פָּנִים
Panim
Face; presence
Panim (פָּנִים) is a Hebrew word meaning “face; presence,” pronounced “pa-NEEM.” Derived from the root פ-נ-ה, panim appears 2,000 times in the Hebrew Bible (Strong's H6440).
| Hebrew | פָּנִים |
|---|---|
| Transliteration | Panim |
| Pronunciation | pa-NEEM |
| Meaning | Face; presence |
| Root Letters | פ-נ-ה |
| Occurrences in Hebrew Bible | 2,000× |
| Key Verse | Numbers 6:25 |
| Strong's Number | H6440 |
| Category | Spiritual Concepts |
Panim (פָּנִים) is the Hebrew word for face, and it carries a surprise: Hebrew has no singular form. Panim is always plural — literally faces. A face, to the Hebrew mind, is never flat or fixed; it is many-sided, alive, turning. And panim means far more than the front of a head — it means presence. When God tells Moses, 'My presence (panai — my face) will go with you' (Exodus 33:14), presence and face are the same word. So the Aaronic Blessing's deepest gift is also its plainest: 'the LORD make His face shine upon you' — a shining face is a smiling one, favor and delight — and 'lift up His countenance,' lift His face, is to turn fully toward you, attention undivided.
Key Bible Verse: Numbers 6:25
“The LORD make his face (panav) shine upon you and be gracious to you.”
What Is the Root of Panim in Hebrew?
Panim comes from the root פ-נ-ה (peh-nun-heh), 'to turn, to face.' The word exists only in the plural, reflecting the Hebrew sense that a face is many-sided and always in motion — turning toward or away.
What Does Panim Mean in the Bible?
Panim appears roughly 2,000 times in the Hebrew Bible. It means a literal face, but far more often it means presence — to stand lifnei someone is to stand 'before their face.' God's face shining (Numbers 6:25) is favor; His face hidden (Psalm 13:1) is distance; seeking His face (Psalm 27:8) is seeking Him.
How Is Panim Used in Modern Hebrew?
The idiom survives in modern Hebrew: lifnei means 'before' (literally 'to the face of'), and kabbalat panim — 'receiving the face' — is the word for welcoming guests.
How to Use Panim in Prayer & Worship
Pray Numbers 6:25-26 back to God: ask that He make His face shine on you and turn His face toward you. To ask for God's face is to ask for God Himself, near — not favor at a distance, but presence.
Frequently Asked Questions About Panim
How do you say “Face; presence” in Hebrew?
“Face; presence” in Hebrew is Panim (פָּנִים), pronounced “pa-NEEM.” Panim comes from the root פ-נ-ה (peh-nun-heh), 'to turn, to face.' The word exists only in the plural, reflecting the Hebrew sense that a face is many-sided and always in motion — turning toward or away.
What does Panim mean in the Bible?
Panim (פָּנִים) means “Face; presence” in Biblical Hebrew. Panim appears roughly 2,000 times in the Hebrew Bible. It means a literal face, but far more often it means presence — to stand lifnei someone is to stand 'before their face.' God's face shining (Numbers 6:25) is favor; His face hidden (Psalm 13:1) is distance; seeking His face (Psalm 27:8) is seeking Him.
How do you pronounce Panim?
Panim is pronounced “pa-NEEM.” The word comes from the Hebrew root פ-נ-ה.
Why is the Hebrew word for face always plural?
Panim (פָּנִים) has no singular form in Biblical Hebrew — it is grammatically plural, literally 'faces.' Many read this as reflecting the Hebrew sense that a face is many-sided, alive, and ever-turning, never flat or static.
What does it mean for God's face to shine on you?
In Numbers 6:25, 'the LORD make his face shine upon you' pictures a face lighting up with favor and delight — like a parent's face at the sight of a child. Because panim also means presence, a shining face is God Himself turned warmly toward you.
How do you pronounce panim?
Panim is pronounced 'pa-NEEM,' with the stress on the second syllable.
Sources & Further Study
- Blue Letter Bible — H6440: Panim
- Bible Gateway — Numbers 6:25 (ESV)
- Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB) — entry for פ-נ-ה
More Spiritual Concepts Words
Explore other Hebrew words in the Spiritual Concepts category
Related Hebrew Words
The Biblical Hebrew Starter Kit — $19
5 printable PDFs: alphabet reference, top 50 Bible words, names of God, 10 biblical name certificates, alphabet wall print. Yours to keep forever.
Go Deeper
Top 10 Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know
Essential Hebrew words that will transform your Bible reading — from chesed and shalom to ruach and shema.
Read articleHebrew Numbers 1–10: Complete Guide
Hebrew counting with masculine and feminine forms, pronunciation, and the spiritual significance of numbers in Scripture.
Read articleLearn a New Hebrew Word Every Day
Join 12,000+ Christians discovering the depth of Scripture through Biblical Hebrew.