Discuss the passage’s significance for the text from which it comes. And Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until the break of dawn. And he saw that he had not won out against him and he touched his hip-socket and Jacob’s hip-socket was wrenched as he wrestled with him. And he said, “Let me go, for dawn is breaking.” And he said. “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” And he said to him: “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” And he said, “Not Jacob shall your name hence be said, but Israel, for you have striven with God and men, and won out.” (Genesis)

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In all Abrahamic religions, special reverence is given to Jacob, who became the ancestor of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. An important indication of Jacob’s power and historical authority is the episode of his wrestling with God, which resulted in Jacob receiving a new name, Israel. In reality, Jacob wrestled not with God but with an angel, but this does not negate the metaphorical nature of the episode. More specifically, Jacob’s struggle with “God” was the culmination of man’s harrowing journey through life.

In the context of Jacob’s story, this struggle takes on significance: Jacob spent his life achieving results in non-Christian ways. He cheated, he stole, and he committed tricks. It was a permanent struggle with God and the Christian principles of life. However, the nightly episode of the battle with God culminated in this struggle. The battle with the Angel is not cited in Genesis for nothing: it clearly demonstrates to the reader that perseverance, work, and zeal become determinants of divine forgiveness and theology. This is especially noticeable in terms of the name change: Jacob, which literally means cunning, became called Israel, which translates as God’s victor. In other words, the significance of this story is that the Christian will be rewarded for his work.

However, as one knows, God is just, and so the battle with the Angel could not help but leave a mark on Jacob. Specifically, the passage tells us that Jacob injured his hip and, as a testament to this struggle, limped on one leg for the rest of his life. The context of the whole text emphasizes God’s justice and mercy: despite his forgiveness, Jacob’s sins must be punished. This has a moral function: Christian audiences can use this passage to recognize the value of proper behavior and the consequences of sins and mistakes. In fact, everyone can go through Jacob’s life journey, and it is only on his perseverance that God will forgive him. The lame Jacob put God above his carnal desires, which literally corrected his moral views.

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Academic.Tips. (2022) 'Discuss the passage's significance for the text from which it comes. And Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until the break of dawn. And he saw that he had not won out against him and he touched his hip-socket and Jacob's hip-socket was wrenched as he wrestled with him. And he said, "Let me go, for dawn is breaking." And he said. "I will not let you go unless you bless me." And he said to him: “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” And he said, “Not Jacob shall your name hence be said, but Israel, for you have striven with God and men, and won out.” (Genesis)'. 22 December.

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Academic.Tips. (2022, December 22). Discuss the passage's significance for the text from which it comes. And Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until the break of dawn. And he saw that he had not won out against him and he touched his hip-socket and Jacob's hip-socket was wrenched as he wrestled with him. And he said, "Let me go, for dawn is breaking." And he said. "I will not let you go unless you bless me." And he said to him: “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” And he said, “Not Jacob shall your name hence be said, but Israel, for you have striven with God and men, and won out.” (Genesis). https://academic.tips/question/discuss-the-passages-significance-for-the-text-from-which-it-comes-and-jacob-was-left-alone-and-a-man-wrestled-with-him-until-the-break-of-dawn-and-he-saw-that-he-had-not-won-out-against-him-and/

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Academic.Tips. 2022. "Discuss the passage's significance for the text from which it comes. And Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until the break of dawn. And he saw that he had not won out against him and he touched his hip-socket and Jacob's hip-socket was wrenched as he wrestled with him. And he said, "Let me go, for dawn is breaking." And he said. "I will not let you go unless you bless me." And he said to him: “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” And he said, “Not Jacob shall your name hence be said, but Israel, for you have striven with God and men, and won out.” (Genesis)." December 22, 2022. https://academic.tips/question/discuss-the-passages-significance-for-the-text-from-which-it-comes-and-jacob-was-left-alone-and-a-man-wrestled-with-him-until-the-break-of-dawn-and-he-saw-that-he-had-not-won-out-against-him-and/.

1. Academic.Tips. "Discuss the passage's significance for the text from which it comes. And Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until the break of dawn. And he saw that he had not won out against him and he touched his hip-socket and Jacob's hip-socket was wrenched as he wrestled with him. And he said, "Let me go, for dawn is breaking." And he said. "I will not let you go unless you bless me." And he said to him: “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” And he said, “Not Jacob shall your name hence be said, but Israel, for you have striven with God and men, and won out.” (Genesis)." December 22, 2022. https://academic.tips/question/discuss-the-passages-significance-for-the-text-from-which-it-comes-and-jacob-was-left-alone-and-a-man-wrestled-with-him-until-the-break-of-dawn-and-he-saw-that-he-had-not-won-out-against-him-and/.

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Academic.Tips. "Discuss the passage's significance for the text from which it comes. And Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until the break of dawn. And he saw that he had not won out against him and he touched his hip-socket and Jacob's hip-socket was wrenched as he wrestled with him. And he said, "Let me go, for dawn is breaking." And he said. "I will not let you go unless you bless me." And he said to him: “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” And he said, “Not Jacob shall your name hence be said, but Israel, for you have striven with God and men, and won out.” (Genesis)." December 22, 2022. https://academic.tips/question/discuss-the-passages-significance-for-the-text-from-which-it-comes-and-jacob-was-left-alone-and-a-man-wrestled-with-him-until-the-break-of-dawn-and-he-saw-that-he-had-not-won-out-against-him-and/.

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"Discuss the passage's significance for the text from which it comes. And Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until the break of dawn. And he saw that he had not won out against him and he touched his hip-socket and Jacob's hip-socket was wrenched as he wrestled with him. And he said, "Let me go, for dawn is breaking." And he said. "I will not let you go unless you bless me." And he said to him: “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” And he said, “Not Jacob shall your name hence be said, but Israel, for you have striven with God and men, and won out.” (Genesis)." Academic.Tips, 22 Dec. 2022, academic.tips/question/discuss-the-passages-significance-for-the-text-from-which-it-comes-and-jacob-was-left-alone-and-a-man-wrestled-with-him-until-the-break-of-dawn-and-he-saw-that-he-had-not-won-out-against-him-and/.

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