Genesis 32:31Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Douay-RheimsHebrew (Masoretic text)

And immediately the sun rose upon him, after he was past Phanuel; but he halted on his foot.
Douay-Rheims

וַיִּקְרָ֧א יַעֲקֹ֛ב שֵׁ֥ם הַמָּק֖וֹם פְּנִיאֵ֑ל כִּֽי־רָאִ֤יתִי אֱלֹהִים֙ פָּנִ֣ים אֶל־פָּנִ֔ים וַתִּנָּצֵ֖ל נַפְשִֽׁי׃
Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

One Church Father comments on this verse

Nikolaj Velimirovic

20th centuryChurch Father

The God of Abraham and Isaac is also the God of Jacob the faithful, the obedient, the merciful, and the humble. One can say that Jacob was a humble man who had seen God; for he was truly humble, and he saw God, he spoke with God, he saw the angels of God and the ladder that leads from earth to heaven.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.

2 Cor 12:7And lest the greatness of the revelations should exalt me, there was given me a sting of my flesh, an angel of Satan, to buffet me.
Gen 32:25And when he saw that he could not overcome him, he touched the sinew of his thigh, and forthwith it shrank.
Gen 19:15And when it was morning, the angels pressed him, saying: Arise, take thy wife, and the two daughters that thou hast: lest thou also perish in the wickedness of the city.
2 Cor 12:9And he said to me: My grace is sufficient for thee: for power is made perfect in infirmity. Gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
Gen 19:23The sun was risen upon the earth, and Lot entered into Segor.
Ps 38 (37):17
Judg 8:8And going up from thence, he came to Phanuel: and he spoke the like things to the men of that place. And they also answered him, as the men of Soccoth had answered.
Mal 4:2But unto you that fear my name, the Sun of justice shall arise, and health in his wings: and you shall go forth, and shall leap like calves of the herd.