Greek · G4383 · unreviewed

πρόσωπον

Face

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πρόσωπον G4383

Pronunciation prósōpon

What does πρόσωπον (prósōpon) mean in the Bible?

πρόσωπον (prósōpon) is a Greek word meaning "face". πρόσωπον, -ου, τό (πρός, ὤψ), [in LXX chiefly and very frequently for פָּנִים ;] __1.

Full entry for πρόσωπον (G4383) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

face

Extended definition

Face or presence; idiomatically means personal appearance, condition, or showing favoritism based on external circumstances.

(πρός, ὤψ), [in LXX chiefly and very frequently for פָּנִים ;]

1prop., of persons (so always in cl.);

athe face, countenance: Mat.6:16-17, Mrk.14:65, Luk.9:29, 2Co.3:7, Rev.4:7, al.; τὸ π. τῆς γενέτεως (EV, natural face), Jas.1:23; πίπτειν ἐπὶ (τὰ) π., Mat.17:6, Luk.5:12, Rev.7:11, al.; ἀγνοούμενος τῷ π., Gal.1:22; π., οὐ καρδίᾳ, 1Th.2:17; κατὰ πρόσωπον (in front, facing: Thuc., Xen., al.), when present, face to face, Act.25:16, 2Co.10:1 10:7, Gal.2:11; id. with genitive, as compound prep., in the presence of (not cl.; see Bl., § 40, 9; M, Pr., 99 f.; Thackeray, Gr., 43 f.), Luk.2:31, Act.3:13; similarly ἀπὸ π. (Heb. (פָּנִים מִלִּפְּנֵי); see Dalman, Words, 29), from the presence of, Act.3:19 5:41 7:45, 2Th.1:9, Rev.12:14 20:11; πρὸ π. (Heb. (פָּנִים לִפְנֵי), before, Mat.11:10, Mrk.1:2, Luk.7:27" (LXX), al.; in other phrases resembling Heb. idiom (Thackeray, Gr., 42), βλέπειν (ὁρᾶν, θεωρεῖν, ἰδεῖν) τὸ π., to see one's face, i.e. see him in person, Mat.18:10, Act.20:25, 38, 1Th.3:10, Rev.22:4; ἐμφανισθῆναι τῷ π. τοῦ θεοῦ, Heb.9:24; ἐν π. Χριστοῦ, 2Co.2:10 4:6; μετὰ τοῦ π. σου with thy presence, Act.2:28 (LXX); εἰς π. τῶν ἐκκλησιῶν, 2Co.8:24; στηρίζειν τὸ π. (Heb. פָּנִים שׂוּם: Jer.21:10, al.; see Dalman, Words, 30), with inf., to set one's face towards, Luk.9:51; similarly, τὸ π. αὐτοῦ ἦν πορευόμενον (op. cit., 31), Luk.9:53; τὸ π. τοῦ κυρίου ἐπί, 1Pe.3:12 (LXX)

bform, person: καυχᾶσθαι. ἐν π. καὶ μὴ ἐν καρδίᾳ, 2Co.5:12 (cf. 1Ki.16:7); metaphorically, as in Heb. idiom, of judgment according to appearance, external condition or circumstances (פָּנִים H5387; see Dalman, Words, 30; Thackeray, Gr., 43 f.): λαμβάνειν π., Luk.20:21, Gal.2:6; βλέπειν εἰς π., Mat.22:16, Mrk.12:14; θαυμάζειν πρόσωπα, Ju 16.

2Of things (cf. Dalman, l.with)

aface, appearance (Psa.104:30): Mat.16:3 (WH, R, mg., om.), Luk.12:56, Jas.1:11

bsurface (Gen.2:6): Luk.21:35, Act.17:26

Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith

Grammatical Forms

How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.

Nominative · Singular · Neuter Matt 17:2 · Luke 9:53 · 1 Pet 3:12 · Rev 10:1 4×

Nominative · Plural · Neuter Rev 9:7 2×

Genitive · Singular · Neuter Matt 11:10 · Mark 1:2 · Luke 7:27 · Luke 9:29 · Luke 9:52 · Luke 10:1 · Acts 2:28 · Acts 3:20 · Acts 5:41 · Acts 7:45 · Acts 13:24 · Acts 17:26 · 2 Cor 3:7 · 2 Thess 1:9 · Jas 1:11 · Rev 6:16 18×

Genitive · Plural · Neuter 2 Cor 1:11 1×

Dative · Singular · Neuter 2 Cor 2:10 · 2 Cor 3:18 · 2 Cor 4:6 · 2 Cor 5:12 · Gal 1:22 · 1 Thess 2:17 · Heb 9:24 7×

Accusative · Singular · Neuter Matt 6:17 · Matt 16:3 · Matt 17:6 · Matt 18:10 · Matt 22:16 · Matt 26:39 · Matt 26:67 · Mark 12:14 · Mark 14:65 · Luke 2:31 · Luke 5:12 · Luke 9:51 · Luke 12:56 · Luke 17:16 · Luke 20:21 · Luke 21:35 39×

Accusative · Plural · Neuter Matt 6:16 · Luke 24:5 · Jude 1:16 · Rev 7:11 · Rev 11:16 5×

Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

Biblical Witnesses

Luke 9:51-56 face prósōpon Nominative · Singular · Neuter

Setting one's face toward a destination with resolute determination and direction

Matthew 22:16 face prósōpon Accusative · Singular · Neuter

Judging or showing partiality based on external appearance or social status rather than truth

Luke 12:49-59 face prósōpon Accusative · Singular · Neuter

Outward appearance or visible signs that can be discerned and interpreted by observation

Colossians 2:1-5 presence prósōpon

Personal presence or face-to-face encounter with someone, contrasted with spiritual connection

Luke 17:11-19 face prósōpon Accusative · Singular · Neuter

Physical countenance or appearance as seen when meeting someone in person

Appears In

Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

1 Corinthians 13 — The More Excellent Way of Love Luke 9 — The Christ Revealed, the Cross Announced, and the Jerusalem Road Begun Matthew 17 — The Glory of the Son, the Coming of Elijah, the Failure of Little Faith, and the Son’s Humble Freedom Matthew 18 — Kingdom Humility, Care for the Little Ones, Discipline, and Forgiveness in Christ’s Community

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

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