Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 1. The angels of God met him.] Our word angel comes from the Greek aggelov aggelos, which literally signifies a messenger; or, as translated in some of our old Bibles, a tidings-bringer. The Hebrew word ûalm malach, from ûal laach, to send, minister to, employ, is nearly of the same import; and hence we may see the propriety of St. Augustine's remark: Nomen non naturae sed officii, ""It is a name, not of nature, but of office;"" and hence it is applied indifferently to a human agent or messenger, 2 Sam. ii. 5; to a prophet, Haggai i. 13; to a priest, Mal. ii. 7; to celestial spirits, Psa. ciii. 19, 20, 22; civ. 4. ""We often,"" says Mr. Parkhurst, ""read of the hwhy ûalm malach Yehovah, or µyhla ykalm malakey Elohim, the angel of Jehovah, or the angels of God, that is, his agent, personator, mean of visibility or action, what was employed by God to render himself visible and approachable by flesh and blood."" This angel was evidently a human form, surrounded or accompanied by light or glory, with or in which Jehovah was present; see chap. xix. 1, 12, 16; Judges xiii. 6, 21; Exod. iii. 2, 6. ""By this vision,"" says Mr. Ainsworth, ""God confirmed Jacob's faith in him who commanded his angels to keep his people in all their ways, Psa. xci. 11. Angels are here called God's host, camp, or army, as in wars; for angels are God's soldiers, Luke ii. 13; horses and chariots of fire, 2 Kings ii. 11; fighting for God's people against their enemies, Dan. x. 20; of them there are thousand thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand, Dan. vii. 10; and they are all sent forth to minister for them that shall be heirs of salvation, Heb. i. 14; and they pitch a camp about them that fear God, Psa. xxxiv. 7."" One of the oldest of the Greek poets had a tolerably correct notion of the angelic ministry:- autar epeipen touto genov kata gaia kaluyen toi men daimonev eisi, diov megalou dia boulav, esqloi, epicqonioi, fulakev qnhtwn anqrwpwn. k. t. l.HESIOD. Op. & Dies, l. i., ver. 120.
When in the grave this race of men was laid, Soon was a world of holy demons made, Aerial spirits, by great Jove design'd To be on earth the guardians of mankind. Invisible to mortal eyes they go, And mark our actions good or bad below; The immortal spies with watchful care preside, And thrice ten thousand round their charges glide: They can reward with glory or with gold, A power they by Divine permission hold. COOKE.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-8 - The angels of God appeared to Jacob, to encourage him with the assurance of the Divine protection. When God designs his people for great trials, he prepares them by great comforts. While Jacob, to who the promise belonged, had been in hard service, Esau was become prince. Jacob sent a message, showing that he did not insist upon the birth-right. Yielding pacifies great offences, Ec 10:4. We must no refuse to speak respectfully, even to those unjustly angry with us Jacob received an account of Esau's warlike preparations against him and was greatly afraid. A lively sense of danger, and quickening fea arising from it, may be found united with humble confidence in God' power and promise.
Original Hebrew ויעקב3290 הלך1980 לדרכו1870 ויפגעו6293 בו מלאכי4397 אלהים׃430
