Topical Encyclopedia
The term "countenance" in the Bible often refers to the face or facial expression of a person, and it is used to convey a range of emotions, attitudes, and spiritual states. In the Berean Standard Bible, the word is employed to describe both human and divine expressions, reflecting the inner character or mood of the individual.
Human CountenanceIn the context of human beings, the countenance can reveal much about a person's inner thoughts and feelings. For example, in
Genesis 4:5-6, the countenance of Cain fell when God did not regard his offering, indicating his anger and dejection: "but He had no regard for Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry, and his countenance fell. Then the LORD said to Cain, 'Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen?'" Here, the change in Cain's countenance is a visible sign of his inner turmoil and sin.
Similarly, in
Proverbs 15:13, the countenance is linked to the heart's condition: "A joyful heart makes a cheerful countenance, but sorrow of the heart crushes the spirit." This verse highlights the connection between one's emotional state and their outward appearance, suggesting that a person's face can reflect their inner joy or sorrow.
Divine CountenanceThe countenance of God is a significant theme in Scripture, often associated with His favor, presence, and blessing. In the Aaronic blessing found in
Numbers 6:24-26, the countenance of the Lord is invoked as a source of peace and grace: "The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace." Here, the shining of God's face symbolizes His benevolent attention and favor towards His people.
The psalmists frequently express a desire to see God's countenance, equating it with experiencing His presence and favor.
Psalm 4:6 states, "Many ask, 'Who can show us the good?' Shine the light of Your countenance upon us, O LORD." This plea reflects a deep yearning for divine approval and the assurance of God's presence.
Countenance as a Reflection of CharacterThe Bible also uses the concept of countenance to reflect moral and spiritual character. In
Ecclesiastes 8:1, wisdom is said to brighten a person's face: "Who is like the wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a matter? A man's wisdom brightens his countenance, and the sternness of his face is changed." This suggests that wisdom and understanding can transform a person's appearance, making them more approachable and serene.
In contrast, a hardened or deceitful heart can be reflected in a person's countenance.
Proverbs 21:29 notes, "A wicked man hardens his face, but the upright man makes his way sure." The hardened face of the wicked indicates stubbornness and resistance to righteousness, while the upright man's demeanor reflects confidence and integrity.
ConclusionThe concept of countenance in the Bible serves as a powerful metaphor for the inner life of both humans and the divine. It reveals emotions, character, and spiritual states, and it is a means by which God's favor and presence are communicated to His people. Through the study of countenance, believers are reminded of the importance of aligning their inner lives with God's will, so that their outward expressions may reflect His grace and truth.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. t.) To encourage; to favor; to approve; to aid; to abet.
2. (v. t.) To make a show of; to pretend.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
COUNTENANCEkoun'-te-nans:
(1) The noun (see also under the word FACE) is the translation of a variety of Hebrew and Greek expressions, panim; prosopon, being the most frequent. Besides these there are found mar'eh, "appearance," "shape," "comeliness," "visage," `ayin, "the eye," to'ar, "appearance," "figure," etc., and Aramaic ziw. To the Oriental the countenance mirrors, even more than to us, the character and feelings of the heart. The countenance (mar'eh) is"fair" (1 Samuel 17:42 2 Samuel 14:27 Daniel 1:15); in 1 Samuel 16:12, literally, "fair of eyes"; "comely" (Songs 2:14); "beautiful" (to'ar, 1 Samuel 25:3); "cheerful" (panim, Proverbs 15:13); "angry" (Proverbs 15:23); "fierce" (Daniel 8:23); "troubled" (Ezekiel 27:35); "sad" (1 Samuel 1:18 Nehemiah 2:2, 3 Ecclesiastes 7:3). The countenance is "sharpened" i.e. made keen (Proverbs 27:17); it "falls," i.e. looks despondent, disappointed (Genesis 4:5, 6); is "cast down" (Job 29:24); "changed" (Job 14:20; compare "altered" into glory, Luke 9:29 Daniel 5:6, 9, 10; Daniel 7:28, Aramaic ziw). To settle one's countenance stedfastly upon a person (2 Kings 8:11) is synonymous with staring or gazing at a person. Not infrequently we find compound expressions such as "light of countenance," i.e. favor (Job 29:24 Psalm 4:6; Psalm 44:3; Psalm 89:15; Psalm 90:8); "health of countenance" (Psalm 41:11; Psalm 43:5); "help of countenance" (Psalm 42:5); "rebuke of countenance" (Psalm 80:16); "pride of countenance" (Hebrew 'aph, literally, "haughty," "lofty nose," Psalm 10:4).
(2) As verb (Hebrew hadhar, "to countenance") we find the word in the King James Version of Exodus 23:3, where the Revisers translate "Neither shalt thou favor (the King James Version "countenance") a poor man in his cause." Here the meaning seems to be that no distinction of persons shall be made by the judge. See Leviticus 19:15, where, however, a different word is used. There is therefore no need of the emendation proposed by Knobel and accepted by Kautzsch, who would read gadhol, "great," for wedhal, "and the poor" of the text. The Septuagint has penes, "poor."
H. L. E. Luering
Greek
2397. idea -- countenance, appearance ... countenance, appearance. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: idea Phonetic
Spelling: (id-eh'-ah) Short Definition: form, outward appearance
... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2397.htm - 6k2146. euprosopeo -- to be of good countenance, ie to look well
... to be of good countenance, ie to look well. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration:
euprosopeo Phonetic Spelling: (yoo-pros-o-peh'-o) Short Definition: I make a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2146.htm - 6k
2146a. euprosopeo -- to be of good countenance, ie to look well
... 2146, 2146a. euprosopeo. 2146b . to be of good countenance, ie to look well.
Transliteration: euprosopeo Short Definition: showing. Word Origin from a comp ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2146a.htm - 5k
4383. prosopon -- the face
... the face. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: prosopon Phonetic Spelling:
(pros'-o-pon) Short Definition: the face, countenance, surface Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4383.htm - 7k
3799. opsis -- the act of seeing, the sense of sight
... Feminine Transliteration: opsis Phonetic Spelling: (op'-sis) Short Definition: the
features, outward appearance Definition: (a) the face, countenance, (b) the ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3799.htm - 6k
2726. katepheia -- dejection
... Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: katepheia Phonetic Spelling:
(kat-ay'-fi-ah) Short Definition: a downcast countenance, gloom, dejection ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2726.htm - 6k
4659. skuthropos -- with a gloomy look
... 4659 (from , "gloomy" and , "countenance") -- properly, grim-faced, looking sad,
dejected (downcast, ); (figuratively) the that goes with doing God's will in ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4659.htm - 6k
3359. metopon -- the forehead
... forehead. From meta and ops (the face); the forehead (as opposite the countenance) --
forehead. see GREEK meta. (metopon) -- 3 Occurrences. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3359.htm - 6k
444. anthropos -- a man, human, mankind
... certain, man. From aner and ops (the countenance; from optanomai); man-faced, ie
A human being -- certain, man. see GREEK aner. see GREEK optanomai. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/444.htm - 8k
4768. stugnazo -- to have a gloomy appearance
... Verb Transliteration: stugnazo Phonetic Spelling: (stoog-nad'-zo) Short Definition:
I am gloomy Definition: I am gloomy, have a somber countenance, am shocked. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4768.htm - 6k
Strong's Hebrew
639. aph -- a nostril, nose, face, anger... Origin from anaph Definition a nostril, nose, face, anger NASB Word Usage anger
(205), angry (2), angry* (5), before (2), breath (1),
countenance (1), double (1
... /hebrew/639.htm - 6k 6440. panim -- face, faces
... battle* (1), because* (80), before (868), before the in front (1), before* (137),
condition (1), confront* (1), corresponding* (2), countenance (12), covering ...
/hebrew/6440.htm - 8k
2122. ziv -- brightness, splendor
... brightness, countenance. (Aramaic) corresponding to Ziv; (figuratively) cheerfulness --
brightness, countenance. see HEBREW Ziv. 2121, 2122. ziv. 2123 . ...
/hebrew/2122.htm - 6k
1921. hadar -- to honor, adorn, perhaps to swell
... countenance, crooked place, glorious, honor, put forth. A primitive root;
to swell up (literally or figuratively, active or passive ...
/hebrew/1921.htm - 6k
4758. mareh -- sight, appearance, vision
... who looked (1). apparently, appearance, beautifully, countenance, fair, favored,
form, goodly,. From ra'ah; a view (the act of seeing ...
/hebrew/4758.htm - 6k
5869. ayin -- an eye
... a fountain (as the eye of the landscape) -- affliction, outward appearance, + before, +
think best, colour, conceit, + be content, countenance, + displease, eye ...
/hebrew/5869.htm - 7k
8389. toar -- outline, form
... be drawn, mark out. From ta'ar; outline, ie Figure or appearance -- + beautiful,
X comely, countenance, + fair, X favoured, form, X goodly, X resemble, visage. ...
/hebrew/8389.htm - 6k
8390. Taarea -- a descendant of Saul
... of Saul, the same as NH8475 NASB Word Usage Tarea (1). beautiful, comely, countenance,
fair, favored, goodly. Perhaps from ara'; Taarea, an Israelite -- Tarea. ...
/hebrew/8390.htm - 6k
Library
To the Countenance of the Lord Jesus.
... The Sufferings of Christ."Good Friday. TO THE COUNTENANCE OF THE LORD JESUS.
Oh! ... They spit upon and jeer Thee, Thou noble countenance! ...
