"And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day." (Genesis 32:24)

The root of the word "wrestle" "centers on the idea of turning, in some cases also bending, winding, or twisting" ("The Roots of English").

The principal definition of wrestle is to "strive with strength and skill to throw a person to the ground by grappling with him." Other definitions include, "to strive or labor with or against difficulties, circumstances, forces, or personal feelings, especially to obtain mastery, superiority, or advantage." Wrestle is also defined as "to strive earnestly with God in prayer" (Oxford English Dictionary).

During the evening before Jacob is to meet his brother Esau, he finds himself alone. What follows is a strange, yet awesome encounter. Though many of the details of this experience are murky, it is clear that Jacob wrestles with a type of messenger.

This is no ordinary wrestling match. And it appears to have been accompanied by a divine manifestation. In this wrestle, Jacob refused to let his assailant go "except thou bless me." In response to this request, the messenger asks Jacob, "What is thy name? And he said, Jacob." The messenger then gives Jacob a new name, "Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed." Jacob then asks the messenger what his name is and the messenger said, "Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved" (Genesis 32:24-32). Later, when Jacob is blessing Joseph and his sons Ephraim and Manasseh, he refers to this incident and "the Angel which redeemed me from all evil" (Genesis 48:16).

Numerous Jewish scholars have commented on this passage and there is substantial disagreement among them on the meaning of Jacob's divine encounter. One commentator, Nehama Leibowitz, calls this passage a "mystery-shrouded narrative." Central to the episode is the change in Jacob's name, though there is substantial disagreement as to the definition of the word "Israel." Speiser notes that "the question about Jacob's name is rhetorical. The object is to contrast the old name with the new and thereby mark the change in Jacob's status."

Nahum Sarna believes that we can't fully understand the word "Israel," but it is more likely to include the idea that "God strives," not "he strives with God." Sarna notes other commentators who believe "Israel" means "he who is upright with God," or that it simply means "the man who saw a divine being."

Next week: What really happened at Peniel.

Joseph A. Cannon is editor of the Deseret News.