Genesis 32:30

30 And Jacob called the name of that place, the Face of God; for, I have seen God face to face, and my life was preserved.

Genesis 32:30 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 32:30

And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel
In ( Genesis 32:31 ) ; Penuel, which signifies the face of God, or God hath looked upon me, or hath had respect to me: there was afterwards a city built here, called by the same name; see ( Judges 8:8 ) ( 1 Kings 12:25 ) ; it is said ^F11 to be four miles from Mahanaim; the reason of it follows: for I have seen God face to face:
it may be observed, that in wrestling men are face to face, and in this position were Jacob and the man that wrestled with him; which he seems to have respect unto, as well as to the familiarity and intimate communion he was admitted to: and my life is preserved:
though he had wrestled with one so vastly superior to himself, who could have easily crushed this worm Jacob to pieces, as he is sometimes called; and though he had had such a sight of God as face to faces referring, as is thought, to a notion that obtained early, even among good men, that upon sight of God a man instantly died; though we have no example of that kind: but perhaps he observed this for his encouragement; that whereas he had met with God himself, and wrestled with him in the form of a man, and yet was preserved, he doubted not that, when he should meet with his brother and debate matters with him, he should be safe and unhurt.

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FOOTNOTES:

F11 Bunting's Travels, p. 72. 74.

Genesis 32:30 In-Context

28 And he said to him, Thy name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name; for thou hast prevailed with God, and shalt be mighty with men.

29 And Jacob asked and said, Tell me thy name; and he said, Wherefore dost thou ask after my name? and he blessed him there.

30 And Jacob called the name of that place, the Face of God; for, I have seen God face to face, and my life was preserved.

31 And the sun rose upon him, when he passed the Face of God; and he halted upon his thigh.

32 Therefore the children of Israel will by no means eat of the sinew which was benumbed, which is on the broad part of the thigh, until this day, because touched the broad part of the thigh of Jacob— the sinew which was benumbed.