Génesis 32:30

30 Y llamó Jacob el nombre de aquel lugar Peniel; porque vi a Dios cara a cara, y fue librada mi alma.

Génesis 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.

Génesis 32:30 In-Context

28 Y él dijo: No se dirá más tu nombre Jacob, sino Israel; porque has peleado con Dios y con los hombres, y has vencido.

29 Entonces Jacob le preguntó, y dijo: Declárame ahora tu nombre. Y él respondió: ¿Por qué preguntas por mi nombre? Y lo bendijo allí.

30 Y llamó Jacob el nombre de aquel lugar Peniel; porque vi a Dios cara a cara, y fue librada mi alma.

31 Y le salió el sol cuando pasaba a Peniel; y cojeaba de su anca.

32 Por esto no comen los hijos de Israel, hasta hoy día, del tendón que se contrajo, el cual está en la palma del anca; porque tocó a la palma del anca de Jacob en el tendón que se contrajo.