The Meaning of Genesis 32:26 Explained

Genesis 32:26

KJV: And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

YLT: and he saith, 'Send me away, for the dawn hath ascended:' and he saith, 'I send thee not away, except thou hast blessed me.'

Darby: And he said, Let me go, for the dawn ariseth. And he said, I will not let thee go except thou bless me.

ASV: And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And he said,  Let me go,  for the day  breaketh.  And he said,  I will not let thee go,  except  thou bless  me. 

What does Genesis 32:26 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 32:13-32 - Jacob Wrestles And Prevails
There is a fulsomeness in Jacob's address to Esau, which sounds inconsistent with the noblest manhood and the firmest faith. Why should he speak of "my lord" Esau, and endeavor to appease his wrath with soft speeches and rich gifts? Evidently much had to be effected in his character before he could become one of the great spiritual forces of the world, and his supreme discipline came in that midnight wrestle. The Angel who wrestled with him could have been none other than the Son of man, who is also the Angel of the Covenant and Son of God. It was not that Jacob wrestled with the Angel, but that the Angel wrestled with him, as though to discover and reveal his weakness, and to constrain him to quit reliance on his own strength and to learn to cling with the tenacious grip of a lame man, who dare not let go, lest he fall to the earth. Ah, it is well to be even maimed, if through the withered thigh we may learn to lay hold on the everlasting strength of God, and learn His secret Name! [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 32

1  Jacob's vision at Mahanaim
3  His message to Esau
6  He is afraid of Esau's coming
9  He prays for deliverance
13  He sends a present to Esau, and passes the brook Jabbok
24  He wrestles with an angel at Peniel, where he is called Israel
31  He halts

What do the individual words in Genesis 32:26 mean?

And He said let Me go for breaks the day But he said not I will let You go except if You bless me
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר שַׁלְּחֵ֔נִי כִּ֥י עָלָ֖ה הַשָּׁ֑חַר וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ לֹ֣א אֲשַֽׁלֵּחֲךָ֔ כִּ֖י אִם־ בֵּרַכְתָּֽנִי

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר  And  He  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
שַׁלְּחֵ֔נִי  let  Me  go 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperative, masculine singular, first person common singular
Root: שָׁלַח  
Sense: to send, send away, let go, stretch out.
עָלָ֖ה  breaks 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
הַשָּׁ֑חַר  the  day 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שַׁחַר  
Sense: dawn.
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙  But  he  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֲשַֽׁלֵּחֲךָ֔  I  will  let  You  go 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, first person common singular, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׁלַח  
Sense: to send, send away, let go, stretch out.
כִּ֖י  except 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
בֵּרַכְתָּֽנִי  You  bless  me 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, second person masculine singular, first person common singular
Root: בָּרַךְ 
Sense: to bless, kneel.