/.../gerhardt/paul gerhardts spiritual songs/to the countenance of the.htm
God's Countenance. June 9.
... God's Countenance. June 9. Study nature as the countenance of God! Try
to extract every line of beauty, every association, every ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/daily thoughts /gods countenance june 9.htm
My Dove in the Clefts of the Rock, in the Hollow of the Wall, Show ...
... 14. My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hollow of the wall, show me thy
countenance and let thy voice sound in mine ears; for sweet is thy voice, and thy ...
//christianbookshelf.org/guyon/song of songs of solomon/14 my dove in the.htm
"As Long as we be Meddling with any Part of Sin we Shall Never See ...
... THE SIXTEENTH REVELATION CHAPTER LXXII "As long as we be meddling with any part
of sin we shall never see clearly the Blissful Countenance of our Lord". ...
/.../julian/revelations of divine love/chapter lxxii as long as.htm
How is Christ, as the Life, to be Applied by a Soul that Misseth ...
... CHAPTER XXVI. HOW IS CHRIST, AS THE LIFE, TO BE APPLIED BY A SOUL THAT
MISSETH GOD'S FAVOUR AND COUNTENANCE. The sixth case, that ...
/.../brown/christ the way the truth and the life/chapter xxvi how is christ.htm
"Three Manners of Looking Seen in Our Lord's Countenance"
... THE SIXTEENTH REVELATION CHAPTER LXXI "Three manners of looking seen in our Lord's
Countenance". "Three manners of looking seen in our Lord's Countenance" ...
/.../julian/revelations of divine love/chapter lxxi three manners of.htm
Book iv Thus Gently Sang the Lady Philosophy with Dignified Mien ...
... BOOK IV THUS gently sang the Lady Philosophy with dignified mien and grave
countenance? THUS gently sang the Lady Philosophy with ...
/.../boethius/the consolation of philosophy/book iv thus gently sang.htm
His Legs are as Pillars of Marble, Set Upon Sockets of Fine Gold ...
... CHAPTER V. 15. His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine
gold; his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/guyon/song of songs of solomon/15 his legs are as.htm
Turn Us, O God of Hosts, Show us Thy Countenance...
... Book IV Chapter X Turn us, O God of Hosts, show us Thy countenance? Turn us,
O God of Hosts, show us Thy countenance, and we shall be whole. ...
/.../augustine/the confessions of saint augustine/chapter x turn us o.htm
Psalm XXVII.
... 8. "My heart hath said to Thee, I have sought Thy countenance" (ver.8). For I have
not exhibited myself to men; but in secret, where Thou alone hearest, my ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xxvii.htm
Thesaurus
Countenance (67 Occurrences)... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
COUNTENANCE.
... To the Oriental the
countenance mirrors,
even more than to us, the character and feelings of the heart.
.../c/countenance.htm - 30kFavor (184 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) Kind regard; propitious aspect; countenance; friendly disposition; kindness;
good will. ... 7. (n.) Appearance; look; countenance; face. ...
/f/favor.htm - 40k
Face (780 Occurrences)
... The "light of God's countenance" is his favour (Psalm 44:3; Dan. 9:17). ... of man, in
which the eyes, cheeks, nose, and mouth are situated; visage; countenance. ...
/f/face.htm - 47k
Disquieted (13 Occurrences)
... and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise
him for the help of his countenance. (KJV ASV DBY WBS RSV). ...
/d/disquieted.htm - 10k
Moanest (3 Occurrences)
... soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God; for I shall
yet praise him For the help of his countenance. (See JPS). ...
/m/moanest.htm - 7k
Change (109 Occurrences)
... alter; to make different; to cause to pass from one state to another; as, to change
the position, character, or appearance of a thing; to change the countenance...
/c/change.htm - 42k
Smile (4 Occurrences)
... smiling plenty. 4. (vi) To be propitious or favorable; to favor; to countenance; --
often with on; as, to smile on one's labors. 5. (vt ...
/s/smile.htm - 8k
Wroth (65 Occurrences)
... Genesis 4:5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very
wroth, and his countenance fell. ... and why is thy countenance fallen? ...
/w/wroth.htm - 26k
Friend (139 Occurrences)
... They are popularly called Quakers. 5. (n.) A paramour of either sex. 6. (vt) To
act as the friend of; to favor; to countenance; to befriend. Int. ...
/f/friend.htm - 40k
Raiment (75 Occurrences)
... crucify him. (KJV WBS). Matthew 28:3 His countenance was like lightning,
and his raiment white as snow: (KJV WEY ASV WBS RSV). Mark 9 ...
/r/raiment.htm - 31k
Resources
Who or what is Metatron? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say on the importance of accountability? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are some exciting discoveries in biblical archaeology? | GotQuestions.orgCountenance: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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