4298. 'And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel' means a state of temptations. This is clear from the train of thought, for in former times names were given to places where some special incident took place, and those names served to mean that incident which took place there, and the state associated with it, 340, 2643, 3422. To this place a name was given which meant a state of temptations, because it is a state of temptations that is described here by Jacob's wrestling and contending. In the original language 'Peniel' means 'the face of God', and the fact that 'seeing the face of God' means suffering the severest temptations will be explained in what follows immediately below.

1946. 'And you will call his name Ishmael' means its state of life. In ancient times sons and daughters used to be given names which meant the state that their parents were passing through, especially that of their mothers at the time of conception, or while they were with child, or when they gave birth, or after their infants had been born. Names accordingly carried a meaning. The origin of Ishmael's name is explained here, namely 'because Jehovah has hearkened to your affliction', which was his mother's state. What Ishmael represents however is described in the next verse.