Phanuel

This article is about the name and Biblical father of Anna. For the Angel Phanuel, see Phanuel (angel).

Phanuel (Greek: Φανουήλ Phanouēl) or Penuel (Hebrew: פְּנוּאֵל‎‎ Pənū’êl) was the father of Anna the prophetess. He is mentioned once only in the New Testament, in Luke 2:36. He was a member of the Tribe of Asher and his name means "Face of God".

Theologian John Gill supposed that "this man might be a person of some note, or he may be mentioned for the sake of his name, which signifies the face of God, and is the name Jacob gave to a certain place where he had seen God face to face" (Genesis 32:30).[1] As Anna was herself 'very old', it is assumed that Phanuel was not still alive at the time of Anna's encounter with the child Jesus (Luke 2:38).

References

  1. ↑ Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible on Luke 2, accessed 24 December 2015
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