Genesis 32:30

Genesis 32:30 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.
• New International Version (NIV)So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, "For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered."
• New King James Version (NKJV)So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”

Context of Genesis 32:30

28Then He said to him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he said. 29Then He said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but rather Israel, for you have struggled with God and with men, and you have overcome.” Then Jacob asked and said, “Please tell me Your name.” But He said, “What’s this—you are asking My name?” Then He blessed him there. 31So Jacob named the place Peniel, “for I’ve seen God face to face, and my life has been spared.” 32Now the sun rose upon him just as he crossed by Peniel—limping because of his hip.

Genesis 32:30 word by word

וַיִּקְרָ֧א יַעֲקֹ֛ב שֵׁ֥ם הַמָּק֖וֹם פְּנִיאֵ֑ל כִּֽי־רָאִ֤יתִי אֱלֹהִים֙ פָּנִ֣ים אֶל־פָּנִ֔ים וַתִּנָּצֵ֖ל נַפְשִֽׁי׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Jacobיַעֲקֹבya‛ăqôb · JacobH3290
• calledקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call byH7121
• the nameשֵׁםshêm · nameH8034
• of the placeמָקוֹםmâqôm mâqôm meqômâh meqômâh · placeH4725
• Penielפְּנוּאֵלpenû'êl penîy'êl · PenielH6439
• for I have seenרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• faceפָּנֶהpânîym · faceH6440
• and my lifeנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soul: lifeH5315
• is preservedנָצַלnâtsal · to rescueH5337

Cross-references for Genesis 32:30

• Genesis 32:31So Jacob named the place Peniel, “for I’ve seen God face to face, and my life has been spared.”
• Genesis 28:19He called the name of that place Beth-El (though originally the city’s name was Luz).
• Judges 8:8From there he went up to Penuel and spoke to them similarly, but the men of Penuel answered him just as the men of Succoth had answered.
• 1 Kings 12:25Then Jeroboam rebuilt Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim and resided there. From there he went out and built Penuel.
• Genesis 16:13So she called Adonai who was speaking to her, “You are the God who sees me.” For she said, “Would I have gone here indeed looking for Him who looks after me?”
• Exodus 24:10They saw the God of Israel, and under His feet was something like a pavement of sapphire, as clear as the very heavens.
• Exodus 33:14“My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest,” He answered.
• Numbers 12:8I speak with him face to face, plainly and not in riddles. He even looks at the form of Adonai! Why then were you not afraid to speak against My servant Moses?”
• Deuteronomy 5:24You go near and hear all that Adonai our God says. Then you tell us all what Adonai our God tells you, and we will hear it and do it.’
• Deuteronomy 34:10There has not risen again a prophet in Israel like Moses, whom Adonai knew face to face,
• Judges 6:22When Gideon realized that He was the angel of Adonai, Gideon said, “Alas, my Lord Adonai! For I have seen the angel of Adonai face to face!”
• Judges 13:21But the angel of Adonai appeared no more to Manoah or to his wife. Then Manoah realized that he was the angel of Adonai.
• Isaiah 6:5Then I said: “Oy to me! For I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I am dwelling among a people of unclean lips. For my eyes have seen the King, Adonai-Tzva’ot!”
• John 1:18No one has ever seen God; but the one and only God, in the Father’s embrace, has made Him known.
• 2 Corinthians 3:18But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory—just as from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
• 2 Corinthians 4:6For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Messiah.

Commentaries on Genesis 32:30

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-32Verses 1-32 - Jacob Wrestles in Prayer 3. מחנים machănāyı̂m Machanaim, “two camps.” 22. יבק yaboq Jabboq; related: בקק bāqaq “gush or gurgle out” or אבק 'ābaq in niphal, “wrestle.” Now Wady Zurka. 29. ישׂראל yı̂śrā'ēl Jisrael, “prince of God.” 31. פניאל penı̂y'ēl = פנוּאל penû'ēl Peniel, Penuel, “face of God.” After twenty years spent in Aram, Jacob now returns to Kenann. As his departure was marked by a great moment in his spiritual life, so he…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 24-32Verses 24-32 A great while before day, Jacob being alone, more fully spread his fears before God in prayer. While thus employed, One in the likeness of a man wrestled with him. When the spirit helpeth our infirmities, and our earnest and vast desires can scarcely find words to utter them, and we still mean more than we can express, then prayer is indeed wrestling with God. However tried or discouraged, we shall prevail; and prevailing with Him in prayer…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 30Peniel (which means “face of God”): The name shows that Jacob recognized the man as a manifestation of God (a theophany). yet my life was spared (or and my soul has been rescued): This probably meant Jacob realized that God had answered his prayer to be saved from Esau (32:11). If he could encounter God like this and survive, he had nothing to fear from Esau. The saying may also reflect an ancient belief that no one can see God and live (see Exodus 33:20).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3-323. Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau--that is, "had sent." It was a prudent precaution to ascertain the present temper of Esau, as the road, on approaching the eastern confines of Canaan, lay near the wild district where his brother was now established. land of Seir--a highland country on the east and south of the Dead Sea, inhabited by the Horites, who were dispossessed by Esau or his posterity (De 11:12). When and in what circumstances he had…Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 32:30

• Israel
• Jesus, the Christ
• Prayer
• Religion

In the dictionaries

• God
• Jacob
• Jacob, Israel
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Angel
• Ask
• Cast
• Deal
• Mercy
• Penuel

Commentaries on Genesis 32

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings