In someone's face
About this episode
The episode explores the Hebrew word 'panim' for 'face' and its implications for understanding God's presence and intimacy.
I have been thinking more on the Hebrew word 'panim' for 'face' which, as I mentioned yesterday, also means 'presence', as written in the Old Teatament. It has an even stronger sense than the aura and feel of someone. In Hebrew panim is actually a plural word, meaning 'faces', implying the totality of a person's being, in other words, their moods, inner emotions, thoughts etc. Instead of the negative connotations associated with the expression 'being in someone's face', in Hebrew it actually means stepping into their direct view and paying full attention to them. God wants us to have intimate face to face encounters with Him, wanting us to get to know him more fully. We cannot literally see His face for now but we learn to see evidence of Him in the same way that we cannot see wind but we can see evidence of the wind, for instance, with the swaying and bending of trees. Also, from another angle, God already knows us intimately and we don't need to hide a thing from him. Let us seek God's face with openness and no fear.
People in this episode
Host: Stephanie Hawkins
Topics covered
- spirituality
- intimacy with God
- Hebrew language
- face and presence
- emotional connection
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: Old Testament
Places: Hebrew
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