Genesis 32:30

30 So Jacob called the place Peniel,[a] saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”

Genesis 32:30 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.
English Standard Version (ESV)
30 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 Living Translation (NLT)
30 Jacob named the place Peniel (which means “face of God”), for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been spared.”
The Message Bible (MSG)
30 Jacob named the place Peniel (God's Face) because, he said, "I saw God face-to-face and lived to tell the story!"
American Standard Version (ASV)
30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for, [said he], I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
30 So Jacob named that place Peniel [Face of God], because he said, "I have seen God face to face, but my life was saved."
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
30 Jacob then named the place Peniel, "For," [he said,] "I have seen God face to face, and I have been delivered."
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
30 So Jacob named the place Peniel. He said, "I saw God face to face. But I'm still alive!"

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.


FOOTNOTES:

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

Genesis 32:30 In-Context

28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”
29 Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there.
30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”
31 The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip.
32 Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob’s hip was touched near the tendon.

Cross References 1

  • 1. S Genesis 16:13; 1 Corinthians 13:12; Exodus 24:11; Numbers 12:8; Judges 6:22; Judges 13:22

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. "Peniel" means "face of God."
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.