peniel Summary and Overview

(face of God) the name which Jacob gave to the place in which he had wrestled with God: "He called the name of the place 'face of El,' for I have seen Elohim face to face." #Ge 32:30| In #Ge 32:31| and the other passages in which the name occurs, its form is changed to PENUEL. From the narrative it is evident that Peniel lay somewhere on the north bank of the Jabbok, and between that torrent and the fords of the Jordan at Succoth, a few miles north of the glen where the Jabbok falls into the Jordan.

PENI'EL , or PENU'EL (face of God), a place between the Jabbok and Succoth where Jacob had his mysterious wrestling with the Angel. Gen 32:24-32. The usual, and probably the original, form was "Penuel," and this is the form in the Samaritan Pentateuch. Five hundred years later, when pursuing the Midianites. Gideon found a city and tower at Penuel, and slew the men of the city. Jud 8:17-18. Jeroboam went from Shechem and built Penuel. 1 Kgs 12:25. Its site has long been counted as unknown, for the region in which it was situated has been only slightly explored. Dr. Merrill, however, identifies Penuel with a point on the Zerka (Jabbok), about 4 miles east of Canaan's ford and at Tabill edh Dhahuh. See Jabbok.

PENIEL or PENUEL ("face of God"). Name given by Jacob to the place where he saw God face to face and wrestled with Him (Genesis 32:30; compare Genesis 33:10; Judges 8:5; Judges 8:8; 1 Kings 12:25).