Lecture: Biblical Series XIV: Jacob: Wrestling with God 

And the angel said to Jacob, "Stop hitting yourself!" But he could not stop, for the angel was hitting him with his own hands.

Bedtime just got postponed for another 2 hours and 32 minutes.

Those ideas somehow are helping me overcome severe depression. Thank you so much Dr. Peterson.

I can't wait to watch his lecture on Job story Who's with me?

I spent my life thinking that they were just some dumb outdated non well written reports to terrify kids and now when I listen JBP explaining some of the symbols I get amazed with all meaning and wisdom they carry. And he is more likely giving a introduction for these interpretations. There is so much more to sudy in each one of them.

I'm a simple man. I see a Biblical Lecture, I start cleaning my room.

Grew up Orthodox Christian and I've never had a priest portray any of the stories like this. Thanks Jordan!

My baby brother’s name was Jacob. He died when he was around 1 year old due to a intestinal problem. He was in the same room, and I remember the day quite vividly. My family found solace in faith that one day we would see him again. I have been in and out the faith throughout my life. Recently I have come back to my faith with the state of current affairs. Bless this man for his deep knowledge of many beautiful subjects❤️

Real stories with real people trying to find the truth. Timeless.

If you care for someone, you encourage them, allow them to face challenges, you don't protect them....Love this idea!

I know you don't see yourself as a religious leader but you have inspired me to be a better man and to strengthen my relationship with God. HE has his hand on your life and it is clear to see the Holy Spirit working on you and through you in which many "men of faith" are lacking. Please continue practicing your gift. Many jewels will you have in your crown.

The neuroscience and neurophysiology on these lectures are so fascinating. Dr. Peterson is so brilliant that he could bring psychology, neurophysiology, and biblical/relevant literature together into this lecture series. It’s so impressive and I am so thankful.

And Jacob said unto Esau, "Just take the damn goats."

God bless all the patreon supporters. My room is not clean enough to donate as of yet...... But I'm getting there.

I can barely get anything out of reading this story and he is able to give a 2 hour lecture, I admire this man's inteligente I can only wish to be half as smart as him.

2:14:34 “ You don’t have to be a mouthpiece.” So perfect.

DR. Peterson, you need to turn these biblical series into a book!! Damn! That would be amazing.

Wow, I was literally just studying Jacob and his wrestling. God is speaking to me through His Word providentially!

God created us with free will. He doesnt want you to be forced to worship Him, He wants your heart to do it because you believe Him and know He knows you better than you do.

Jordan Peterson, since I was a boy I have always had an interest for poetry. The colors, the sounds and the feelings were all so meaningful. My father wasn't a fan, I ended up being an amateur boxer in an attempt to make him one, with goals of turning professional. I guess I had a romantic view of what being a boxer was, and once I got in that world I made the realization that most boxers didn't look at it the way I did and that perhaps I was naive and didn't understand the severity of the struggle to rise out of poverty and it's murky waters. I was disenchanted with boxing and life, but then I heard you and what you had to say. I've never had someone teach me so much, and care so deeply at the same time. It gets me teary eyed just thinking about it now, as my father left when I was young. I do not have a college education, and I had been struggling to find work but I have an interview for a warehouse Wednesday and I'm excited to work diligently, and honestly. You've reminded me how much I love to read. I've picked up Jung and many of his works, Freud, Nietchzhe, The Art of Memory, brave new world, Hermeticism, math and science books aswell as mythology and Doestvsky. Here is something I'd like to share: I smelled the summit air Exhumed the winds of change But only in my dreams Woken to distorted thoughts Could not recall it's means And once again I reached the peak But woke and fell in doubt I call to mind seraphic gleams A God riding his mount I had a dream I was in a Mexican mall as a child where everyone was complaining about Trump. (I voted Trump) Suddenly, The stage changed And I see a scene in which a hero is running deep in the heart of a forest, seeking someone. There is Christ, in a metallic Cross, with blue and red wires infused in his veins. He is dying.. But the hero is seeking him only to find himself outside a black mansion. He enters to find a man in a black suit, handsome and cunning. They engage in battle but the man tranquilizes the hero and he suddenly begins to fade.. As he fades, the adversary laughs and presses a button. The veins of Christ.. The wires.. pumping.. And it spreads all over the body until he explodes blood.. The adversary tells the hero that it was a trap. That he shouldn't have tried to save God. I wake up.. hanging on a cross.. blue and red wires in my veins. Half my face is peeled off, replaced with cybernetics. I can't tell if I'm Christ, but I can tell that I am now the hero I was seeing, I see the world through his eyes and feel all of his suffering. It's so strange, so much deep physical torment, but a transcendence of calm. I close my eyes.. And I see a new scene. An island outside the Forest which is in bystanding island aswell. It is full of animated characters of my childhood. Pokemon, Yugioh, cartoons and such. They are having fun and playing around, when one of them senses me in the middle of the woods. I feel them and they feel me.. And like loyal dogs they come chasing for me.. without so much as a second thought, They come to rescue me. I warn them not to.. that once they arrive the adversary well press his button. The woods are on fire, and the animations fight off machines attempting to reach me in the cross. I feel like we need a miracle.. The dream fades back into the mall in Mexico where an earthquake splits the mall in half and glass comes down and fatally wounds a woman and child. Well.. it turned out, The next day my boss who doesn't talk to me at all, asked me about my family in Mexico because she had heard in the news of an earthquake in Mexico. Apparently there was a story of a woman and her baby that were killed by glass shards falling from the building. I have not read an article on this story, this is only what she told me. But it's an experience I deeply wanted to share with you or to anyone in this channel who is willing to listen and maybe share they're own. This is the only dream I can recall in the past year. I don't exactly know what's going on here, but reading Jung and taking him seriously had led me into a lot of rabbit holes that almost made me wish I didn't read him. My end goal is to work at this warehouse, save up for a car and surgery, and if I can't box professionally, I can help the youth and the new generation and be a boxing coach teaching them discipline, courage, strategy and heart while monitoring and limiting the damage they take unlike a lot of trainers that don't take into account CTE. I want to help my community but before that I want to find my soul and say sorry. I want to apologize for my bitterness and shame. There is still Cain inside me, and his temptations with Hermeticism are alluring but I think I will find my way. Thank you again Jordan Peterson.

The optics in Jordan Peterson’s biblical lectures are kickass. I love the dark background. It’s so existentially cool. Am I alone lol?

Sacrificing 2 hours and 32 minutes of my life to watch this video is guaranteed to pay off. Diving in the deep end! This series has already taught me more than ... well, I don't remember any single source teaching me this much, ever.

Learned more about life in this 2 and a half an hour lecture from doctor Peterson than 5 years of college life!!

I have no idea why, but whenever I listen to Dr. Peterson my mind explodes with creativity. And the fascinating thing is that it's not just about what he's saying. It's like listening to him is a catalyst for my mind to come up with new ideas on anything I can possibly think about. It's weird how much it happens. Super random comment.

To that guy who asked the question about nietzsche at 1:52:00, check out Seneca the Younger. In his Moral Letters (no. 84, specifically, but also throughout the work), he discusses the proper way to interact with past genius. Basically, balance reading and writing so that you can distill the knowledge of past minds into your own original thoughts. Your new thoughts should be recognizable as derivative from specific sources, but still provide new value to whoever reads your work.

Need to exercise self control so I won't drop everything that I am doing to watch this for the rest of the evening. LOL

This is awesome, slay that dragon. I was smothered by my mom and quite the wallflower, but God gave me an idea to interview people about their car every visit to the gas station and that might be two times a week. I learned so much about interacting with people, they love to talk about their car and I found out what car to buy. Also, I became more courageous. Thanks Mr. Peterson.

Seeing this pop up in my notifications made me the happiest bucko in the land

Jordan Peterson literally fought the devil in a dream n won. Legend.

“They can’t sacrifice the present for the future” that is a really deep way of describing how a wolf eats. Only dr Peterson..

This man explains to me what my Sunday School Teacher never could! It’s like I’m listening to the most advanced intellectual Sunday-School teacher in history! Everything he says explains to me the things I have always wondered about! Thank you Jordon Peterson for your unbelievable breadth of understanding and integration!

I love what you do, have for at least three years. I'm a newly reborn Christian(2 months). I'm trying so hard and all I want is to strive for God not thrive for I. It's a tough road.

The Q&A is one of your best yet. Amazing. I had to listen the Q&A at least twice, and will listen again to pinpoint the ideas learned.Mind blown roughly at 1:35:00 Your descriptions of little kids' dreams and fears really made me a more competent parent to my 2 year old. He says he's scared of stuff sometimes, and I usually go into "problem solving" mode and I ask him "what should we do about this scary stuff?" and hearing you say it totally validated my actions, and now I'll just... you know.. keep doing what "feels right" as a parent.... because my "feels right" is probably a culmination of 1,000s of years of indirect ancestral knowledge. Thank you. I can trust my instincts sometimes, now.

"Your category system, which is what structures your perceptions, is actually dependent on the ethics of your aim." Beautifully said,

I could listen to you for hours. And then I start all over again. Thank you Dr. Peterson!

Today I spent time searching “how Jordan Peterson is wrong” because there’s no way it’s healthy the way I’ve been devouring his content. I like to see both sides to make sure I’m not missing anything and making mistakes. Not many valid arguments against his ideas, but some. It’s interesting.

What a blessing it is to be able to come here and take a course with Professor Peterson. Jordan, I hope you are feeling much better these days. All of you.

Men, my favorite hobby is watching his video's while playing simple videogames. I love the combination! I am now in the proces of discipline myself, it is not easy, especially as a ADD guy with a lazy attitude, but I have make great proces, I think I got my efficiency up, with something between 20-40%, for me, that is huge! I even start noticing some changes in my conscienceness, the one I feel most relieved and happy for, is the establishment of selfconfidience. The knowing that in the eye of desire, I can say no, and do what is necessary, even if that thing does not give me that instant shot of satisfation. I am building trust! Thank you Jordan!

I really love how much he talks with hands during this whole lecture.

I totally adore JP. I'd rather indulge in his verbal skills than to socialize.....that's terribly worrying! 💅 Te

this is great. I hold bible study groups with some of our church and this is really deeply expanding my understanding and appreciation of the meanings we often miss when we just take things at face value. much appreciated Jordan peterson for all the time spent on these lectures and the free uploads :)

I love you brother Peterson. You are the salt of the earth- may God be your truth that brings you home to him.

Being Israeli I love how he translates the names of people and places, I never actually paid too much attention to the meaning of them, until now, which is ironic, because I know hebrew and I can understand the original writings.

When he talks about his sister in laws son having those night terrors, I always wonder how real they felt to him. Since 4 or 5 i had night terrors like that, always vivid and usually ended after I died. When you are in a dreamscape that pushes the boundries of reality it becomes harder and harder each time to tell yourself it's a dream, especially when the pain can bleed out into the real world.

I love how when the body positivity movement was mentioned, everyone just broke into laughter.

My 100th time watching this hoping I could be 1/2 the psychologist you are. God bless you, Jordan

What a brilliant mind. He helps me find the truth. Thank you Peterson.

I’m a junior in college architecture tract. I’ve learned more from this video than any of my three years of classes, and it came with such a desire for questions unanswered

The final question in the Q&A is extraordinary. It demonstrates just what a powerful cleansing agent thoughtful discourse can be. It’s an exceptionally smart question and JBP humble engagement with it marks him out as a genuinely good man. This series of lectures has proved to be very good for my soul.

I watch one of Jordan's videos every month or so. My brain can't handle any more. However the material is so heavy- and real- that it actually takes me that long to hash it all out. He explains things in excellent essay format, and by some weird miracle I can actually retain his long-winded speaking.

That last question was phenomenal. I have never heard such an insightful question from an audience member before in all of my time watching these lectures.

On the question of why go into the solitude.. here is a partial clue. 'Desert' in Hebrew is 'midbar' it has the same root as 'medaber' which means 'to speak'.. so when one goes into the desert.. he is able to hear the voice.. and to gain clarity. In the bible all purification processes are 40.. 40 days.. years etc.. the purification bath contains 40 parts of water.. this gives us a clue that clarity and purification can be found alone..(like a beast that goes into a corner to lick its wound). This solitude is not forever.. like buddhists.. one must return to humanity in the end.

When I overcame my fear of making a mistake in hockey ,when I was young . I broke free and became more dynamic and did some things athletically I did not even know I could do .I became much more creative and I went from a good player to a better player.I also became a target for the others teams and when that happened I just turned up the heat and grew even better and more creative.

I simply was not aware of this world renowned professor of psychology turned preacher. Amazing

I’m glad you pointed the camera at the people asking the question- really makes a difference ….great stuff!

I love how he could have referenced any number of movies or books but he mentions FUBAR. Albertan to the core! Class act

"If an idea didn't incarnate itself in you, transforming your perceptions and your actions, then you were merely possessed by the idea. You were merely a spokesperson for the idea. You're a puppet for the idea. It's not you. The idea is in you and it has taken you. You haven't taken the idea, incorporated it within you and made it part of your life."

In video games there’s this thing called a “Check Point” that saves your progress in a particular location. I think that’s what Jacob does with the stone, he marks the centre of an idea, and to walk away from the stone is to walk further away from that idea into new territory (but within the context of that idea). So almost like marking the territory of an idea, or its essence of birth and home (or bedroom 😛)

Jordon, Thank you for making your lectures accessible to me.

Fascinating lecture! When Peterson went through Jacob wrestling with God at 1:13:08 I thought it was a little bit of a let down because it was so brief. But, that is a little minor note to the immense amount of information in this particular lecture, incredible nuggets of gold everywhere. I paused at this moment however, and this is what I came up with: Jacob just separated his belongings into two caravans, anticipating the ill will of his brother not to be abated by 14 years of separation. All of his toil, hard work, belongings, his whole life is at stake. He can do what his brother Esau did, which is to harbor resentment to the point of murder. He is at the crossroads. That's where you meet the devil:) And so he wrestles with Being. He has to fight his darker impulses, he has to believe that life can be good, at least it can be worth living despite the suffering. He will pay the price for it, he will limp for the rest of his life. If he chooses life, it will batter him, because he chooses to believe in the good of being rather than turn against it and become Cain. He is the one who wrestles with God and wins. That is his new name, Israel. I don't think it is incidental that Israel historically encompasses the same idea, roughly speaking:) These people constantly wrestle with God and win, limping every step of the way through the centuries. Perhaps, given their history and their resilience (countless examples could be given), they are the least likely people to bounce back, and not just bounce back but find meaning in life, reinvigorate their culture, etc. Other nations have the same kind of histories, particularly genocide (take a look at the Armenian genocide). Clean your room, slay your dragons, rescue your father from the belly of the whale, wrestle with God.

This era of Jacob is fascinating and recalls the time of when I fought monsters in my own childhood. I wore a hat and cowboy boots though I admire this child for making his coat and hat armor. Thanks for sharing!

I am number 12 in a family of 14 children and at the risk of sounding arrogant ,I am sure that my older siblings would say that I am the smart one in the family .I have seen and heard it from them at a distance and in the way they came to me for answers when they had a problem to solve or a math or spelling problem.I remember one day when the oldest said that she does not worry about me like the others because she knows that I will just bounced back like a rubber ball.That statement she made helped my confidence .

I could listen to this guy for hours :) ... Very intelligent, and intellect without being intellectual! He just makes you think if what are thinking is correct lol

My body is ready professor

Wow I needed this today. Thanks Dr. Peterson

I was searching for this message and clicked it. Then I realized it was Jordan Peterson!! I love it

Awesome! And so glad GK Chesterton's book,"The Man who was Thursday" was mentioned! Truth!

the best psychology knowledge sharer i have met online! GOD BLESS YOU, THIS MAN for all the good you've done for the falling people.

Worst question ever at 2:11:00. I was there live and could hardly avoid melting in my seat.

God answered my prayers by usuing one of my motivational hero to talk about to Bible ❤❤

Mr. Peterson, you boldly stand for the truth, time to get to know the One who is the Personification of the Truth!

The last question was so freakin interesting

This lecture had the Best questions by the students!! Awesome answers by Jordan too.

"Citizen Peterson" guy should rent his own lecture hall if he's so interested in lecturing people.

I absolutely LOVE Jordan's telling of this story!

Bucko squard charlie reporting in

Resurrection of Christianity by taking on the form of the Phoenix. Shedding its' archaic form into something relatable and intriguing.

That last question was explosively thought-provoking, and I would listen to a full lecture on just that idea.

God Bless you, Sir.... you've brought me some clarity in very dark times and, I appreciate you. Thank you.

Love listening to Peterson on long drives

Professor, I love how you timed this perfectly for the week's Torah portion of the same story - 'Vayishlach' - according to the Jewish calendar. Thank you for yet another fantastic lecture and I look forward to the next one.

35 mins in this lecure seems like an entire book of information while still being very easy to understand.

I discovered this Biblical Series recently . It's great even from an historical point of view

33:18 Damn imagine being Cain and Abel and you’ve got to deal with your parents literally betraying God and ruining the Garden of Eden

Thank you Dr Peterson. I know that you have been through much for the sacrifices that you have made to try to enlighten others in the midst of darkness. May you have rest and peace for awhile in order to rebuild your strength. Blessings to you and your family.

This is the rawest form of preaching. It's just a dude telling people his interpretation of a biblical story and what lesson he thinks can be drawn from it. What I really like about it is this doesn't have the theatrics and fear mongering and pretentiousness of a typical preacher. This just sounds like a guy thinking outloud

Dr Peterson reminded me of Robin Williams when he was on fire. It's a rapid fire genius; an emotional rollercoaster, a brain teaser. It's rare. It's worthy.

WHAT!? Already!? I'm doing dishes tonight.

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Jordan, Dr Peterson. This is medicine to mine ears. It's good work. Thank you

The Father sees us as Jesus because we are covered by his blood.

This lecture was particularly good, filled with great insights, questions and answers, and great ideas. Thanks for posting, you are awesome! CheerS!

I put these on CD so that I can listen to them in my car. Keep up the good work.

JBP is unbelievably impressive. He has the intellectual honesty that is a uniting factor for our divided culture. He has the ability to show the religious right to better understand Nietzsche and Freud and the atheist left to respect the values from the Bible even if you don't agree with everything. Welcome to the new common ground.

Jordan, Jordan never fails to impress and puncture your brain with knowledge and hitting that right spot where you store all the things that nourish you into something, we need more people like you my guy and keep doing you!

Can anyone explain the "citizen guy" at 2:11:00? Peterson is a saint because I would have told this guy to shut up and sit down. He seems a troll.

47:30 I’ve never actually thought about that before. All the flags represented on the UK’s flags are crosses.

It's simple. God created everything. Be good, and you return to His realm (heaven).

This is real study for me, there is so much content. I will listen again and again. Thankyou JP

Please, please, please make sure your answer to the question of the objective value of voluntary isolation makes it to the clips channel. Pure genius.