Genesis 32:2
New International Version
When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is the camp of God!” So he named that place Mahanaim.

New Living Translation
When Jacob saw them, he exclaimed, “This is God’s camp!” So he named the place Mahanaim.

English Standard Version
And when Jacob saw them he said, “This is God’s camp!” So he called the name of that place Mahanaim.

Berean Standard Bible
When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is the camp of God.” So he named that place Mahanaim.

King James Bible
And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.

New King James Version
When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is God’s camp.” And he called the name of that place Mahanaim.

New American Standard Bible
And when he saw them, Jacob said, “This is God’s camp.” So he named that place Mahanaim.

NASB 1995
Jacob said when he saw them, “This is God’s camp.” So he named that place Mahanaim.

NASB 1977
And Jacob said when he saw them, “This is God’s camp.” So he named that place Mahanaim.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Jacob said when he saw them, “This is God’s camp.” So he named that place Mahanaim.

Amplified Bible
When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is God’s camp.” So he named that place Mahanaim (double camps).

Christian Standard Bible
When he saw them, Jacob said, “This is God’s camp.” So he called that place Mahanaim.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When he saw them, Jacob said, “This is God’s camp.” So he called that place Mahanaim.

American Standard Version
And Jacob said when he saw them, This is God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.

Contemporary English Version
When Jacob saw them, he said, "This is God's camp." So he named the place Mahanaim.

English Revised Version
And Jacob said when he saw them, This is God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When he saw them, Jacob said, "This is God's camp!" He named that place Mahanaim [Two Camps].

Good News Translation
When he saw them, he said, "This is God's camp"; so he named the place Mahanaim.

International Standard Version
As he was watching them, Jacob said, "This must be God's camp," so he named that place Mahanaim.

Majority Standard Bible
When Jacob saw them, he said, ?This is the camp of God.? So he named that place Mahanaim.

NET Bible
When Jacob saw them, he exclaimed, "This is the camp of God!" So he named that place Mahanaim.

New Heart English Bible
When he saw them, Jacob said, "This is God's camp." He called the name of that place Mahanaim.

Webster's Bible Translation
And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.

World English Bible
When he saw them, Jacob said, “This is God’s army.” He called the name of that place Mahanaim.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and Jacob says, when he has seen them, “This [is] the camp of God”; and he calls the name of that place “Two Camps.”

Young's Literal Translation
and Jacob saith, when he hath seen them, 'This is the camp of God;' and he calleth the name of that place 'Two Camps.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jacob will say when seeing them, This the camp of God: and he will call the name of that place the camps.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when he saw them, he said: These are the camps of God, and he called the name of that place Mahanaim, that is, Camps.

Catholic Public Domain Version
When he had seen them, he said, “These are the Encampments of God.” And he called the name of that place Mahanaim, that is, ‘Encampments.’

New American Bible
When Jacob saw them he said, “This is God’s encampment.” So he named that place Mahanaim.

New Revised Standard Version
and when Jacob saw them he said, “This is God’s camp!” So he called that place Mahanaim.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host; so he called the name of that place Mahanaim.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Yaquuv said, when he saw them, “This is the camp of God”, and he called the name of that country Makhanim.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Jacob said when he saw them: 'This is God's camp.' And he called the name of that place Mahanaim.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Jacob said, when he saw them, This is the Camp of God; and he called the name of that place, Encampments.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jacob's Fear of Esau
1Jacob also went on his way, and the angels of God met him. 2When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is the camp of God.” So he named that place Mahanaim. 3Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom.…

Cross References
Joshua 5:13-15
Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in His hand. Joshua approached Him and asked, “Are You for us or for our enemies?” / “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?” / The Commander of the LORD’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.

2 Kings 6:16-17
“Do not be afraid,” Elisha answered, “for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” / Then 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.

Daniel 10:5-6
I lifted up my eyes, and behold, there was a certain man dressed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. / His body was like beryl, his face like the brilliance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of polished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude.

