Bible Strands
Genesis 32:26
Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The unnamed man tells Jacob to release him because dawn is breaking, but Jacob refuses to let him go until he receives a blessing. This exchange occurs during a physical struggle immediately after the man dislocates Jacob’s hip.
The words — The Hebrew שַׁלְּחֵנִי (sha.le.Che./ni) literally means “let go me,” while אֲשַׁלֵּחֲךָ (a.sha.le.cha./Kha) translates to “I will let go you.” These paired verbs establish the conditional terms of Jacob’s grip.
The thread — The pattern of wrestling for blessing recurs in Hosea 12:4, which records Jacob’s struggle with the angel and his subsequent plea for favor. Paul later mirrors this posture of persistent pleading in 2 Corinthians 12:8 when he repeatedly asks the Lord to remove his affliction.
Why it lands — The text requires a reader to acknowledge that divine blessing is met with unyielding demand rather than passive waiting. It asks the reader to identify what they will refuse to release until receiving God’s direct word.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
Cross-references
- Hosea 12:4 Yes, he struggled with the angel and prevailed; he wept and sought His favor; he found Him at Bethel and spoke with Him there—
- Psalms 115:12 The LORD is mindful of us; He will bless us. He will bless the house of Israel; He will bless the house of Aaron;
- 2 Corinthians 12:8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
- 1 Chronicles 4:10 And Jabez called out to the God of Israel, “If only You would bless me and enlarge my territory! May Your hand be with me and keep me from harm, so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted the request of Jabez.
- Psalms 67:1 For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Psalm. A song. May God be gracious to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us, Selah
- Song of Solomon 3:4 I had just passed them when I found the one I love. I held him and would not let go until I had brought him to my mother’s house, to the chamber of the one who conceived me.
- Luke 18:1 Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart:
- Luke 24:28 As they approached the village where they were headed, He seemed to be going farther.
- Romans 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
- Exodus 32:10 Now leave Me alone, so that My anger may burn against them and consume them. Then I will make you into a great nation.”