Genesis 32:24 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

There wrestled a man with him, &c.— From the prophet Hosea, ch. Genesis 12:5. it appears undeniable, that this man or person, who wrestled with Jacob, was the same with him who appeared to him at Beth-el; that is, the second Divine Person, who assumed probably a human form, and whom the prophet Hosea calls the Lord God of hosts, the Lord is his memorial. This is equally evident from the name which Jacob gives the place where this transaction happened, Peni-el, the face of God; from the reason of the name, for I have seen God (el) face to face, Genesis 32:30 and from the name which that Divine Person gave to Jacob, Isra-el, Genesis 32:28 of which we shall say more hereafter. Such being the person, we may reasonably inquire into the meaning of the transaction. Bishop Warburton (Divine Legation) observes, that information by action was at this time a very familiar mode of instruction, and the deficiences of languages were supplied by significative signs. If we turn back to Jacob's prayer, and consider the circumstances he was in when it pleased God to wrestle with him, we may perceive that God's intention was to inform him of the happy issue of his adventure, and that his petition was granted, by a significative action. But as this is not followed by an express explanation, this circumstance in Jacob's history has afforded abundant mirth to illiterate libertines, and manifested their ignorance likewise. For this information by action concerning only the actor, who little needed to be told the meaning of a mode of instruction at that time in vulgar use, hath now an obscurity, which the Scripture relations of the same mode of information to the prophets are free from, by reason of their being given for the use of the people to whom they were to be explained.