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פְּנוּאֵל

𐤐𐤍𐤅𐤀𐤋

Penuel

H6439 noun

SILEX Entry

Root פנה-אל to turn, to face, God (El)

Definition

Proper noun: 1) The name of a location east of the Jordan River associated with the theophanic encounter of Jacob (see Genesis 32:31), meaning 'face of God' or 'the presence of God'; 2) The personal name of at least two individuals in the Hebrew Bible, likely referencing the associated place or invoking the sense of being in God's presence or favor. The term carries the connotation of divine encounter or visibility.

Semantic Range

face of God, presence of God, a place name (location east of the Jordan associated with a theophany), personal name (Israelite individuals), site of a significant encounter, name of a town, place of divine appearance

Root / Etymology

Formed from the root פנה (to turn, face) and אל (God, deity), yielding the compound 'Penuel' — lit. 'face of God' or 'presence of God.' The variant spelling פְּנִיאֵל (Peniel) occurs and is considered a phonetic variant of פְּנוּאֵל (Penuel).

Historical & Contextual Notes

The place called Penuel is most prominent in the narrative of Jacob wrestling with the 'man,' after which the location is named due to Jacob's remark that he has seen God 'face to face' (Genesis 32:30-31). The site appears later in the period of the Judges and early monarchy (Judges 8:8–9, 8:17; 1 Kings 12:25) as a settlement east of the Jordan, often associated with Gilead. As a personal name, Penuel appears in genealogies (1 Chronicles 4:4; 8:25), likely chosen for its theological resonance. English translations have often rendered the place name as both 'Peniel' and 'Penuel' due to the two Hebrew spellings; 'Peniel' is especially used for the narrative in Genesis, whereas 'Penuel' is more common elsewhere. The meaning revolves around divine presence or the experience of a direct theophany, distinct from other names with 'El' suffixes, which often specify a divine attribute or relationship. No clear shift in meaning occurs between pre-exilic and post-exilic periods, but its narrative-theological significance is most pronounced in the earlier patriarchal story. Later usage as a personal name likely alludes to the memory or aspiration of direct encounter with Israel’s God.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or (more properly,) פְּנִיאֵל; from פָּנָה and אֵל; face of God; Penuel or Peniel, a place East of Jordan; also (as Penuel) the name of two Israelites; Peniel, Penuel.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

פנה-אל (p-n-h / ʾ-l) — to turn, to face; God (El)

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H6439-03 פְּנוּאֵ֑ל penuel HNp Penuel Face of God Penuel 4
H6439-01 פְנוּאֵ֔ל fenuel HNp Penuel Face-of-God Penuel 2
H6439-04 וּ/פְנוּאֵל֙ ufenuel HC/Np and Penuel and Face-of-God and Penuel 2
H6439-02 פְּנִיאֵ֑ל peniel HNp Peniel Face-of-God Penuel 1
H6439-05 ו/פניאל vfnyl HC/Np and Penuel and Face-of-El and Penuel 1

Occurrences in Scripture

10 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H6439-02 Genesis 32:31 פְּנִיאֵ֑ל peniel HNp Peniel Face-of-God Penuel
H6439-03 Genesis 32:32 פְּנוּאֵ֑ל penuel HNp Penuel Face of God Penuel
H6439-03 Judges 8:8 פְּנוּאֵ֔ל penuel HNp Penuel Face of God Penuel
H6439-01 Judges 8:8 פְנוּאֵ֔ל fenuel HNp Penuel Face-of-God Penuel
H6439-01 Judges 8:9 פְנוּאֵ֖ל fenuel HNp Penuel Face-of-God Penuel
H6439-03 Judges 8:17 פְּנוּאֵ֖ל penuel HNp Penuel Face of God Penuel
H6439-03 1 Kings 12:25 פְּנוּאֵֽל penuel HNp Penuel Face of God Penuel
H6439-04 1 Chronicles 4:4 וּ/פְנוּאֵל֙ ufenuel HC/Np and Penuel and Face-of-God and Penuel
H6439-05 1 Chronicles 8:25 ו/פניאל vfnyl HC/Np and Penuel and Face-of-El and Penuel
H6439-04 1 Chronicles 8:25 וּ/פְנוּאֵ֖ל ufenuel HC/Np and Penuel and Face-of-God and Penuel
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