A term used to refer to the character of God, especially his favour towards his people. For God to turn his face to his people is to offer them his grace and help; for God to turn his face against his people is to withhold his favour and blessing. To seek the face of God is to seek his favour.
The face of God as a sign of blessing
Numbers 6:25–26 See also 2 Samuel 21:1; 1 Chronicles 16:11; Psalm 4:6, Psalm 31:16, Psalm 67:1, Psalm 80:19, Psalm 105:4, Psalm 119:135; Ezekiel 39:29
may the LORD cause His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; may the LORD lift up His countenance toward you and give you peace.’
Parts of God's face
His ears
2 Samuel 22:7; 2 Kings 19:28; Psalm 34:15, Psalm 102:2; Isaiah 59:1
His eyes
Psalm 34:15 See also Deuteronomy 11:12; 2 Chronicles 16:9; Psalm 139:16; Proverbs 15:3
The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their cry.
His hair
His lips
Psalm 89:34; Isaiah 11:4, Isaiah 30:27
His mouth
2 Samuel 22:9; Job 15:30; Isaiah 45:23
His nostrils
The visibility of God's face
His face cannot be seen
Exodus 33:20–23 “The face of God” may mean here God's real and true self, the inference being that no-one can look on God as he is in his total purity and majesty.
But He added, “You cannot see My face, for no one can see Me and live.” The LORD continued, “There is a place near Me where you are to stand upon a rock, and when My glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will take My hand away, and you will see My back; but My face must not be seen.”
Apparent exceptions where God is seen face to face
Genesis 32:30 After Jacob's wrestling with a figure whose exact identity is not explicit in the preceding verses. Jacob did experience a real encounter with God but God was in a real and approachable form, not in his transcendent and visible glory. See also Exodus 33:11; Numbers 12:8; Deuteronomy 5:4, Deuteronomy 34:10; Ezekiel 20:35
So Jacob named the place Peniel, saying, “Indeed, I have seen God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”
The angels in heaven look upon the face of God
God must reveal himself if people are to see his face
Job 34:29 The Greek word for “revelation” literally means “removing a veil from one's face”.
The righteous will see God's face in the life to come
1 Corinthians 13:12; Revelation 22:4
When God hides his face blessing is withheld
Complaints at God hiding his face
Psalm 44:24 See also Psalm 13:1, Psalm 88:14
Why do You hide Your face and forget our affliction and oppression?
Cries for help
Psalm 27:9 See also Psalm 69:17, Psalm 102:2, Psalm 143:7
Hide not Your face from me, nor turn away Your servant in anger. You have been my helper; do not leave me or forsake me, O God of my salvation.
Statements concerning God's anger and judgment
Isaiah 54:8 See also Deuteronomy 31:17–18; Psalm 22:24, Psalm 30:7, Psalm 51:9, Psalm 104:29; Isaiah 8:17, Isaiah 64:7; Jeremiah 33:5; Ezekiel 39:23–24; Micah 3:4; Revelation 6:16
In a surge of anger I hid My face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,” says the LORD your Redeemer.
Other phrases synonymous with God hiding his face
2 Chronicles 30:9; Jeremiah 18:17; Ezekiel 7:22
God sets his face against sinners
Leviticus 17:10, Leviticus 20:3, Leviticus 26:17; Psalm 34:16; Ezekiel 14:8; 1 Peter 3:12; Ezekiel 15:7
God's face as a symbol of his favour
Seeking the face of God in prayer
2 Chronicles 7:14 See also 2 Samuel 21:1; 1 Chronicles 16:11; Psalm 24:6, Psalm 105:4, Psalm 119:58; Hosea 5:15
and if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
Seeking the favour of God
Exodus 32:11 See also 1 Samuel 13:12; 2 Kings 13:4; 2 Chronicles 33:12; Jeremiah 26:19; Daniel 9:13; Zechariah 7:2, Zechariah 8:21; Malachi 1:9
But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God, saying, “O LORD, why does Your anger burn against Your people, whom You brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand?
Appearing before God in worship
Exodus 23:15 The phrase seems to recall the fact that in ancient religions worshippers came before carved faces of their idols. In Israel such physical representations of God were forbidden but the phrase was still used underlining the belief that Israel's God was present in his sanctuary. See also Exodus 23:17, Exodus 34:20; Deuteronomy 16:16, Deuteronomy 31:11; Psalm 42:2; Isaiah 1:12
You are to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread as I commanded you: At the appointed time in the month of Abib you are to eat unleavened bread for seven days, because that was the month you came out of Egypt. No one may appear before Me empty-handed.
The shining of God's face upon his people indicates his blessing
Numbers 6:25–26 See also Psalm 4:6, Psalm 31:16, Psalm 44:3, Psalm 67:1, Psalm 80:3, Psalm 80:19, Psalm 119:135
may the LORD cause His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; may the LORD lift up His countenance toward you and give you peace.’
God's face accompanies Israel as a symbol of his presence
Exodus 33:14 Literally “my face will go ...” Here this phrase may allude not only to God's presence but also to the manifestations of his presence (e.g., the cloud in verse 9). See also Deuteronomy 4:37; Isaiah 63:9
And the LORD answered, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.