When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is the camp of God.” So he named that place Mahanaim.
Parallel translations
- WEB When he saw them, Jacob said, “This is God’s army.” He called the name of that place Mahanaim.
- KJV And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God’s host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.
- NKJV When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is God’s camp.” And he called the name of that place Mahanaim.
- NASB And when he saw them, Jacob said, “This is God’s camp.” So he named that place Mahanaim.
- NLT When Jacob saw them, he exclaimed, “This is God’s camp!” So he named the place Mahanaim.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jacob calls the place Mahanaim ('two camps'), recognizing God's army alongside his own. He names the site to remember God's protection.
Overview
Seeing the angelic host, Jacob acknowledges that God's camp accompanies his vulnerable company. The name Mahanaim memorializes the assurance that heaven's forces surround God's people. This vision strengthens Jacob just before his dreaded reunion with Esau, displaying God's timely encouragement to the fearful.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- 2 Sam 2:8Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, took Saul’s son Ish-bosheth, moved him to Mahanaim,
- Josh 21:38And from the tribe of Gad they were given Ramoth in Gilead, a city of refuge for the manslayer, Mahanaim,
- Josh 5:14“Neither,” He replied. “I have now come as Commander of the LORD’s army.” Then Joshua fell facedown in reverence and asked Him, “What does my Lord have to say to His servant?”
- 2 Sam 17:24Then David went to Mahanaim, and Absalom crossed the Jordan with all the men of Israel.
- Luke 2:13And suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying:
- Ps 34:7The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and he delivers them.
- 1 Kgs 2:8Keep an eye on Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim who is with you. He called down bitter curses against me on the day I went to Mahanaim, but when he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the LORD: ‘I will never put you to the sword.’
- Ps 148:2Praise Him, all His angels; praise Him, all His heavenly hosts.
- 2 Sam 2:12One day Abner son of Ner and the servants of Ish-bosheth son of Saul marched out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.
- Dan 10:20“Do you know why I have come to you?” he said. “I must return at once to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I have gone forth, behold, the prince of Greece will come.
- 2 Sam 17:26–27So the Israelites and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead.
- Ps 103:21Bless the LORD, all His hosts, you servants who do His will.
- 2 Kgs 6:17Then Elisha prayed, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw that the hills were full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
- Song 6:13Come back, come back, O Shulammite! Come back, come back, that we may gaze upon you. Why do you look at the Shulammite, as on the dance of Mahanaim?
- 1 Kgs 4:14Ahinadab son of Iddo in Mahanaim;
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Christ at the center
From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (3:15), through Abraham's blessing to all nations and Judah's coming ruler, Genesis sows every seed that flowers in Christ — the true offspring, the better Adam, the ram caught for Isaac.
How Genesis 32:2 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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