He strove with the angel: The Hebrew verb rendered strove is not the same one used in the previous verse, although most versions use the same word to translate it. The Hebrew root for strove is slightly different from the one used in verse 4 and has a different meaning. In verse 4 the root means “to strive,” but the root here means “to see.” Hebrew Old Testament Text Project recommends using the verb “strove” here.

This clause substitutes the angel for “God” in the previous verse. The Hebrew is literally “an angel” (Good News Translation), which we recommend here.

And prevailed simply means that Jacob won, he overcame the angel with whom he had been wrestling.

He wept and sought his favor: The idea of Jacob weeping is not mentioned in Gen 32, but translators should retain it here. Even though he won as he wrestled with the angel of God, he still cried as he asked for a blessing. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh assumes that it was the angel who wept, since the Hebrew verb for wept does not state who wept. But the flow of the Hebrew favors Jacob as both weeping and asking a favor.

Sought his favor refers to Jacob refusing to free the angel from his grasp until the angel would bless him (Gen 32.26). Rather than calling it a blessing, the Hebrew text refers to it here as a favor, a kind act or deed.

He met God at Bethel: This line moves abruptly to Gen 35.1-15. The Hebrew is literally “[In] Bethel he found him.” Bethel was first given that name many years earlier, when Jacob first met God there (Gen 28.19). It means “house of God.” The Hebrew text does not appear to make clear whether Jacob found God or God found Jacob. At first glance, the flow of the text seems to favor Jacob finding God, since Jacob has been the actor in the previous lines. However, there is no convincing evidence for this interpretation. In the present context this line can also be read as a first step of God talking to Jacob (so Good News Translation) and still doing so “to us” (the people of Israel and Judah) in the next line. This interpretation also resolves the textual problem that is discussed in the next paragraph.

And there God spoke with him refers to Gen 35.10-12. However, the Hebrew text has “and there he spoke with us.” It is possible that the prophet understood God’s statements to apply to all Israelites, or even that this place of worship continued to be a place of opportunity for people to worship God and to learn from God. This interpretation is followed at the end of the previous paragraph. The Septuagint has “with him.” Hebrew Old Testament Text Project favors “with us,” but it is a somewhat weak {C} decision. Most modern translations use “with him,” often with a footnote saying that the Hebrew text has “with us.” According to this Handbook, both readings are acceptable.

A translation model for this verse is:

• He struggled with an angel and won.
He wept and asked him for a favor.
In Bethel God met him,
there he spoke to us.

Quoted with permission from Dorn, Louis & van Steenbergen, Gerrit. A Handbook on Hosea. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2020. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .