Etymology and Meaning:
Penuel, also spelled Peniel, means "Face of God" in Hebrew. This name reflects the significant encounter Jacob had with God at this location, as described in the Book of Genesis.

Biblical References:
Penuel is first mentioned in Genesis 32:30, where Jacob names the place after wrestling with a divine being. The Berean Standard Bible states: "So Jacob named the place Peniel, saying, 'Indeed, I have seen God face to face, and yet my life was spared.'"

Historical and Geographical Context:
Penuel is located east of the Jordan River, near the Jabbok River. It is traditionally identified with the site where Jacob wrestled with the angel. This encounter is pivotal in Jacob's life, marking a transformation in his character and his relationship with God. The event at Penuel signifies a moment of divine intervention and blessing, as Jacob's name is changed to Israel, meaning "he struggles with God."

Significance in Israelite History:
Penuel holds historical significance beyond Jacob's encounter. In the period of the Judges, Penuel is mentioned in the narrative of Gideon. Judges 8:8-9 recounts how Gideon, pursuing the Midianite kings, requested provisions from the men of Penuel, who refused. In response, Gideon vowed to tear down their tower upon his victorious return: "From there he went up to Penuel and asked the same from them, but the men of Penuel gave the same answer as the men of Succoth. So Gideon told them, 'When I return in triumph, I will tear down this tower.'"

Later, during the reign of King Jeroboam I, Penuel is mentioned as a fortified city. 1 Kings 12:25 notes Jeroboam's efforts to strengthen his kingdom: "Then Jeroboam built up Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. From there he went out and built up Penuel."

Theological Themes:
Penuel is a site of divine encounter and transformation. Jacob's wrestling with God at Penuel is emblematic of the struggle and perseverance in faith. It underscores the theme of divine grace and blessing, as Jacob emerges from the encounter with a new identity and a renewed covenantal relationship with God. The narrative highlights the importance of seeking God's face and the transformative power of divine encounters.

Symbolism and Legacy:
Penuel symbolizes the place where human frailty meets divine strength. It serves as a reminder of the personal and communal struggles faced by the people of God and the assurance of His presence and guidance. The legacy of Penuel is one of hope and transformation, encouraging believers to seek God's face in times of trial and to trust in His providential care.Penuel

same as Peniel

Penuel

[PENIEL]

Face of God, a place not far from Succoth, on the east of the Jordan and north of the river Jabbok. It is also called "Peniel." Here Jacob wrestled (Genesis 32:24-32) "with a man" ("the angel", Hosea 12:4. Jacob says of him, "I have seen God face to face") "till the break of day."

A town was afterwards built there (Judges 8:8; 1 Kings 12:25). The men of this place refused to succour Gideon and his little army when they were in pursuit of the Midianites (Judges 8:1-21). On his return, Gideon slew the men of this city and razed its lofty watch-tower to the ground.

PENUEL

pe-nu'-el, pen'-u-el.

See PENIEL.

TOWER OF PENUEL

See PENIEL.

5323. Phanouel -- Phanuel, an Israelite
... Word Origin of Hebrew origin Penuel Definition Phanuel, an Isr. ... Phanuel. Of Hebrew
origin (Pnuw'el); Phanuel (ie Penuel), an Israelite -- Phanuel. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5323.htm - 6k6439. Penuel -- "face of God," a place East of the Jordan, also ...
... Penuel. 6440 . "face of God," a place East of the Jordan, also two Israelites.
Transliteration: Penuel Phonetic Spelling: (pen-oo-ale') Short Definition: Penuel ...
/hebrew/6439.htm - 6k

Gideon's Brave Band
... Zebah and Zalmunna into my power, for this insult I will thrash your bare flesh
with desert thorns and briers." He went on from there to Penuel and made the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/gideons brave band.htm

Political Religion
... THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS POLITICAL RELIGION. 'Then Jeroboam built Shechera in mount
Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel.26. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/political religion.htm

