← G4382 G4384 →

πρόσωπον

prósōpon

G4383 noun

SILEX Entry

Root προσ- (from πρός) + ὀπ- (from ὄψ, ὀπτάνομαι) face, aspect, surface, presence

Definition

Face; the front part of the head; by extension, outward appearance or aspect. In broader contexts, refers to presence (esp. in reference to someone's company or before someone), and sometimes to a person or individual as represented by their face or presence. The term can also denote a surface, façade, or visible side of an object or figure, and in idiomatic expressions, can refer to status or consideration of someone's person (as in 'regarding the person/appearance of').

Semantic Range

face (of a person or being), countenance, outward appearance, presence (as in 'before the face of'), surface (of something), mask or character (in drama), individual or person (metonymic), status or reputation, front side (of an object or location)

Root / Etymology

From πρός ('toward') and ὄψ ('face; eye'), ultimately derived from the verb ὁράω ('to see'). The word πρόσωπον originally refers to the part of something facing an observer; its etymology points to the idea of 'the part turned toward the gaze.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

πρόσωπον is used extensively in classical, Hellenistic, and Koine Greek. In classical Greek, it most frequently denotes the face or front aspect of a person, but may also describe the front or surface of objects. By the Hellenistic period, its range includes the notion of 'appearance' or 'outward aspect,' and 'presence' (esp. in formal or relational phrases such as 'before the face of'). In theatrical contexts, πρόσωπον can refer to a mask or character, with implications for role or persona (as in drama). In the Septuagint and New Testament, πρόσωπον often translates Hebrew פָּנִים (panim), encompassing 'face, presence, countenance.' The term acquires legal and idiomatic senses, as when someone shows 'partiality' (προσωποληψία), literally 'acceptance of the face/person.' In New Testament usage, 'face' often functions in expressions for meeting or appearing before someone ('in the presence of'). English translations sometimes render πρόσωπον as 'person' or 'appearance,' but these can underrepresent the word's variety of senses.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from πρός and (the visage, from ὀπτάνομαι); the front (as being towards view), i.e. the countenance, aspect, appearance, surface; by implication, presence, person:--(outward) appearance, X before, countenance, face, fashion, (men's) person, presence.

Root Family

πρόσωπον (prosōpon) — face, aspect, surface, presence

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G4383-03 πρόσωπόν prosopon N ACC N SG face face 44
G4383-04 προσώπου prosopou N GEN N SG face of the face 18
G4383-02 προσώπῳ prosopo N DAT N SG face to the face 7
G4383-01 πρόσωπα prosopa N ACC N PL faces faces 7

Occurrences in Scripture

76 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G4383-01 Matthew 6:16 πρόσωπα prosopa N ACC N PL faces
G4383-03 Matthew 6:17 πρόσωπόν prosopon N ACC N SG face
G4383-04 Matthew 11:10 προσώπου prosopou N GEN N SG of the face
G4383-03 Matthew 16:3 πρόσωπον prosopon N ACC N SG face
G4383-03 Matthew 17:2 πρόσωπον prosopon N NOM N SG face
G4383-03 Matthew 17:6 πρόσωπον prosopon N ACC N SG face
G4383-03 Matthew 18:10 πρόσωπον prosopon N ACC N SG face
G4383-03 Matthew 22:16 πρόσωπον prosopon N ACC N SG face
G4383-03 Matthew 26:39 πρόσωπον prosopon N ACC N SG face
G4383-03 Matthew 26:67 πρόσωπον prosopon N ACC N SG face
← G4382 Greek Lexicon G4384 →