Sermon and Worship Resources

Dictionary: Face

Biblical references to the face are both literal and metaphorical. The Hebrew word for “face” (paneh) frequently occurs in the plural in the OT (over 2,100 times), and it can express the numerous features of the face, that of God, humans, animals, and inanimate objects. It also can describe a surface, such as “the face of the ground” (Gen. 2:6 KJV) or “the face of the deep” (Gen. 1:2 KJV).

The concept of face must be understood in terms of the diverse emotional expressions and stratified social relationships of the biblical social world. This was a world of honor and shame, loyalty and betrayal. Where the modern person speaks of personal empowerment, the biblical person thought of social restoration. Life was tantamount to social acceptance. In the biblical world of strong corporate solidarity, the face was the most important part of a person’s body. Persons did not merely “contact” each other; rather, faces engaged each other. Face was synonymous with person (e.g., Lev. 19:32, where “the aged/elderly” is literally “the faces of the aged/elderly”). The face essentially describes interpersonal relationships.

Presence and nonpresence are noted in the expressions “hiding the face from” (Ps. 27:9) and “seeing the face of” (Gen. 32:20 KJV). These denote qualities of relationship through acceptance or rejection, especially to superiors. To “see someone’s face” who is a dignitary is to be granted a royal audience (Gen. 44:23). Yet it was not customary to show a sad face in a king’s presence (Neh. 2:2). A person could also try to hide his or her identity, since “face” marks a public expression of one’s character and social standing.

To literally “fall on the face” (Ezek. 1:28; Luke 5:12) shows humility and homage toward a superior. Personal intention or determination is shown in the expressions “set the face against/toward” (Ezek. 35:2) and “turn the face” (2 Kings 20:2). Dishonor and disrespect are expressed with a “fallen face” (Gen. 4:6; NIV: “downcast” face; cf. Gen. 40:7). Striking the face can be an act that humiliates (John 18:22), as with mutilation or having a soiled face (Lev. 21:18; 2 Sam. 19:4–5). By contrast, to speak “face to face” (Exod. 33:11) not only shows respect but also treats another as a social equal. Reflecting rich emotions, a face can be “cheerful” (Prov. 15:13), “aflame” with agony (Isa. 13:8), “red with weeping” (Job 16:16), and covered with “shame” (Ps. 69:7).

“Face” can be used as a metonym (i.e., substitution) for a person’s presence. Significantly, God’s rejection of a person or group can be expressed as them being hidden from his face (Gen. 4:14 KJV) or as God hiding his face from them (Isa. 54:8; Mic. 3:4; cf. Ps. 22:24). Those in distraught prayer ask why God has hidden his face (Job 13:24) or for how long (Ps. 13:1). Similarly, God acts against persons when he sets his face against them (Lev. 17:10; 26:17).

Believers anticipate the day when they will see God “face to face” (1 Cor. 13:12), having received the ultimate gift of God’s acceptance.

Synonyms: countenance, physiognomy, profile, features, expression, facial expression, look, appearance, air, manner, bearing, guise, cast, aspect, impression, grimace, scowl, wry face, wince, frown, glower, smirk, pout, moue, side, flank, vertical, surface, plane, facet, wall, elevation, dial, display, (outward) appearance, nature, image, front, show, act, false front, facade, exterior, mask, masquerade, pretence, charade, pose, illusion, smokescreen, veneer, camouflage, respect, honour, esteem, regard, admiration, approbation, acclaim, approval, favour, appreciation, popularity, estimation, veneration, awe, reverence, deference, recognition, prestige, standing, status, dignity, glory, kudos, cachet, effrontery, audacity, nerve, gall, brazenness, brashness, shamelessness, look out on, front on to, look towards, be facing, have/afford/command a view of, look over/across, open out over, look on to, overlook, give on to, give over, be opposite (to), accept, come to accept, become reconciled to, reconcile oneself to, reach an acceptance (of), get used to, become accustomed to, adjust to, accommodate oneself to, acclimatize oneself to, be confronted by, be faced with, encounter, experience, come into contact with, run into, come across, meet, come up against, be forced to contend with, beset, worry, distress, cause trouble to, trouble, bother, confront, burden, brave, face up to, meet head-on, dare, defy, oppose, resist, withstand, cover, clad, skin, overlay, dress, pave, put a facing on, laminate, inlay, plate, coat, line

Antonyms: dodge, fear, back, give way, back down, dodge, avoid, throw in the towel, withdraw, cave in, retreat, succumb to, lay down one's arms, throw in the sponge, defer, submit, escape, bashfulness, shun, evade, elude

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626. The Gracious Gift

John 2:1-11

Sermon

Lori Wagner

No one wants to run out of food and drink for their guests at a party, let alone a wedding! It’s always a bit challenging to estimate how much you’ll need for the guests you’ve invited. Now picture planning for 7 days! Yes, 7 days. That’s how long people celebrated with feasting, dancing, wine, and celebration at a wedding in Jesus’ time. Apparently, at this particular wedding in Cana in Galilee, either people were ...

627. The Gracious Guest

John 2:1-11

Sermon

Lori Wagner

628. Famine of the Heart

Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

Sermon

Lori Wagner

... was the moral of the story, and the story has now ended. But it has not! Now trust me, the religious officials had enough trouble with the first part of the story, that they must have been flabbergasted and indignant! After all, in their estimation, the father had been too lenient on this errant son! No real father would do such a thing! Grumble, grumble, grumble. In true Jesus’ fashion, he continues his story. In a sense, the religious group had just become “actors” in Jesus’ storyline. They “are ...

629. The Art Of Transition

Luke 9:51-62

Sermon

Dean Feldmeyer

... computers are capable of doing lots more than we ask of them. In 1993, there were 600 “www” web sites. By 1997 there were over a million. By 2005 the number had grown to about 71 million. And while there is no way to know for sure, the best estimates for today run in the neighborhood of about 200 million. That’s an increase of more than 300,000% in less than thirty years. The first email message was sent in 1971, but it didn’t become popular until 1988 and today more than 600 million people use ...

630. Calculated Christianity

Luke 14:25-35

Sermon

Jill J. Duffield

... my closet, many of them don’t even spark joy, and I need more room anyway. It is relevant because Jesus says we need to get rid of our stuff. I will do this by the end of September ― boom ― timely. Is this what Jesus meant when he said to estimate the expenditure, and figure out what it would take? Did he mean to do a detailed faith pro forma? Did he mean to be able to measure, quantify, and count the cost of discipleship? I hope so, because I can do this. The other parts about hating my parents ...

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