Matthew 4:11
Then the devil left Him, and angels came and ministered to Him.

Luke 22:43
Then an angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him.

Hebrews 1:14
Are not the angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

Revelation 5:11-12
Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels encircling the throne, and the living creatures and the elders. And their number was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands. / In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

Revelation 19:10
So I fell at his feet to worship him. But he told me, “Do not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who rely on the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

Psalm 34:7
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and he delivers them.

Psalm 91:11-12
For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. / They will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

Zechariah 1:8-11
I looked out into the night and saw a man riding on a red horse. He was standing among the myrtle trees in the hollow, and behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses. / “What are these, my lord?” I asked. And the angel who was speaking with me replied, “I will show you what they are.” / Then the man standing among the myrtle trees explained, “They are the ones the LORD has sent to patrol the earth.” ...

Zechariah 6:1-8
And again I lifted up my eyes and saw four chariots coming out from between two mountains—mountains of bronze. / The first chariot had red horses, the second black horses, / the third white horses, and the fourth dappled horses—all of them strong. ...

Acts 12:7-10
Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his wrists. / “Get dressed and put on your sandals,” said the angel. Peter did so, and the angel told him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” / So Peter followed him out, but he was unaware that what the angel was doing was real. He thought he was only seeing a vision. ...

Acts 27:23-24
For just last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me / and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And look, God has granted you the lives of all who sail with you.’

Judges 6:11-12
Then the angel of the LORD came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to hide it from the Midianites. / And the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon and said, “The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valor.”


Treasury of Scripture

And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.

God's.

Joshua 5:14
And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?

2 Kings 6:17
And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

Psalm 34:7
The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

the name.

Joshua 21:38
And out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Mahanaim with her suburbs,

2 Samuel 2:8,12
But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim; …

2 Samuel 17:24,26,27
Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him…

Mahanain.

Song of Solomon 6:13
Return, return, O Shulamite; return, return, that we may look upon thee. What will ye see in the Shulamite? As it were the company of two armies.

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Army Camp Camps God's Host Jacob Mahanaim Mahana'im
Genesis 32
1. Jacob's vision at Mahanaim.
3. His message to Esau.
6. He is afraid of Esau's coming.
9. He prays for deliverance.
13. He sends a present to Esau, and passes the brook Jabbok.
24. He wrestles with an angel at Peniel, where he is called Israel.
31. He halts.














When Jacob saw them
Jacob, returning to Canaan after years with Laban, encounters angels. This mirrors his earlier vision at Bethel (Genesis 28:12), reinforcing God's presence and protection. Angels often appear at pivotal moments, as seen with Abraham (Genesis 18) and later with Elisha (2 Kings 6:17). This encounter reassures Jacob of divine support as he prepares to meet Esau.

he said, “This is the camp of God.”
The term "camp" suggests a temporary dwelling, indicating a divine presence accompanying Jacob. The Hebrew word "machaneh" implies a military encampment, symbolizing God's protection. This reflects the idea of God as a warrior, a theme seen in Exodus 15:3. The presence of angels signifies God's readiness to defend and guide His people.

So he named that place Mahanaim.
Mahanaim means "two camps," possibly referring to Jacob's camp and the angelic host. This duality underscores the coexistence of the earthly and the divine. Mahanaim later becomes a significant location in Israel's history, serving as a refuge for David (2 Samuel 17:24). The naming of places often marks significant spiritual encounters, as seen with Bethel and Peniel, highlighting God's ongoing relationship with His people.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jacob
The central figure in this passage, Jacob is returning to his homeland after years of living with his uncle Laban. He is preparing to meet his brother Esau, whom he fears due to their past conflict.

2. Angels of God
These are the divine messengers Jacob encounters. Their presence signifies God's protection and guidance as Jacob returns to Canaan.

