God’s Word Translation
Genesis 32:2
2When he saw them, Jacob said, “This is God’s camp!” He named that place Mahanaim [Two Camps].
Genesis 32:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God’s host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.
- New International Version (NIV)When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is the camp of God!” So he named that place Mahanaim.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And when Jacob saw them he said, "This is God's camp!" So he called the name of that place Mahanaim.
- New King James Version (NKJV)When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is God’s camp.” And he called the name of that place Mahanaim.
Context of Genesis 32:2
1As Jacob went on his way, God’s angels met him. When he saw them, Jacob said, “This is God’s camp!” He named that place Mahanaim [Two Camps]. 3Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in Seir, the country of Edom. 4He commanded them to give this message to Esau, “Sir, this is what Jacob has to say, ‘I’ve been living with Laban and have stayed until now.
Read all of Genesis 32Genesis 32:2 word by word
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יַעֲקֹב֙ כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר רָאָ֔ם מַחֲנֵ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֖ים זֶ֑ה וַיִּקְרָ֛א שֵֽׁם־הַמָּק֥וֹם הַה֖וּא מַֽחֲנָֽיִם׃ פRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And when Jacobיַעֲקֹבya‛ăqôb · JacobH3290
- saw themרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
- he saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- God’sאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- hostמַחֲנֶהmachăneh · campH4264
- and he calledקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call byH7121
- the nameשֵׁםshêm · nameH8034
- of that placeמָקוֹםmâqôm mâqôm meqômâh meqômâh · placeH4725
- Mahanaimמַחֲנַיִםmachănayim · MahanaimH4266
Cross-references for Genesis 32:2
- Joshua 5:14He answered, “Neither one! I am here as the commander of the Lord’s army.” Immediately, Joshua bowed with his face touching the ground and worshiped. He asked, “Sir, what do you want to tell me?”
- 2 Kings 6:17Then Elisha prayed, “Lord, please open his eyes so that he may see.” The Lord opened the servant’s eyes and let him see. The mountain around Elisha was full of fiery horses and chariots.
- Psalms 34:7The Messenger of the Lord camps around those who fear him, and he rescues them.
- Psalms 103:21Praise the Lord, all his armies, his servants who carry out his will.
- Psalms 148:2Praise him, all his angels. Praise him, his entire heavenly army.
- Daniel 10:20He asked, “Do you know why I have come to you? Now I will return to fight the commander of Persia. When I go, the commander of Greece will come.
- Luke 2:13Suddenly, a large army of angels appeared with the angel. They were praising God by saying,
- Joshua 21:38The tribe of Gad also gave them four cities with pasturelands: Ramoth in Gilead (a city of refuge for murderers), Mahanaim,
- 2 Samuel 2:8Ner’s son Abner, commander of Saul’s army, took Saul’s son Ishbosheth and brought him to Mahanaim.
- 2 Samuel 17:24David had ⌞already⌟ come to Mahanaim by the time Absalom and all the men of Israel with him crossed the Jordan River.
- 1 Kings 2:8“Shimei, son of Gera from Bahurim in Benjamin, is still with you. He cursed me repeatedly when I went to Mahanaim. But when he came to meet me at the Jordan River, I took an oath by the Lord and said, ‘As long as I’m king, I won’t have you killed.’
- 1 Kings 4:14Ahinadab, son of Iddo, was in charge of Mahanaim.
Commentaries on Genesis 32:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2Mahanaim - The two hosts, if read by the points, the angels forming one, and Jacob and his company forming another; or simply hosts or camps in the plural. There was a city built afterwards here, and inhabited by the priests of God, Joshua 21:38. For what purpose the angels of God met Jacob, does not appear from the text; probably it was intended to show him that he and his company were under the care of an especial providence, and consequently to confirm…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-32Verses 1-32 - Jacob Wrestles in Prayer 3. מחנים machănāyı̂m Machanaim, “two camps.” 22. יבק yaboq Jabboq; related: בקק bāqaq “gush or gurgle out” or אבק 'ābaq in niphal, “wrestle.” Now Wady Zurka. 29. ישׂראל yı̂śrā'ēl Jisrael, “prince of God.” 31. פניאל penı̂y'ēl = פנוּאל penû'ēl Peniel, Penuel, “face of God.” After twenty years spent in Aram, Jacob now returns to Kenann. As his departure was marked by a great moment in his spiritual life, so he…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2This is the camp of God: Jacob probably saw the angels as a sign of God's protection, similar to the earlier vision when he left the land (28:10–22). Mahanaim (meaning “two camps”): Jacob's group and the group of angels were together in one place.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. Mahanaim--"two hosts," or "camps." The place was situated between mount Gilead and the Jabbok, near the banks of that brook.Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 32:2
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Genesis 32
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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