### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek name Φανουήλ (Phanouḗl, `{{G5323}}`) is a direct transliteration of the Hebrew name פְּנוּאֵל (Pnuel, often transliterated as Penuel or Peniel, `{{H6439}}`). The Hebrew name is a compound word derived from פָּנִים (*panim*, `{{H6440}}`), meaning "face," and אֵל (*’el*, `{{H0410}}`), meaning "God." Thus, the core meaning of Phanuel is "Face of God" or "God's Face." This etymology immediately evokes a profound theological concept: the direct encounter with the divine presence. The semantic range is narrow, primarily referring to a personal name, but its etymological root carries significant theological weight.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the New Testament, Phanuel (`{{G5323}}`) occurs only once, in [[Luke 2:36]]. It identifies the father of Anna, the prophetess: "And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin." Anna, a devout woman who served God with fasting and prayers night and day, was among those who recognized the infant Jesus as the Messiah.
While Phanuel is mentioned only as Anna's father, the name itself points back to a pivotal Old Testament narrative. The Hebrew equivalent, Penuel (`{{H6439}}`), is famously the place where Jacob wrestled with a divine being, whom he later identified as God, saying, "For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been preserved" [[Genesis 32:30]]. The place was named Peniel (a variant of Penuel) precisely because of this direct, transformative encounter.
The New Testament mention of Anna's father bearing this name is significant. It subtly connects Anna, a prophetess who "saw" the Lord at the Temple, to a lineage or tradition associated with direct divine encounter. Her father's name, "Face of God," resonates with her own life of devotion that led her to witness the revelation of God in the person of Jesus Christ.
### Related Words & Concepts
The most directly related word is its Hebrew original, פְּנוּאֵל (Penuel/Peniel, `{{H6439}}`). This connection is crucial for understanding the depth of meaning embedded in the Greek transliteration.
Other related concepts include:
* **Theophany/Christophany:** The manifestation of God to humanity, often in a visible or tangible form. Jacob's encounter at Peniel is a classic example of a theophany.
* **Divine Presence:** The pervasive biblical theme of God's active presence among His people, whether in the Tabernacle, the Temple, or ultimately in Christ.
* **Revelation:** The unveiling of God's character, will, and plan to humanity. The name "Phanuel" speaks to God's self-revelation.
* **Wrestling with God:** Jacob's struggle at Peniel symbolizes the spiritual wrestling that often precedes deeper faith and intimacy with God.
* **Seeing God:** The biblical motif of beholding God's face, a privilege often associated with prophets and those in close communion with Him (cf. [[Exodus 33:11]], [[Matthew 5:8]], [[Revelation 22:4]]).
### Theological Significance
The name Phanuel, "Face of God," carries profound theological weight. It serves as a constant reminder of God's desire to reveal Himself to humanity and the possibility of direct, personal encounter with the divine.
For Jacob, the encounter at Peniel was a turning point, marking a transition from reliance on his own cunning to dependence on God. His limp served as a lifelong physical reminder of this spiritual transformation, a testament to having wrestled with God and prevailed, not through strength, but through persistence and faith. The place name, "Face of God," immortalized this intimate divine encounter.
In the New Testament, the mention of Phanuel as Anna's father subtly enriches her character. Anna, a woman dedicated to prayer and fasting in the Temple, was one of the first to recognize the infant Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah. Her father's name, "Face of God," aligns perfectly with her prophetic calling and her privileged experience of seeing the "Face of God" in the incarnate Christ. It suggests a lineage attuned to divine revelation and a family background that perhaps valued spiritual sight and communion with God.
Ultimately, the name Phanuel points to the ultimate revelation of God's face in Jesus Christ. While no one has seen God the Father at any time, the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him ([[John 1:18]]). In Christ, humanity beholds the very image of the invisible God ([[Colossians 1:15]]), the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His nature ([[Hebrews 1:3]]).
### Summary
Phanuel (`{{G5323}}`) is a Greek transliteration of the Hebrew name Penuel/Peniel (`{{H6439}}`), meaning "Face of God." Its sole New Testament occurrence is as the father of Anna the prophetess in [[Luke 2:36]]. This name profoundly links Anna's prophetic ministry and her recognition of the Messiah to the Old Testament narrative of Jacob's transformative encounter with God at Peniel, where he saw God "face to face." Theologically, Phanuel underscores the biblical theme of direct divine encounter, God's self-revelation, and the privilege of beholding His presence, ultimately fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ, who is the very "Face of God" revealed to humanity.
TRV