Charles Spurgeon Commentary Genesis 32:28-29

"And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for thou hast striven with God and with men, and hast prevailed. And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there." — Genesis 32:28-29 (ASV)

For as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name.

And he said, Why is it that you ask after my name?

And he blessed him there.

He received what he sought for his necessity, but not what he merely asked out of curiosity.

For as a prince you have power with God and with men, and have prevailed. And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray you, your name.

That has often been the request of God's people; they have wanted to know God's wondrous name. The Jews superstitiously believe that we have lost the sound of the name of Jehovah—that the name is now entirely unpronounceable. We do not think so; but, certainly, no one knows the nature of God, and understands Him, except the one to whom the Son will reveal Him. Perhaps Jacob's request had some curiosity in it, so the angel would not grant it.