Lexical Summary prosópon: Face, presence, person, countenance Original Word: πρόσωπον Strong's Exhaustive Concordance countenance, face, appearanceFrom pros and ops (the visage, from optanomai); 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. see GREEK pros see GREEK optanomai NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom pros and óps (an eye, face) Definition the face NASB Translation ahead* (2), appearance (5), before* (2), coming* (1), face (37), faces (5), openly (1), outwardly* (1), partial* (3), partiality (1), people (1), person (1), persons (1), presence (11), sight (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4383: πρόσωπονπρόσωπον, προσώπου, τό (from πρός and ὤψ, cf. μέτωπον), from Homer down; the Sept. hundreds of times for פָּנִים, also for אַפַיִם, etc.; 1. a. the face, i. e. the anterior part of the human head: Matthew 6:16, 17; Matthew 17:2; Matthew 26:67; Mark 14:65; Luke ( b. countenance, look (Latinvultus), i. e. the face so far forth as it is the organ of sight, and (by its various movements and changes) the index of the inward thoughts and feelings: κλίνειν τό πρόσωπον εἰς τήν γῆν, to bow the face to the earth (a characteristic of fear and anxiety), Luke 24:5; Hebraistic phrases relating to the direction of the countenance, the look: τό πρόσωπον τοῦ κυρίου ἐπί τινα, namely, ἐστιν, the face of the Lord is (turned) upon one, i. e. he looks upon and watches him, 1 Peter 3:12 (from Psalm 33:17 c. Hebraistically, the appearance one presents by his wealth or poverty, his rank or low condition; outward circumstances, external condition; so used in expressions which denote to regard the person in one's judgment and treatment of men: βλέπειν εἰς πρόσωπον ἀνθρώπων, Matthew 22:16; Mark 12:14; θαυμάζειν πρόσωπα, Jude 1:16; λαμβάνειν πρόσωπον (τίνος), Luke 20:21; Galatians 2:6 (on which see βλέπω, 2 c., θαυμάζω λαμβάνω, I. 4). καυχᾶσθαι ἐν προσώπῳ καί οὐ καρδία, to glory in those things which they simulate in look, viz. piety, love, righteousness, although their heart is devoid of these virtues, 2 Corinthians 5:12, cf. 1 Samuel 16:7. 2. the outward appearance of inanimate things (A. V. face (except in James as below)): τοῦ ἄνθους, James 1:11; τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, τῆς γῆς, Matthew 16:3 (here T brackets; WH reject the passage); Luke 12:56 (Ps. 103(104): The term καταδεικνύει a richly varied semantic field, appearing seventy-seven times in the Greek New Testament. It can denote (1) the physical face or countenance, (2) a person’s outward appearance, (3) personal presence, (4) the “surface” of the earth or sky, and (5) metaphorically, favor, standing, or partiality. These nuances weave together theology, discipleship, and future hope. Literal Face And Countenance Many occurrences describe an actual face. At the Transfiguration “His face shone like the sun” (Matthew 17:2). Mourning alters the face (Matthew 6:16–17), and abuse is suffered in the face (Matthew 26:67; Mark 14:65; Revelation 9:7). In Acts 6:15 Stephen’s persecutors “saw that his face was like the face of an angel,” revealing glory that flows from communion with Christ. Outer Appearance And Religious Pretense Because the face is the most visible part of a person, it easily becomes the emblem of hypocrisy. Jesus’ opponents praise Him as one who “does not show partiality” (Matthew 22:16; Mark 12:14; Luke 20:21). Paul echoes this ethic: “God does not show favoritism” (Galatians 2:6). The believer, therefore, must judge not by visage or status but by truth (James 1:23 uses the imagery of a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror and forgets). Resolute Purpose And Mission To “set one’s face” expresses fixed determination. “When the days for His ascension were approaching, Jesus resolutely set His face toward Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51; cf. 9:52–53). Prophetic resolve is mirrored in John the Baptist’s forerunner ministry: “See, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way before Your face” (Mark 1:2; Luke 7:27). Manifest Presence And Divine Favor Beyond the visible face lies the idea of presence. Hebrews 9:24 states that Christ entered “into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.” In prayer the church seeks that presence: “And you are helping by your prayers, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the favor shown us” (2 Corinthians 1:11). The Aaronic blessing reaches its Christ-centered fulfillment: “The Lord make His face shine upon you.” Worship And Reverence In heavenly liturgy the elders “fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God” (Revelation 7:11; 11:16). Such posture reminds the church on earth that unmediated glory commands humble adoration. Divine Judgment The same presence that blesses also judges. Those who reject the Lamb cry out, “Hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne” (Revelation 6:16). Eternal separation is pictured as being “shut out from the presence of the Lord” (2 Thessalonians 1:9). Transformation Into Christ’s Image Paul connects the unveiled face of the believer with progressive sanctification: “We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image” (2 Corinthians 3:18). The transformation occurs because “the God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6). The face is thus the window of divine glory and human renewal. Eschatological Vision And Hope Although we now see “in a mirror dimly,” the promise stands: “then face to face” (1 Corinthians 13:12). Revelation 22:4 crowns that hope: “They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.” The beatific vision secures ultimate intimacy and identity with the Triune God. Pastoral Longing And Fellowship Paul often speaks of yearning to be “face to face.” “Brothers and sisters, we were bereft of you for a short time—in person, not in heart—and we were all the more eager to see your face with great desire” (1 Thessalonians 2:17; cf. 3:10; Colossians 2:1). Gospel fellowship is not fully satisfied by letters; embodied presence reflects incarnational ministry. Surface Of Earth And Sky Several passages use the word for “surface.” Jesus rebukes the crowds for discerning “the face of the sky and of the earth” but failing to read the spiritual signs of the times (Luke 12:56). The eschatological snare “will come upon all who dwell on the face of all the earth” (Luke 21:35), emphasizing total scope. Historical And Cultural Background In the Septuagint the same word translates Hebrew פנים (pānîm), spanning face, presence, and front. Greco-Roman rhetoric also employed the term for personal appearance and public persona. The New Testament writers appropriate both backgrounds, but always subsume them under the revelation of God in Christ, turning a common word into a vehicle for gospel depth. Summary For Ministry 1. Pursue genuine integrity; do not mask the heart behind a religious face. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 6:16 N-ANPGRK: γὰρ τὰ πρόσωπα αὐτῶν ὅπως NAS: [do], for they neglect their appearance so KJV: their faces, that INT: indeed the appearance of them so that Matthew 6:17 N-ANS Matthew 11:10 N-GNS Matthew 16:3 N-ANS Matthew 17:2 N-NNS Matthew 17:6 N-ANS Matthew 18:10 N-ANS Matthew 22:16 N-ANS Matthew 26:39 N-ANS Matthew 26:67 N-ANS Mark 1:2 N-GNS Mark 12:14 N-ANS Mark 14:65 N-ANS Luke 2:31 N-ANS Luke 5:12 N-ANS Luke 7:27 N-GNS Luke 9:29 N-GNS Luke 9:51 N-ANS Luke 9:52 N-GNS Luke 9:53 N-NNS Luke 10:1 N-GNS Luke 12:56 N-ANS Luke 17:16 N-ANS Luke 20:21 N-ANS Luke 21:35 N-ANS Strong's Greek 4383 |
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