the appearance of God, an obtained the favour of God. It becomes those whom God honours, to admire his grace towards them. The Angel who wrestled with Jacob wa the second Person in the sacred Trinity, who was afterwards God manifest in the flesh, and who, dwelling in human nature, is calle Immanuel, Ho 12:4, 5. Jacob halted on his thigh. It might serve to kee him from being lifted up with the abundance of the revelations. The su rose on Jacob: it is sun-rise with that soul, which has had communio with God __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
ויותר 3498 יעקב 3290 לבדו 905 ויאבק 79 אישׁ 582 עמו 5973 עד 5704 עלות 5927 השׁחר׃ 7837
