Was Jacob’s wrestling in Genesis a real fight, or a spiritual struggle?
~ Naomi A, Kochi
When Christ is in you, you are moved by the Holy Spirit, dead to the world, dead to Adam and the flesh, but alive in Christ and the Spirit. Without this inner crucifixion and resurrection, we remain as Jacob—wrestling in our strength, rather than yielding in Christ’s.
Thank you, Naomi. This is a spiritually rich and often misinterpreted passage. Was Jacob wrestling with a man or an angel? Or was something deeper—perhaps internal, spiritual, and broken—taking place? The answer becomes clear when we allow Scripture to interpret Scripture, especially when Genesis is compared with Hosea.
Key Scripture: #
“Then Jacob was left alone, and a Man came and wrestled with him until daybreak.”
— Genesis 32:24 (AMP)
At face value, this appears as a physical wrestling match. However, we must also examine Hosea 12, where the prophet provides inspired commentary on what occurred.
Hosea 12:3–4 (AMP) #
“In their mother’s womb he took his brother by the heel, and in his maturity he contended with God. Yes, he wrestled with the Angel [of the Lord] and prevailed; he wept [in repentance] and pleaded for His mercy.”
This brings light. What was described in Genesis as wrestling, Hosea describes as a contending, marked by weeping and pleading. So, yes, there was a divine encounter—but it was far more than a physical struggle. It was a travail of the soul.
Hebrew Insights #
| English Word | Hebrew Root | Meaning | Spiritual Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wrestled (Genesis 32:24) | אָבַק – āvaq | To grapple, entwine, struggle | Not merely physical but speaks of entangling and deep inward striving |
| Wept (Hosea 12:4) | בָּכָה – bakhah | To weep aloud, lament deeply | Jacob’s fight was tears and surrender, not pride and strength |
| Pleaded | חָנַן – chanan | To seek grace, entreat favour | He was not demanding — he was desperate for mercy |
What Was Happening? #
Jacob had come to the end of himself. His name (יַעֲקֹב – Ya’akov) means heel-grabber or supplanter—a man who always took what he wanted by his means. But now, faced with Esau and the consequences of his past, Jacob finally collapses into a broken and dependent state on God.
He wrestled—yes. But not with arrogance or muscle. He wept and pleaded. He was stripped, and in that night-long encounter, he died to “Jacob” and arose as Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵל – Yisra’el, “God prevails”).
Fulfilled in Christ #
This night of struggle is a shadow of what every true believer must face. Not a one-time prayer, but a total surrender. We do not “win” with God by overpowering Him, but by becoming weak in ourselves so His strength may prevail.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
— 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV)
Jacob’s new name symbolised a new nature — not self-made, but Spirit-birthed. And all this is only possible:
When Christ is in you, you are moved by the Holy Spirit, dead to the world, dead to Adam and the flesh, but alive in Christ and the Spirit. Without this inner crucifixion and resurrection, we remain as Jacob—wrestling in our strength, rather than yielding in Christ’s.
Hope this brings clarity, Naomi.
In Christ,
Shaliach.
