What does Genesis 32:23 mean?
Jacob has enacted a plan to send gifts to his estranged brother, Esau (Genesis 32:13–21). Instead of waiting for daylight, Jacob has gathered his wives and children and crossed the Jabbok River in the middle of the night to head in the direction of his approaching brother Esau. In fact, this verse reveals, that Jacob sent everything he had left in the camp across the river. Everything was packed up and moved out.This verse adds some important details to the story. Jacob, either did not cross the river himself, or crossed back over to the other side. In either case, he remained behind alone. Scripture does not give an explicit reason for this decision. Perhaps Jacob intended to pray alone. Perhaps he just wanted to be alone for a while. It's also possible that Jacob saw the stranger, mentioned in the next verse, and sensed that a confrontation was imminent. In any case, this passage is clear that Jacob, and Jacob alone, will be present for the next series of events.
Genesis 32:22–32 describes the fight Jacob was not expecting. While preparing in fear to meet his brother Esau, Jacob finds himself grappling with an unknown stranger in the dark. He wrestles with the mysterious man for much of the night. Near morning, the man gains a massive advantage over Jacob by dislocating Jacob's hip. Jacob realizes his opponent is divine, and asks for a blessing. Poetically, God insists that Jacob, known for his deception and lies, identify himself first. In response to Jacob's honest answer, God changes his name to Israel and blesses him. As the sun rises, Jacob limps to rejoin his family and meet his brother.
As Jacob turns from Laban and returns to his own country, he must face another fearful potential conflict. His twin brother Esau is coming with 400 men. Jacob fears this group approaches to take revenge for cheating Esau out of the family blessing 20 years earlier. Jacob is so afraid that he splits his company into two camps, even as he prays for deliverance. He also prepares an enormous gift to appease Esau. Finally, while alone in the dark, Jacob is unexpectedly forced to wrestle a mysterious man, who turns out to be God Himself in some manifested form. In a profound moment of symbolism, God forces Jacob to state his own name, which God then changes to Israel.
