Genesis 32:30

• §2573Article 1 · In the Old TestamentRead at vatican.va

  “From this account, the spiritual tradition of the Church has retained the symbol of prayer as a battle of faith and as the triumph of perseverance.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Gen 32:24-30; Lk 18:1-8.

Origen

• Origen, A Letter from Origen to Africanus

  “And the sun rose, when the vision of God passed by.”” — editor's note: Gen. xxxii. 24–31.

  Read the whole comment
• Origen, De Principiis IV.3Book IV

  “For to them was first granted the privilege of converse with God, because theirs is the only race which is said to see God; this being the meaning, by interpretation, of the word “Israel.”” — editor's note: Cf. Gen. xxxii. 28–30.

  Read the whole comment

Tertullian

• Tertullian, Against Praxeas Chapter 14

  “…informs us that “the Lord spake face to face with Moses, even as a man speaketh unto his friend;” just as Jacob also says, “I have seen God face to face.”” — editor's note: Gen. xxxii. 30.

  Read the whole comment

Athanasius of Alexandria

• Athanasius of Alexandria, Against the Arians III.3Discourse III

  “Nor was it that he desired a blessing for himself from God but for his grandchildren from the Angel, but whom He Himself had besought saying, ‘I will not let Thee go except Thou bless me’ (for that was God, as he says himself, ‘I have seen God face to face’), Him he prayed to bless also the sons of Joseph.” — editor's note: Gen. xxxii. 26, 30.

  Read the whole comment

Jerome

• Jerome, Against the Pelagians Book 3

  “HenceMoses also says, “I have seen the Lord face to face, and my life is preserved,” not by any natural quality—but by the condescension of God, Who had mercy.” — editor's note: Ib. 30. The words are Jacob’s, but they are attributed to Moses as author.

  Read the whole comment
• Jerome, Letters Letter 54

  “…the temple and giving herself to fastings and prayers night and day; therefore she earned spiritual grace, received the title ‘daughter of the face of God,’ and obtained a share in the ‘blessedness and wealth’ which belonged to her ancestry.” — editor's note: Penuel (A.V. Phanuel) means ‘face of God’ cf. Gen. xxxii. 30.

  Read the whole comment

Cyril of Jerusalem

• Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures Lecture 13

  “What strange thing do we announce, when Jacob says, For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved?” — editor's note: Ib. xxxii. 30.

  Read the whole comment

Eusebius of Caesarea

• Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History I.2Book I

  “Wherefore also Jacob called the name of that place “Vision of God,” saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”” — editor's note: Gen. xxxii. 30.

  Read the whole comment

Justin Martyr

• Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Chapter 58

  “And Jacob called the name of that place Peniel, for I saw God face to face, and my soul rejoiced.’” — editor's note: Gen. xxxii. 22–30.

  Read the whole comment
• Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Chapter 126

  “And thus again he says, ‘A man wrestled with Jacob,’ and asserts it was God; narrating that Jacob said, ‘I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.’” — editor's note: Gen. xxxii. 24, 30.

  Read the whole comment

Ambrose of Milan

• Ambrose of Milan, On the Duties of the Clergy I.25Book I

  “Is there greater wisdom than holy Jacob’s, who saw God face to face and won a blessing?” — editor's note: Gen. xxxii. 29, 30.

  Read the whole comment

John Cassian

• John Cassian, On the Incarnation of the Lord, Against Nestorius VII.9Book VII

  “Who, when from the struggle with the man who wrestled with him he understood the mystery of the Incarnation yet to come, said, “I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”” — editor's note: Gen. xxxii. 30. The name Israel was in the 4th and 5th centuries commonly explained to mean the “man seeing God” as if it came from אישּׁ, רָאָה and אֵל. S.…

  Read the whole comment

Augustine of Hippo

• Augustine of Hippo, The City of God XVII.13Book XVII

  “…Israel shall be: for this name is interpreted “Seeing God;” in the desire of which reward a pious life is to be led through faith in this miserable pilgrimage.” — editor's note: Israel—a prince of God; Peniel—the face of God (Gen. xxxii. 28–30).

  Read the whole comment

Clement of Alexandria

• Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor I.7Book I

  ““For I have seen,” he says, “God face to face; and my life is preserved.”” — editor's note: Gen. xxxii. 30.

  Read the whole comment

• Genesis 33:8

  Cited together in On the Duties of the Clergy I.25.

• Genesis 34:5

  Cited together in On the Duties of the Clergy I.25.

• Exodus 6:2

  Cited together in Dialogue with Trypho Chapter 126.

• Exodus 33:11

  Cited together in Against Praxeas Chapter 14.

• Exodus 33:13

  Cited together in Against Praxeas Chapter 14.

• Numbers 11:23

  Cited together in Dialogue with Trypho Chapter 126.

• Numbers 12:6

  Cited together in Against Praxeas Chapter 14.

• Numbers 12:7

  Cited together in Against Praxeas Chapter 14.

• Numbers 12:8

  Cited together in Against Praxeas Chapter 14.

• Deuteronomy 31:2

  Cited together in Dialogue with Trypho Chapter 126.

• Judges 3:30

  Cited together in The City of God XVII.13.

• 2 Samuel 7:10

  Cited together in The City of God XVII.13.

• 2 Samuel 7:11

  Cited together in The City of God XVII.13.

• Psalm 14:1

  Cited together in On the Duties of the Clergy I.25.

• Psalm 112:9

  Cited together in On the Duties of the Clergy I.25.

• Proverbs 24:7

  Cited together in On the Duties of the Clergy I.25.

• Jeremiah 2:27

  Cited together in On the Duties of the Clergy I.25.

• Jeremiah 52:9

  Cited together in Against Praxeas Chapter 14.

• Mark 9:4

  Cited together in Against Praxeas Chapter 14.

• Genesis 6:14

  Cited together in On the Duties of the Clergy I.25.

• Genesis 15:6

  Cited together in On the Duties of the Clergy I.25.

• Genesis 18:2

  Cited together in Dialogue with Trypho Chapter 126.

• Genesis 18:13

  Cited together in Dialogue with Trypho Chapter 126.

• Genesis 18:16

  Cited together in Dialogue with Trypho Chapter 126.

• Genesis 18:17

  Cited together in Dialogue with Trypho Chapter 126.

• Genesis 22:3

  Cited together in On the Duties of the Clergy I.25.