Meeting a Brother who had Been Wronged
... And Jacob called the place Penuel, which means Face of God, for he said,
"I have seen God face to face, and my life has been saved.". ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/meeting a brother who had.htm

How, Upon the Death of Solomon the People Forsook his Son Rehoboam ...
... 4. When therefore Jeroboam had built him a palace in the city Shechem, he dwelt
there. He also built him another at Penuel, a city so called. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 8 how upon the.htm

Here Beginneth the Life of Isaac
... And he blessed him in the same place. Jacob called the name of that same place Penuel,
saying: I have seen our Lord face to face, and my soul is made safe. ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/here beginneth the life of.htm

Discussion of the Subject of Permission
... when the statement of the spies had been made, to refuse to go up into the promised
land, (Numbers 14:4), the citizens of Succoth and Penuel, to deny bread to ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 3/discussion of the subject of.htm

Letter C
... Received 1788, Located 1800 * Cookman, George G. "Received 1826 * Cooley, Charles
L. "Received 1818, Expelled 1825 * Coombe, Penuel "Received 1835 * Coope ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/bangs/an alphabetical list of m e preachers/letter c.htm

Chapter xxxii
... For I have seen God face to face and my soul is preserved. And the sun rose upon
him as he passed by Penuel, and he was limping because of his thigh. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxii.htm

Letter Liv. To Furia.
... [1602] Agrorum tributa. [1603] Luke 2:36. [1604] Penuel (AV Phanuel) means face
of God' cf. Genesis 32:30. [1605] Asher = blessedness or wealth.'. ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter liv to furia.htm

"This Thing is from Me"
... possessed! 25-27. Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt
therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel. And ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 42 1896/this thing is from me.htm

Penuel (7 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. PENUEL. pe-nu'-el, pen'-u-el. See PENIEL. TOWER
OF PENUEL. See PENIEL. Multi-Version Concordance Penuel (7 Occurrences). ...
/p/penuel.htm - 9k

Penu'el (7 Occurrences)
Penu'el. Penuel, Penu'el. Penury . Multi-Version Concordance ... (See RSV). 1
Chronicles 4:4 and Penuel the father of Gedor, and Ezer the father of Hushah. ...
/p/penu'el.htm - 8k

Peniel (4 Occurrences)
... In the next verse and elsewhere it appears as "Penuel." The name is said to have
been given to the place by Jacob after his night of wrestling by the Jabbok ...
/p/peniel.htm - 9k

Succoth (18 Occurrences)
... In his pursuit of Zeba and Zalmunnah, Gideon seems to have retraced the path followed
by Jacob, passing Succoth before Penuel (Judges 8:5). Their churlishness ...
/s/succoth.htm - 16k

Similarly (4 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Judges 8:8 He went up there to Penuel, and spoke to them in like manner;
and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered. ...
/s/similarly.htm - 7k

Gideon (45 Occurrences)
... At Succoth they say to him, "Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thy hand,
that we should give bread unto thine army?" (Judges 8:6). At Penuel he meets ...
/g/gideon.htm - 36k

Zalmunna (9 Occurrences)
... and, stirred by this, Gideon went in hot pursuit with 300 men (Judges 8:4). He
requested provisions for his men from the people of Succoth and Penuel, but was ...
/z/zalmunna.htm - 13k

Zebah (9 Occurrences)
... and, stirred by this, Gideon went in hot pursuit with 300 men (Judges 8:4). He
requested provisions for his men from the people of Succoth and Penuel, but was ...
/z/zebah.htm - 13k

Karkor (1 Occurrence)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Foundation, a place in the open desert wastes on the east
of Jordan (Judges 8:10), not far beyond Succoth and Penuel, to the south. ...
/k/karkor.htm - 7k

Kingdom (409 Occurrences)
... Hosea 8:14), with its own order of priests (2 Chronicles 11:14; 2 Chronicles
13:9), and founded two capital cities, Shechem on the West and Penuel on the East ...
/k/kingdom.htm - 101k

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