
Complete Bible Study Guide
What Does the Bible Say About Wrestling?
11 Scripture references with full text and commentary
Understanding Wrestling in the Bible
Explore what the Bible says about wrestling. This collection of 12 key Scripture passages reveals God's wisdom and guidance on this important theme.
Top 10 Verses About Wrestling
- 1Genesis 30:8
“And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali. great: Heb. wrestlings of God Naphtali: that is, My wrestling: Gr. Nephthalim”
KJV - 2Genesis 32:22
“And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok.”
KJV - 3Genesis 32:24
“And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. breaking: Heb. ascending of the morning”
KJV - 4Genesis 32:25
“And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.”
KJV - 5Psalms 144:1
“A Psalm of David. Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: strength: Heb. rock to war: Heb. to the war, etc”
KJV - 6
- 7Isaiah 41:10
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
KJV - 8Isaiah 64:7
“And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities. consumed: Heb. melted because: Heb. by the hand”
KJV - 9Hosea 12:3
“He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God: had: Heb. was a prince, or, behaved himself princely”
KJV - 10Ephesians 6:12
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. flesh: Gr. blood and flesh spiritual: or, wicked spirits high: or, heavenly”
KJV
Subtopics of Wrestling
Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Wrestling? (9 Verses)
“And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali. great: Heb. wrestlings of God Naphtali: that is, My wrestling: Gr. Nephthalim”
“And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok.”
“And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. breaking: Heb. ascending of the morning”
“And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.”
“A Psalm of David. Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: strength: Heb. rock to war: Heb. to the war, etc”
“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
“And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities. consumed: Heb. melted because: Heb. by the hand”
“He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God: had: Heb. was a prince, or, behaved himself princely”
New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Wrestling? (2 Verses)
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. flesh: Gr. blood and flesh spiritual: or, wicked spirits high: or, heavenly”
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
How to Study What the Bible Says About Wrestling
- 1
Begin by reading through every verse listed on this page, noting which ones speak most directly to your current season of life. Write them down and revisit them throughout the week.
- 2
Use a concordance or the search tools on this site to find additional passages about wrestling. Look for patterns across both the Old and New Testaments to gain a complete picture of what God reveals on this subject.
- 3
Study the context of each verse. Read the surrounding chapter to understand who was speaking, who the audience was, and what circumstances prompted the passage. Context prevents misapplication.
- 4
Memorise at least one key verse about wrestling and meditate on it daily. Scripture memory transforms thinking and equips you to apply God's Word in real-time situations.
Practical Application
Studying what the Bible says about wrestling is only the beginning. Scripture is meant to be lived out in daily obedience and faith. Here are practical steps to apply these truths:
Identify one area of your life where the biblical teaching on wrestling needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.
Share what you have learned about wrestling with a fellow believer or in a small group setting. Teaching others solidifies your own understanding and encourages mutual growth.
Pray through the key verses about wrestling, asking God to reveal how His Word applies to your relationships, decisions, and daily habits.
How Well Do You Know What the Bible Says About Wrestling?
You have studied 11 verses about wrestling. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.