Genesis 32:30; Jdg 8:8.
Peniel (Heb. penû’êl and penî’êl, “face of God”). 1. Place near the Jabbok River, in Transjordan, where Jacob fought against the angel of Jehovah and received a new name for that experience (Gen 32:30, 31). In the time of Gideon 914 it is mentioned as a fortified place with a tower. Because of his hostility towards Gideon’s cause, Gideon destroyed it and killed its inhabitants (Jdg 8:8, 9, 17); Jeroboam I would have rebuilt it (1Ki 12:25). Shishak of Egypt mentions it in the list of cities of Judah and Israel that he conquered, writing it Pnir. The site has been identified with Tulul edh-Dhahab, about 16 km north of Salt, in the Wâd§ Zerqa. Map VI, D-4. 2. Tower that was in the town of Peniel* 1 (Jdg 8:8,9,17). 3. Descendant of Benjamin (1Ch 8:25).
Source: Evangelical Bible Dictionary
(Heb., peni†™el, face of God). The place where Jacob wrestled with the angel of God (Gen 32:24-32). The exact location is not known, although it was east of the Jordan and not far from Sukkot.
Source: Hispanic World Bible Dictionary
(Face of God). Name of person and place in the OT.
1. Place by the Jabbok River where Jacob wrestled with “a man until the break of day.” After that experience he called the place P. because he had seen God † œface to face† (Gen 32: 22-31). According to the prophet Hosea, Jacob “overcame the angel” (Hosea 12:4). Later a city was built there, with a tower. When Gideon was going to fight against the Midianites, the inhabitants of P. mocked him, for which he destroyed them upon his return victorious (Judges 8: 8-17). Jeroboam I of Israel fortified that city, which also appears under the name †¢Penuel (1 Kings 12:25). It was about 65 km north of Jerusalem.
. Character in the offspring of Benjamin (1Ch 8:25).
Source: Christian Bible Dictionary
guy, LUGA
sit, a2, 490, 254
vet, = “face of God”. Camp east of the Jordan. Jacob gave him this name after wrestling with the angel, “because he said: I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved” (Gen. 32: 30-31). In the time of the Judges there was a tower there, which Gideon destroyed, and a city whose inhabitants were put to the sword (Judges 8:8, 9, 17). Jeroboam I fortified Peniel (1 Kings 12:25).
Source: New Illustrated Bible Dictionary
The name means “Face of God” and designates a place on the east side of the Jordan near the Jabbok River. This form occurs only in Genesis 32:30, and elsewhere it is called Penuel. The name was given to this place by Jacob after the night he wrestled near Jabbok, because “I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” It was a high place evidently near the Jabbok on which he walked. Some have thought that it may have been a prominent ravine whose outline resembled a human face. Later a city with a tower was built here. It was among the places where Gideon’s army pursued the Midianites. It was one of the towns that Jeroboam built and fortified (1 Kings 12.25).
Although the exact place is not known, it is generally identified with Tubulet Drahab, the ruins of which denote that it was a very strong place. Enemies were often pushed back here because of its steep banks and the location was of strategic importance.
This was where Jacob wrestled all night with a man, Genesis 32:22-32. He was defeated by Gideon, Judges 8:8-17.
It was fortified by Jeroboam, 1 Kings 12:25.
Source: Geographic Dictionary of the Bible
Place near the ford of Jabbok where Jacob contended with an angel. He gave him this name because he † ˜had seen God face to face † ™. (Ge 32:22-31) It is the same place as Penuel. (See PENUEL.)
Source: Dictionary of the Bible
“Face of God” is the name that Jacob gave to the place where he crossed the Jabbok when he returned to meet Esau. It is possible that he was called Peniel already before this occasion, perhaps because of a specially shaped rock, and that Jacob confirmed the name as a result of his experience with the angel. The blessing that he asked for (Gen. 32.26), materialized in Esau’s conciliatory attitude (cf. 33.10: “Because I have seen your face, as if I had seen the face of God”).
The fact that Peniel was the place where an important step was found is shown by the fact that a tower was built there, which Gideon destroyed after defeating the Midianites (Judg. 8.8.ff.), and that Jeroboam rebuilt the city at that time. place, presumably to defend the invasion route from the E towards his new capital at Shechem. The exact location is unknown, but S. Merrill, East of Jordan, 1881, pp. 390–392, effectively argues for the possibility of the ancient ruins lying 6 km E of Sukkot, on two hills called Tulul ed-Dahab.
JBJ
Douglas, J. (2000). New Biblical Dictionary: First Edition. Miami: United Bible Societies.
Source: New Bible Dictionary