Genesis 32:22 Meaning and Explanation
“And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jacob moves his household across the Jabbok River during the night.
The Context of Genesis 32:22
The Jabbok crossing represents a geographic threshold and a moment that sets up Jacob's solitary night encounter.
What Does Genesis 32:22 Mean?
During the night, Jacob rises and conducts his household across the Jabbok ford—a practical river crossing that also serves strategic purposes. He takes his two wives (Leah and Rachel), two secondary wives (Bilhah and Zilpah), and eleven sons across the water.
By moving his household across the Jabbok, Jacob is positioning them for the final approach to his ancestral land. But the crossing also isolates Jacob himself on the western bank, leaving him alone before his final encounter with Esau.
Genesis 32:22 in the Original Language
Yabboq (יַבּוֹק), the river's name means 'flowing' (from √yabaq), marking a boundary between Jacob's old life with Laban and his return to Canaan.
Frequently Asked Questions About Genesis 32:22
What does Genesis 32:22 mean?
Jacob moves his household across the Jabbok River during the night.
What is the context of Genesis 32:22?
The Jabbok crossing represents a geographic threshold and a moment that sets up Jacob's solitary night encounter.