וַיִּקְרָ֧א יַעֲקֹ֛ב שֵׁ֥ם הַמָּקֹ֖ום פְּנִיאֵ֑ל כִּֽי־רָאִ֤יתִי אֱלֹהִים֙ פָּנִ֣ים אֶל־פָּנִ֔ים וַתִּנָּצֵ֖ל נַפְשִֽׁי׃
And Yaʿaqov called the name of the place Peniʾel, for I have seen God face to face, and my life has been preserved.
Morphology
- וַיִּקְרָ֧א (vayyiqra) – Root: קרא (qaraʾ); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (sequential imperfect) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And he called”; Notes: Introduces the naming of a place.
- יַעֲקֹ֛ב (Yaʿaqov) – Root: יעקב (Yaʿaqov); Form: Proper noun, masculine singular; Translation: “Yaʿaqov”; Notes: Subject of the verb.
- שֵׁ֥ם (shem) – Root: שם (shem); Form: Noun, masculine singular; Translation: “name”; Notes: Refers to the designation of the place.
- הַמָּקֹ֖ום (ha-maqom) – Root: מקום (maqom); Form: Noun, masculine singular, definite; Translation: “the place”; Notes: Specifies the location.
- פְּנִיאֵ֑ל (Peniʾel) – Root: פני אל (Peni ʾEl); Form: Proper noun, masculine singular; Translation: “Peniʾel”; Notes: Name meaning “Face of God.”
- כִּֽי־ (ki) – Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces the reason for the name.
- רָאִ֤יתִי (raʾiti) – Root: ראה (raʾah); Form: Qal perfect 1st person singular; Translation: “I have seen”; Notes: Expresses past experience.
- אֱלֹהִים֙ (Elohim) – Root: אלהים (ʾElohim); Form: Noun, masculine plural; Translation: “God”; Notes: Refers to the divine.
- פָּנִ֣ים (panim) – Root: פנים (panim); Form: Noun, masculine plural; Translation: “face”; Notes: Refers to direct encounter.
- אֶל־ (el) – Root: אל (ʾel); Form: Preposition; Translation: “to”; Notes: Expresses direction.
- פָּנִ֔ים (panim) – Root: פנים (panim); Form: Noun, masculine plural; Translation: “face”; Notes: Reiterates direct encounter.
- וַתִּנָּצֵ֖ל (vattinnatzel) – Root: נצל (natzal); Form: Nifal wayyiqtol (sequential imperfect) 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “and was preserved”; Notes: Passive form indicating deliverance.
- נַפְשִֽׁי (nafshi) – Root: נפש (nefesh); Form: Noun, feminine singular with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “my life”; Notes: Expresses personal survival.