πρόσωπον

G4383 is the ordinary noun for a face and can extend through idiom to presence, personal encounter, outward appearance, the front or surface of something, and a person regarded by status. Its seventy-six governed forms include literal faces, falling facedown, seeing someone face to face, appearing before an authority, God's presence, Christ's face, public view, superficial judgment, flattery, and scenes in which a face is struck or disfigured. Translation must follow each phrase rather than assign one theological meaning to every form.

Paul's Corinthian letters provide concentrated uses. Believers now see dimly and await face-to-face fullness, Moses' face belongs to the old-covenant comparison, unveiled faces behold or reflect the Lord's glory, and God gives knowledge of divine glory in the face of Jesus Christ. These texts support real hope, transformation, and Christ-centered revelation, but G4383 alone does not define the final vision, guarantee a mystical sight, identify Jesus' physical features, or justify anti-Jewish readings of Paul's veil language.

Other occurrences confront appearance-based judgment. God shows no favoritism, teachers may flatter faces for advantage, and Paul distinguishes outward appearance from the heart while also confronting Peter to his face. Literal faces can display joy, grief, fear, injury, and bodily difference, yet appearance does not establish character, consent, competence, truthfulness, mental health, or spiritual condition. Pastoral use must resist racism, colorism, ableism, beauty hierarchy, facial shaming, surveillance, coercive eye contact, and violence while honoring embodied presence and truthful encounter.

Seventy-six governed forms move among literal face, presence, encounter, appearance, public view, partiality, and person-directed idioms.