Why did the man ask Jacob, "What is your name?"

[tonychanyt]

Jacob wrestled all night with a mysterious being M1. Just before daybreak in Gn 32:

27 he [M1] said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.”

Why did M1 ask for Jacob's name?

The question marked a turning point in Jacob's life. By asking for his name, M1 prompted him to acknowledge his current identity. At this point in the story, Jacob's name means "supplanter" or "deceiver," reflecting his past deceitful actions. Jacob admitted to M1 that he was a deceiver. The question sets the stage for Jacob's transformation.

28 Then [M1] said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.”

The old deceiver was to take on a new identity. The name Israel meant "he struggles with God". By giving Jacob a new name, God continued Abraham's covenant from Isaac to Israel. God established a new relationship with Israel. The question marked a turning point in Jacob's life, signifying his new role in God's redemption plan.

 

[KevinT]

Jacob wrestled all night with a mysterious being M1. Just before daybreak in Gn 32:


Why did M1 ask for Jacob's name?

The question marked a turning point in Jacob's life. By asking for his name, M1 prompted him to acknowledge his current identity. At this point in the story, Jacob's name means "supplanter" or "deceiver," reflecting his past deceitful actions. Jacob admitted to M1 that he was a deceiver. The question sets the stage for Jacob's transformation.


The old deceiver was to take on a new identity. The name Israel meant "he struggles with God". By giving Jacob a new name, God continued Abraham's covenant from Isaac to Israel. God established a new relationship with Israel. The question marked a turning point in Jacob's life, signifying his new role in God's redemption plan.

I seem to recall that Jacob meant “heel grasper”, which was literally how he was born, but also a figure of speech at the time to mean trickster or supplanter. Perhaps God was making a play on words, replacing “heel grasper” with “God grasper “

KT