Penuel, also spelled “Peniel,” is a place of deep spiritual significance in the Bible. It is where Jacob wrestled with a divine being and received both a blessing and a new name. The name “Penuel” means “Face of God.”
The account is found in Genesis 32:24–30. After sending his family across the Jabbok River, Jacob was left alone. Verse 24 states:
“Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day.”
This “Man” is understood to be a theophany, a manifestation of God in physical form. Jacob refused to let go until he received a blessing. Genesis 32:28–30 records:
“And He said, ‘Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.’ … And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: ‘For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.’”
Penuel marks a turning point in Jacob’s life. He moved from being a deceiver to becoming Israel, a man changed by an encounter with God. His limp, received during the struggle, became a lasting reminder of that divine encounter.
Later, Penuel is mentioned in Judges 8:8–9, when Gideon asked the men of Penuel for help during his pursuit of the Midianites. They refused, and Gideon warned them of coming judgment. Judges 8:17 notes:
“Then he tore down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city.”
Thus, Penuel represents both the grace of divine encounter and, later, the consequences of unbelief. It is a location that carries themes of transformation, identity, and judgment.
