Phunihel is a Latin form of the Hebrew name Penuel, meaning "facing God," composed of the Hebrew elements pana (meaning "to turn to") and el (meaning "God"). It appears in the Latin Old Testament as used by the Vulgate translation. Variants of the name include Phanuhel, Phanuel (found in Judeo-Christian-Islamic legend), and Phanouel (in the Biblical Greek form). Penuel is known from the Hebrew Bible as a place name (e.g., the site where Jacob wrestled with an angel, later called Peniel, meaning "face of God") and as the name of two minor characters: an ancestor of the Israelites and a man from Gedor. In the Vulgate, Phunihel renders one or more of these instances. The Latin Ph-form reflects the Greek transliteration, etc. The name carries a strong theological meaning about encountering the divine. Meaning: "facing God" or "face of God" Origin: Hebrew, via Latin form in the Vulgate Type: given name (biblical) Usage: Rare, appears almost exclusively in Latin contexts