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פָּנִים

𐤐𐤍𐤉𐤌

pânîym

H6440 noun

SILEX Entry

Root פנה to turn, face, turn toward or away

Definition

Surface of the face, appearance, presence; in physical contexts refers to the literal face or outward surface of a person, animal, or object. In figurative and extended usage, denotes countenance, appearance, or the presence of a person or a deity. Also functions as a preposition (often with prefix לְ, אֶל, עַל, בְּ, or מִן), meaning 'before', 'in front of', 'in the presence of', 'from', or indicating position, movement, or orientation relative to something else.

Semantic Range

face, surface, appearance, countenance, presence, front, before (as preposition), in the presence of, from the presence of, from, outward form, representation, favor, person (rare, extended), self (very rare, extended), edge, the visible aspect

Root / Etymology

From the root פנה (to turn, face, turn toward or away). פָּנִים is a plural form (sometimes called 'plural of extension' or 'plural of respect'), but is usually construed as a singular noun meaning 'face' or 'surface.' The word derives from the idea of what is turned outward and visible.

Historical & Contextual Notes

פָּנִים is used throughout the Hebrew Bible both literally and figuratively. Literally, it describes the face or visible surface (of a person, object, or geographical feature such as the face of the ground or waters). Figuratively, it can denote presence, particularly the presence of God or an esteemed person. The term is central to various idioms ('to seek the face [i.e., presence] of Yhwh,' 'to fall on one's face') and ritual expressions (such as the 'bread of the Presence' [לֶחֶם פָּנִים]). As a preposition, it appears in many fixed constructions to indicate relational space, movement, or time ('before', 'in front of', 'from the presence of,' etc.). In ancient Israelite usage, the face was a primary indicator of relational status, emotion, or favor. פָּנִים can also refer to the outward form or appearance of something more abstract (such as the 'face' of the deep, or the changing 'face' of circumstances). While almost always written and pronounced in the plural form, it is typically treated as grammatically singular when referring to the face or presence of a single individual. The use of 'presence' in translation (especially with reference to the deity) expands the meaning beyond strict physicality. In later periods, some translations render פָּנִים with words like 'person' or 'self,' but this is an extended usage uncommon in biblical Hebrew itself.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.); [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

פנה (p-n-h) — to turn, face, turn toward, turn away

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3312 יְפֻנֶּה He will be turned
H3942 לִפְנַי before me
H6434 פֵּן the corners
H6435 פֵּן lest
H6437 פָּנָה in their turning

Word Forms

76 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6440-28 לִ/פְנֵ֣י lifeney HR/Ncbpc before to the face of 596
H6440-56 פְּנֵ֣י peney HNcbpc the face of face of 266
H6440-45 מִ/פְּנֵי֙ mipeney HR/Ncbpc because of from the presence of 183
H6440-23 לְ/פָנָי/ו֙ lefanayv HR/Ncbpc/Sp3ms before him before his face 115
H6440-25 לְ/פָנֶ֔י/ךָ lefaneykha HR/Ncbpc/Sp2ms before you before your face 107
H6440-51 פָּנָֽי/ו panayv HNcbpc/Sp3ms his face his face 81
H6440-22 לְ/פָנַ֔/י lefanay HR/Ncbpc/Sp1cs before me before my face 71
H6440-29 לִ/פְנֵי/הֶ֑ם lifeneyhem HR/Ncbpc/Sp3mp before them before their face 56
H6440-53 פָּנֶ֔י/ךָ paneykha HNcbpc/Sp2ms your face your face 49
H6440-48 פָּנָֽ/י panay HNcbpc/Sp1cs my face my face 49

Occurrences in Scripture

2127 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6440-56 Genesis 1:2 פְּנֵ֣י peney HNcbpc the surface of face of
H6440-56 Genesis 1:2 פְּנֵ֥י peney-2 HNcbpc the surface of face of
H6440-56 Genesis 1:20 פְּנֵ֖י peney HNcbpc the face of face of
H6440-56 Genesis 1:29 פְּנֵ֣י peney HNcbpc the face of face of
H6440-56 Genesis 2:6 פְּנֵֽי peney HNcbpc surface/face face of
H6440-45 Genesis 3:8 מִ/פְּנֵי֙ mipeney HR/Ncbpc from the presence from the presence of
H6440-51 Genesis 4:5 פָּנָֽי/ו panayv HNcbpc/Sp3ms his face his face
H6440-12 Genesis 4:6 פָנֶֽי/ךָ faneykha HNcbpc/Sp2ms your face your face
H6440-56 Genesis 4:14 פְּנֵ֣י peney HNcbpc the face of face of
H6440-71 Genesis 4:14 וּ/מִ/פָּנֶ֖י/ךָ umipaneykha HC/R/Ncbpc/Sp2ms and from your face and from your face
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