File:Jacob-and-the-Angel-at-peniel-001.jpg

Summary
Genesis 32:24-25

32:24. He remained alone; and behold, a man wrestled with him until morning.

A man, etc. . .This was an angel in human shape, as we learn from Osee 12.4. He is called God, ver. 28 and 30, because he represented the person of the Son of God. This wrestling, in which Jacob, assisted by God, was a match for an angel, was so ordered (ver. 28,) that he might earn by this experiment of the divine assistance, that neither Esau, nor any other man, should have power to hurt him.--It was also spiritual, as appearing by his earnest prayer, urging and at last obtaining the angel's blessing.

32:25. When he saw that he could not overcome him, he touched the sinew of his thigh, and forthwith it shrank.