3. Mahanaim
The name Jacob gives to the place where he encounters the angels. The name means "two camps" in Hebrew, indicating both his camp and the camp of God's angels.
Teaching Points
God's Presence in Our Journey
Just as Jacob encountered God's angels on his journey, believers can trust in God's presence and protection in their own life's journey.

Naming Our Encounters with God
Jacob named the place Mahanaim to commemorate his encounter with God. We should also remember and mark significant spiritual experiences in our lives.

Facing Fears with Faith
Jacob was fearful of meeting Esau, yet God reassured him through the presence of angels. We can face our fears with faith, knowing God is with us.

Divine Protection
The presence of angels signifies God's protection. Believers can find comfort in knowing that God watches over them, even when they cannot see it.

Spiritual Awareness
Jacob's recognition of the divine camp encourages us to be spiritually aware and sensitive to God's work around us.(2) Mahanaim.--That is, the two camps, his own and that of the angels; or, possibly, two camps of angels, one on either side of him. Mahanaim was in the tribe of Gad, and became an important town. (See 2Samuel 2:8; 2Samuel 17:24; 1Kings 4:14.)

Verse 2. - And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host: - Mahaneh Elohim; i.e. the army (cf. Genesis 1:9; Exodus 14:24) or camp (1 Samuel 14:15; Psalm 27:3) of God, as opposed to the Mahanoth, or bands of Jacob himself (vide ver. 7, 10) - and he called the name of that place Manahan. - i.e. Two armies or camps, from the root חָנַה decline or bend, and hence to fix oneself down or encamp; meaning either a multitudinous host, reading the dual for a plural (Malvenda), or two bands of angels, one before, welcoming him to Canaan, and another behind, conducting him from Mesopotamia (Jarchi and others), or one on either side to typify the completeness of his protection, as in Psalm 34:8 (Calvin, Bush, Gcrlach, 'Speaker's Commentary'), or, as the best expositors interpret, his own company and the heavenly host (Abort Ezra, Clericus, Dathe, Keil, Lange, Rosenmüller, Kalisch, Murphy). Mahanaim, afterwards a distinguished city in the territory of Gad (Joshua 13:26), and frequently referred to in subsequent Scripture (2 Samuel 2:8; 2 Samuel 17:24; 27; 19:32; 1 Kings 4:14), as well as mentioned by Josephus ('Ant.,' 7.9, 8), as a strong and beautiful city, has been identified with Mahneh, a deserted ruin six or seven miles north-west by north of Ajlun (Mount Gilead), and about twenty miles from the Jabbok (vide 'Robinson,' vol. 3. App. 166; and cf. Tristram, 'The Land of Israel, p. 483); but the narrative appears to say that Mahanaim lay not north of Ga-leed, but between that place and Jabbok. Hence Porter suggests Gerasa, the most splendid ruin east of the Jordan, and bordering on the Jabbok, as occupying the site of Mahanaim (vide Kitto s 'Cyclopedia,' art. Mahanaim, and cf. 'Handbook for S. and P.' 2. 311, seq.).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
When
כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר (ka·’ă·šer)
Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

[Jacob] saw them,
רָאָ֔ם (rā·’ām)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 7200: To see

[he]
יַעֲקֹב֙ (ya·‘ă·qōḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3290: Jacob -- a son of Isaac, also his desc

said,
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“This
זֶ֑ה (zeh)
Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

is the camp
מַחֲנֵ֥ה (ma·ḥă·nêh)
Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 4264: An encampment, an army

of God.”
אֱלֹהִ֖ים (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

So he named
וַיִּקְרָ֛א (way·yiq·rā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read

that
הַה֖וּא (ha·hū)
Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

place
הַמָּק֥וֹם (ham·mā·qō·wm)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4725: A standing, a spot, a condition

Mahanaim.
מַֽחֲנָֽיִם׃ (ma·ḥă·nā·yim)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4266: Mahanaim -- 'two camps', a place East of the Jordan


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OT Law: Genesis 32:2 When he saw them Jacob said This (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 32:1
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