Atomic Bible

A place where Jacob wrestled with God

Peniel

Named in 6 verses across 3 books, first in Genesis 32:30.

פְּנוּאֵלPenuel

פְּנִיאֵלPeniel

Also called Penuel.

The name means “face or vision of God; that sees God.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869

About Peniel Written by AI

Peniel, also known as Penuel, was a significant location in the life of the patriarch Israel (or 'Jacob'). It is first mentioned in Genesis 32:30-31, where Jacob wrestled with a mysterious man (believed to be God or an angel) throughout the night. After the encounter, Jacob named the place Peniel, meaning "face of God," saying, "I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered." The wrestling match marked a turning point in Jacob's life, as he received a new name, Israel, signifying his struggle with God and men (Gen. 32:28). Later in the Bible, Penuel is mentioned as a city in the territory of Gad, east of the Jordan River. During the time of the judges, Gideon and his men pursued the Midianite kings Zebah and Zalmunna to Penuel (Judg. 8:8-9). The men of Penuel refused to provide bread to Gideon's army, so Gideon vowed to tear down the tower of Penuel upon his return (Judg. 8:17). In the reign of King Jeroboam I of Israel, Penuel was one of the cities he fortified (1Kgs. 12:25), possibly to secure his kingdom against the threat of Judah in the south.

Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.

32.184, 35.703 See it on a map

GenesisMatthewRevelation

Where the Bible names it

  1. Genesis 32:30

    So Jacob named the place Peniel, saying, “Indeed, I have seen God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”

  2. Genesis 32:31

    The sun rose above him as he passed by Penuel, and he was limping because of his hip.

  3. Judges 8:8

    From there he went up to Penuel and asked the same from them, but the men of Penuel gave the same response as the men of Succoth.

  4. Judges 8:9

    So Gideon told the men of Penuel, “When I return in triumph, I will tear down this tower!”

  5. Judges 8:17

    He also pulled down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city.

  6. 1 Kings 12:25

    Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. And from there he went out and built Penuel.

From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.