The Meaning of Genesis 32:30 Explained

Genesis 32:30

KJV: And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

YLT: And Jacob calleth the name of the place Peniel: for 'I have seen God face unto face, and my life is delivered;'

Darby: And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel For I have seen God face to face, and my life has been preserved.

ASV: And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for,'said he , I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Jacob  called  the name  of the place  Peniel:  for I have seen  God  face  to face,  and my life  is preserved. 

What does Genesis 32:30 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 32:13-32 - Jacob Wrestles And Prevails
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" Esau, and endeavor to appease his wrath with soft speeches and rich gifts? Evidently much had to be effected in his character before he could become one of the great spiritual forces of the world, and his supreme discipline came in that midnight wrestle. The Angel who wrestled with him could have been none other than the Son of man, who is also the Angel of the Covenant and Son of God. It was not that Jacob wrestled with the Angel, but that the Angel wrestled with him, as though to discover and reveal his weakness, and to constrain him to quit reliance on his own strength and to learn to cling with the tenacious grip of a lame man, who dare not let go, lest he fall to the earth. Ah, it is well to be even maimed, if through the withered thigh we may learn to lay hold on the everlasting strength of God, and learn His secret Name! [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 32

1  Jacob's vision at Mahanaim
3  His message to Esau
6  He is afraid of Esau's coming
9  He prays for deliverance
13  He sends a present to Esau, and passes the brook Jabbok
24  He wrestles with an angel at Peniel, where he is called Israel
31  He halts

What do the individual words in Genesis 32:30 mean?

And called Jacob the name of the place Peniel for I have seen God face to face and is preserved my life
וַיִּקְרָ֧א יַעֲקֹ֛ב שֵׁ֥ם הַמָּק֖וֹם פְּנִיאֵ֑ל כִּֽי־ רָאִ֤יתִי אֱלֹהִים֙ פָּנִ֣ים אֶל־ פָּנִ֔ים וַתִּנָּצֵ֖ל נַפְשִֽׁי

וַיִּקְרָ֧א  And  called 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.
יַעֲקֹ֛ב  Jacob 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יַעֲקֹב  
Sense: son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the 2 patriarchs of the tribes of Israel.
שֵׁ֥ם  the  name 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
הַמָּק֖וֹם  of  the  place 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָקֹום  
Sense: standing place, place.
פְּנִיאֵ֑ל  Peniel 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: פְּנוּאֵל 
Sense: a Benjamite, son of Shashak, brother of Iphedeiah of the family of Saul.
רָאִ֤יתִי  I  have  seen 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
אֱלֹהִים֙  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
פָּנִ֣ים  face 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
פָּנִ֔ים  face 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
וַתִּנָּצֵ֖ל  and  is  preserved 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Consecutive imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: נָצַל  
Sense: to snatch away, deliver, rescue, save, strip, plunder.
נַפְשִֽׁי  my  life 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.