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J
Jacob
One of the more bizarre tales in the Book of
Genesis is the story of Jacob’s wrestling match
with God. This narrative has been interpreted as a
dream experience. Because entering into a
wrestling match with a human being—and being
defeated—is totally out of character for the
mighty Yahweh, many scholars have interpreted
this passage as a considerably modified retelling of
an earlier (now lost) story about Jacob wrestling
with a demon.
Jacob was the third patriarch of the Hebrews.
He is considered the father of the chosen people,
and his sons represent the heads of the twelve
tribes of the children of Israel. Jacob had an
important dream on his way to Haran to take a
wife from among the daughters of his Uncle
Laban. The purpose of this dream is to confirm
the Abrahamic covenant directly to Jacob, and to
assure Jacob that, although he is in distress, he is
yet the object of God’s love and care. God’s manifestation
completely alters Jacob’s view of his own
purpose and destiny, and to Jacob this is no mere
dream, but a profound spiritual experience.
Fourteen years later Jacob was to have another
dream in which he realized that he was to return
to the land of his birth. He subsequently took his
two wives, his family, and possessions, and left.
In Jacob’s third dream, the famous dream of
Peniel, God appeared to him in the form of a
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human being (some say an angel), and the two of
them wrestled until daybreak. Jacob prevailed in
strength, and would not let the man go until he
had blessed him. The man then blessed him, and
also changed his name from Jacob to Israel.
So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled
with him there till daybreak. When the man
saw that he could not throw Jacob, he struck
him in the hollow of his thigh, so that Jacob’s
hip was dislocated as they wrestled. The man
said, “Let me go, for day is breaking,” but
Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you
bless me.” He said to Jacob, “What is your
name” And he answered, “Jacob.” The man
said, “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but
Israel, because you strove with God and with
men, and prevailed.” Jacob said, “Tell me, I
pray, your name.” He replied, “Why do you
ask my name” But he gave him his blessing
there. Jacob called the place Peniel, “because,”
he said, “I have seen God face to face and my
life is spared.” (Gen. 32:24–30)
As a consequence of this dream, Jacob received
a new identity, a new status, as the one who
provides his people with a name—Israel.
See also Demons; Judaism
For Further Reading:
Gnuse, Robert Karl. The Dream Theophany of