The Jabbok, a river east of the Jordan, where Jacob wrestled with God.
The Jabbok is a river located east of the Jordan River, in the region of Gilead. It is first mentioned in the Bible when Israel (or 'Jacob') crossed it on his way back to Canaan after his time with Laban (Genesis 32:22). It was at the Jabbok that Jacob wrestled with God and was given the name Israel (Genesis 32:24-30). The Jabbok served as a boundary between the territories of Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan (Numbers 21:24; Deu.2.37; 3:16; Joshua 12:2). During the time of the judges, the Ammonites accused Israel of taking their land between the Arnon and the Jabbok (Judges 11:13, 22). The Jabbok River flows westward into the Jordan River and is known today as the Zarqa River in Jordan.
Approximate location: 32.193, 35.676 · view on a map · on the Bible atlas
A pouring out, or a wrestling, one of the streams on the east of Jordan, into which it falls about midway between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea, or about 45 miles below the Sea of Galilee. It rises on the eastern side of the mountains of Gilead, and runs a course of about 65 miles in a wild and deep ravine. It was the boundary between the territory of the Ammonites and that of Og, king of Bashan (Josh. 12:1-5; Num. 21:24); also between the tribe of Reuben and the half tribe of Manasseh (21:24; Deut. 3:16). In its course westward across the plains it passes more than once underground. “The scenery along its banks is probably the most picturesque in Palestine; and the ruins of town and village and fortress which stud the surrounding mountain-side render the country as interesting as it is beautiful.” This river is now called the Zerka, or blue river.
(emptying), a stream which intersects the mountain range of Gilead, comp. (Joshua 12:2,5) and falls into the Jordan on the east about midway between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea. It was anciently the border of the children of Ammon. (Numbers 21:24; 2:37; 3:16) It was on the south bank of the Jabbok that the interview took place between Jacob and Esau, (Genesis 32:22) and this river afterward became, toward its western part, the boundary between the kingdoms of Sihon and Og. (Joshua 12:2,5) Its modern name is Wady Zurka .
evacuation; dissipation; wrestling
JAB'BOK (emptying), a stream rising about 25 miles east of the north end of the Dead Sea, and flowing east, then northward and westward, and finally south-west, into the Jordan about midway between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea. It is now called the Zerka or "blue" river. It has a small branch flowing into it past Gerosh, but no branch from the north-east as indicated on most maps. Across this stream Jacob sent his family, and here his wrestling for a blessing occurred. Gen 32:22-24. The Israelites conquered the kingdoms of Og and Sihon, but not the Ammonite country nor the upper Jabbok, which explains Deut 2:37. Compare Num 21:24; Deut 3:16; Josh 12:2; Jud 11:13, Neh 11:22. The Jabbok before it enters the Jordan valley flows through a deep, narrow ravine, the hills being from 1600 to 2000 feet in height. They are covered with verdure and are very picturesque. The stream in most of its course is perennial, swollen, deep, and rapid in winter; it abounds in small fish of excellent flavor.
JAB'BOK (emptying), a stream rising about 25 miles east of the north end of the Dead Sea, and flowing east, then northward and westward, and finally south-west, into the Jordan about midway between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea. It is now called the Zerka or "blue" river. It has a small branch flowing into it past Gerosh, but no branch from the north-east as indicated on most maps. Across this stream Jacob sent his family, and here his wrestling for a blessing occurred. Gen 32:22-24. The Israelites conquered the kingdoms of Og and Sihon, but not the Ammonite country nor the upper Jabbok, which explains Deut 2:37. Compare Num 21:24; Deut 3:16; Josh 12:2; Jud 11:13, Neh 11:22. The Jabbok before it enters the Jordan valley flows through a deep, narrow ravine, the hills being from 1600 to 2000 feet in height. They are covered with verdure and are very picturesque. The stream in most of its course is perennial, swollen, deep, and rapid in winter; it abounds in small fish of excellent flavor.
Easton (1897), Smith (1863), Hitchcock (1869), Hastings (1898) and Schaff are in the public domain. Parsed text: neuu-org/bible-dictionary-dataset (CC BY 4.0). Headwords and whitespace normalised for this site.
7 verses in 5 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H2999
During the night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maidservants, and his eleven sons, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok.
And Israel put him to the sword and took possession of his land, from the Arnon to the Jabbok—but only up to the border of the Ammonites, because it was fortified.
But you did not go near the land of the Ammonites, or the land along the banks of the Jabbok River, or the cities of the hill country, or any place that the LORD our God had forbidden.
and to the Reubenites and Gadites I gave the territory from Gilead to the Arnon Valley (the middle of the valley was the border) and up to the Jabbok River, the border of the Ammonites.
Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon. He ruled from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Valley, along the middle of the valley, up to the Jabbok River (the border of the Ammonites), that is, half of Gilead,
The king of the Ammonites answered Jephthahʼs messengers, “When Israel came up out of Egypt, they seized my land, from the Arnon to the Jabbok and all the way to the Jordan. Now, therefore, restore it peaceably.”
seizing all the land from the Arnon to the Jabbok and from the wilderness to the Jordan.
Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.