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The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

Genesis 32:30

GENESIS—NOTE ON Genesis 32:30 Jacob called the name of the place Peniel. “Peniel” means “face of God.” Jacob’s encounter with God fills him with awe. When later Moses asks to see God’s glory, he is told, “You cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live” (Exodus 33:20). In light of this, either Jacob’s encounter is a remarkable exception or face to face is a figure of speech for closeness to God.

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See also Genesis 32:30 in other biblical comments:

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    - Jacob Wrestles in Prayer 3. מחנים _machănāyı̂m_, Machanaim, “two camps.” 22. יבק _yaboq_, Jabboq; related: בקק _bāqaq_ “gush or gurgle out” or אבק _'ābaq_ in niphal, “wrestle.” Now Wady Zurka....

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 32 JACOB'S FEAR OF ESAU AND PRAYER AT PENIEL _ 1. The vision at Mahanaim (Genesis 32:1)_ 2. The message to Esau (Genesis 32:3) 3. Esau's coming and Jacob's fear (Genesis 32:6) 4. Jacob's p...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    THE WRESTLING OF JACOB. The narrative, for which Hosea 12:3 should be compared. is distributed between J and E by recent critics. Gunkel attributes Genesis 32:23_ a_, Genesis 32:25_ a_,...

  • B. W. Johnson's Bible Commentary

    JACOB CALLED THE NAME OF THE PLACE PENIEL. The word Peniel means "the face of God." Jacob, conscious of the divine blessing, thought that he had looked upon the divine face,. mistake on his part we s...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Jacob's Wrestling with the Angel This passage forms the climax of Jacob's history. It records the occasion on which his name is changed to Israel, and describes his personal meeting with the Divine B...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _Peniel_ R.V. marg. _The face of God_. In the Sam. version, Syr., and Lat., it is called "Penuel," as in Genesis 32:32. Popular tradition explained the etymology of the name of the place by the story...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    2. _Jacob's Reconciliation with Esau: The Biblical Account_ (Genesis 32:1 to Genesis 33:17) 1 And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. 2 And Jacob said when he saw them, This is God's...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _AND JACOB WAS LEFT ALONE; AND THERE WRESTLED A MAN WITH HIM UNTIL THE BREAKING OF THE DAY._ There wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day - an unknown person appeared suddenly to oppos...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    32:30 Peniel (g-9) Face of God....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE APPROACH OF ESAU. JACOB WRESTLES WITH THE ANGEL 1. The angels of God] God had given Jacob, by an angelic vision, a pledge of His watchful love, when he left his home (Genesis 28:12). Now that he...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    ‘Peniel’ and ‘Penuel’ are both names of the same place. They both mean ‘God’s face’. ‘Penuel’ became the usual name of that place but its meaning is not quite clear. The meaning of ‘Peniel’ is clear,...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    God had appeared as a man. See the comment about verse 24. Many Bible students believe that it was Jesus who met Jacob....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOD’S ANCIENT PEOPLE GENESIS _ALUN OWEN_ CHAPTER 32 JACOB PREPARES TO MEET ESAU V1 Jacob continued his journey. God’s *angels met him V2 and Jacob saw them. He said, ‘This is God’s army!’ So he c...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    PENIEL. — Elsewhere _Penuel,_ and so probably it should be read here. It means, “the face of God.” For the rest of the verse see Note on Genesis 16:13....

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    THE TÔLDÔTH ISAAC (Genesis 25:19 to Genesis 35:29). THE BIRTH OF ISAAC’S SONS. Abraham begat Isaac — The _Tôldôth_ in its original form gave probably a complete genealogy of Isaac, tracing up his des...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    _[Genesis 32:31]_ וַ יִּקְרָ֧א יַעֲקֹ֛ב שֵׁ֥ם הַ...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    JACOB AT PENIEL Genesis 32:1 "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." James 4:10 JACOB had a double reason for wishing to leave Padan-aram. He believed in the promise...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    JACOB WRESTLES AND PREVAILS Genesis 32:13 There is a fulsomeness in Jacob's address to Esau, which sounds inconsistent with the noblest manhood and the firmest faith. Why should he speak of “my lord”...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    This is unquestionably one of the great Chapter s of the Bible, and it is significant how constant and powerful is its appeal to all who live on the principle of faith. It gives the account of the thi...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    WRESTLING WITH GOD As Jacob continued his journey toward home, angels met him. He called the name of that place Mahanaim, or "two camps" because there were two armies encamped there, the angels and h...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Phanuel. This word signifies the face of God, or the sight, or seeing of God. (Challoner) --- Hebrew reads here Peni-el, though it has Phanuel in the next verse. Jacob thus returns thanks to God for...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    The disjointed thigh testified what the Lord could have done. Sweet is it to have divine strength perfected in human weakness. What was Paul's experience but this, when carrying about with him in his...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Peniel means the face of God...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    Having already shown the position of Isaac, I resume briefly with the remark that he stands before us clearly as the representative of the Son, and this too as dead, risen, and in heaven. All will und...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    30._And Jacob called the name of the place _(110) The gratitude of our father Jacob is again commended, because he took diligent care that the memory of God’s grace should never perish. He therefore l...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 29 THROUGH 35. I have no doubt that in the two wives, as I have said, we have the Gentiles and Israel: Rachel first loved on the earth, but not possessed; but...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    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...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. Ver. 30. _I have seen God face to face._] Christ would not tell Jacob his name, to lift up h...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Wherefore dost thou ask after my name?_ Canst thou be at any loss to know who I am? The discovery of that was reserved for his death-bed, upon which he was taught to call him _Shiloh._ But instead of...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Iacobs vision at Mahanaim. 3 His message to Esau. 6 He is afraid of Esaus comming. 9 He prayeth for deliuerance. 13 Hee sendeth a present to Esau. 24 He wrestleth with an Angel at Peniel, where...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The Struggle at Peniel...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel (face of God); FOR I HAVE SEEN GOD FACE TO FACE, AND MY LIFE IS PRESERVED. So it was not only a bodily struggle, but a spiritual wrestling as well which J...

  • Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures

    FIFTH SECTION _Jacob’s return. His fear of Esau. His night wrestlings with God. Peniel. The name Israel. Meeting and reconciliation with Esau._ GENESIS 32:3 TO GENESIS 33:16 3And Jacob sent messenge...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    RETURNING TO FACE ESAU As Jacob continues his journey we are told that the angels of God met him (v.1). It was not God Himself as yet who met him, but the angels were no doubt intended as an encourage...

  • Marginal Notes in the King James Version (1611)

    PENIEL: that is, The face of God...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    24-32 A great while before day, Jacob being alone, more fully spread his fears before God in prayer. While thus employed, One in the likeness of a man wrestled with him. When the spirit helpeth our i...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    I HAVE SEEN GOD FACE TO FACE; not in his essence, for so _no man ever saw God,_ 1 THESSALONIANS 1:18, nor yet in a dream or vision, but in a most evident, sensible, familiar, and friendly manifestatio...

  • Notes on the Pentateuch by Charles Henry Mackintosh

    And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him." Still God's grace follows him, notwithstanding all. "Nothing changeth God's affection." Whom He loves, and as He loves, He loves to the end....

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Genesis 32:30 Jacob H3290 called H7121 (H8799) name H8034 place H4725 Peniel H6439 seen H7200 (H8804) God...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘And Jacob called the name of the place Peni-el (‘the face of God'), for he said, “I have seen God face to face and my life is preserved.” This was a play on words. The site was called Penuel (Genesis...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Genesis 32 I. God selects men for His work on earth, not because of their personal agreeableness, but because of their adaptation to the work they have to perform. II. There is something affecting in...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    We shall read three short portions of Scripture, all illustrative of the great truth that God has sometimes given grace to his people to overcome himself, the Almighty has condescended to be vanquishe...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Genesis 32:1. _And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him._ What an encouragement the visit of these angels must have been to Jacob after the strife which he had had with Laban! But, de...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Genesis 32:1. _And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim._ Jacob was about to enter...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Jacob had just come out of a great trouble. God's gracious interposition had delivered him out of the hand of the angry Laban, Laban the churl, who cared for Jacob only for what he could get out of hi...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Jacob becomes Israel. Preparation for meeting Esau. Wrestling against the angel. CHARACTERS: Jacob, Esau, angel. CONCLUSION: Either we lean on God or on our own plans. The arrangements of...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Genesis 32:2. _Mahanaim,_ two camps or hosts, or the camp of God; a city in Gilead, mentioned in Joshua 13:26; Joshua 21:38; denoting that the angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear hi...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— Genesis 32:24. Wrestled.] The Heb. word only occurs in this place. It seems to be derived from a word signifying “dust,” and the allusion is probably to the dust excited by the combat...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION GENESIS 32:24 AND JACOB WAS LEFT ALONE (probably on the north bank of the Jabbok; but _vide_ on Genesis 32:23); AND THERE WRESTLED—thus assaulting in his strong point one who had been a wr...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Shall we turn in our Bibles to Genesis chapter thirty-two? Now in the thirty-first chapter we had the parting of Laban, Jacob's uncle as he kisses his grandchildren goodbye, as he sets up the stone an...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Jacob. Genesis 32:31 Penuel. Genesis 28:19 Judges 8:8 Judges 8:17 1 Kings 12:2

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Peniel — That is, the face of God, because there he had seen the appearance of God, and obtained the favour of God....

  • When Critics Ask: A Popular Handbook on Bible Difficulties, Norman L. Geisler and Thomas Howe, 1960

    Can God’s face be seen? PROBLEM: God declared to Moses, “No man shall see Me, and live” (Exodus 33:20, see comments on John 1:18). Moses was allowed only to see God’s “back” (Exodus 33:23). Yet the Bi...

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