Face

Means simply presence, as when it is recorded that Adam and Eve hid themselves from the “face [R.V., ‘presence’] of the Lord God” (Gen. 3:8; comp. Ex. 33:14, 15, where the same Hebrew word is rendered “presence”). The “light of God’s countenance” is his favour (Ps. 44:3; Dan. 9:17). “Face” signifies also anger, justice, severity (Gen. 16:6, 8; Ex. 2:15; Ps. 68:1; Rev. 6:16). To “provoke God to his face” (Isa. 65:3) is to sin against him openly. The Jews prayed with their faces toward the temple and Jerusalem (1 Kings 8:38, 44, 48; Dan. 6:10). To “see God’s face” is to have access to him and to enjoy his favour (Ps. 17:15; 27:8). This is the privilege of holy angels (Matt. 18:10; Luke 1:19). The “face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6) is the office and person of Christ, the revealer of the glory of God (John 1:14, 18).

FACE. Gen 3:19. See Blackness. Whatever of a thing is most exposed to view is called its face; hence we read of the face of the country, field, gate, house, wilderness, water, sky, etc. "Face," when applied to God, denotes, (1) His omniscience, 1 Sam 26:20, and to "provoke him to the face" is to act very openly and impudently Isa 65:3. (2) The brighter displays of his glory, which cannot be enjoyed in this world. Ex 33:20; 1 Tim 6:16. (3) His favor and love, and the gracious displays thereof: this is always meant when his face is said to "shine," or it is represented as a mercy to behold and enjoy it or a misery to be deprived of it. 2 Chr 30:9; Ps 31:16; Ps 80:7; Dan 9:17. (4) His wrath, and the providential displays thereof. Ps 34:16. Christ's "face" denotes, (1) His person and office as the image of the invisible God. 2 Cor 4:6. (2) His gracious, glorious, or terrible appearances. Rev 20:11.

FACE. Gen 3:19. See Blackness. Whatever of a thing is most exposed to view is called its face; hence we read of the face of the country, field, gate, house, wilderness, water, sky, etc. "Face," when applied to God, denotes, (1) His omniscience, 1 Sam 26:20, and to "provoke him to the face" is to act very openly and impudently Isa 65:3. (2) The brighter displays of his glory, which cannot be enjoyed in this world. Ex 33:20; 1 Tim 6:16. (3) His favor and love, and the gracious displays thereof: this is always meant when his face is said to "shine," or it is represented as a mercy to behold and enjoy it or a misery to be deprived of it. 2 Chr 30:9; Ps 31:16; Ps 80:7; Dan 9:17. (4) His wrath, and the providential displays thereof. Ps 34:16. Christ's "face" denotes, (1) His person and office as the image of the invisible God. 2 Cor 4:6. (2) His gracious, glorious, or terrible appearances. Rev 20:11.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. The exterior form or appearance of anything; that part which presents itself to the view; especially, the front or upper part or surface; that which particularly offers itself to the view of a spectator. A mist . . . watered the whole face of the ground. Gen. ii. 6. Lake Leman wooes me with its crystal face. Byron.

2. That part of a body, having several sides, which may be seen from one point, or which is presented toward a certain direction; one of the bounding planes of a solid; as, a cube has six faces.

3. The principal dressed surface of a plate, disk, or pulley; the principal flat surface of a part or object.

4. That part of the acting surface of a cog in a cog wheel, which projects beyond the pitch line.

5. The width of a pulley, or the length of a cog from end to end; as, a pulley or cog wheel of ten inches face.

6. The upper surface, or the character upon the surface, of a type, plate, etc.

7. The style or cut of a type or font of type.

8. Outside appearance; surface show; look; external aspect, whether natural, assumed, or acquired. To set a face upon their own malignant design. Milton. This would produce a new face of things in Europe. Addison. We wear a face of joy, because We have been glad of yore. Wordsworth.

9. That part of the head, esp. of man, in which the eyes, cheeks, nose, and mouth are situated; visage; countenance. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread. Gen. iii. 19.

10. Cast of features; expression of countenance; look; air; appearance. We set the best faceon it we could. Dryden.

11. Ten degrees in extent of a sign of the zodiac. Chaucer.

12. Maintenance of the countenance free from abashment or confusion; confidence; boldness; shamelessness; effrontery. This is the man that has the face to charge others with false citations. Tillotson.

13. Presence; sight; front; as in the phrases, before the face of, in the immediate presence of; in the face of, before, in, or against the front of; as, to fly in the face of danger; to the face of, directly to; from the face of, from the presenceof.

14. Mode of regard, whether favorable or unfavorable; favor or anger; mostly in Scriptural phrases. The Lord make his face to shine upon thee. Num. vi. 25. My face [favor] will I turn also from them. Ezek. vii. 22.

15. The end or wall of the tunnel, drift, or excavation, at which work is progressing or was last done.

16. The exact amount expressed on a bill, note, bond, or other mercantile paper, without any addition for interest or reduction for discount. McElrath.

Part of speech: verb (v.)

1. To meet in front; to oppose with firmness; to resist, or to meet for the purpose of stopping or opposing; to confront; to encounter; as, to face an enemy in the field of battale. I'll face This tempest, and deserve the name of king. Dryden.

2. To Confront impudently; to bully. I will neither be facednor braved. Shak.

3. To stand opposite to; to stand with the face or front toward; to front upon; as, the apartments of the general faced the park. He gained also with his forces that part of Britain which faces Ireland. Milton.

4. To cover in front, for ornament, protection, etc.; to put a facing upon; as, a building faced with marble.

5. To line near the edge, esp. with a different material; as, to face the front of a coat, or the bottom of a dress.

6. To cover with better, or better appearing, material than the mass consists of, for purpose of deception, as the surface of a box of tea, a barrel of sugar, etc.

7. To make the surface of (anything) flat or smooth; to dress the face of (a stone, a casting, etc.); esp., in turning, to shape or smooth the flat surface of, as distinguished from the cylindrical surface.

8. To cause to turn or present a face or front, as in a particular direction. To face down, to put down by bold or impudent opposition. "He faced men down." Prior. -- To face (a thing) out, to persist boldly or impudently in an assertion or in a line of conduct. "That thinks with oaths to face the matter out." Shak

Part of speech: verb (v.)

1. To carry a false appearance; to play the hypocrite. "To lie, to face, to forge." Spenser.

2. To turn the face; as, to face to the right or left. Face about, man; a soldier, and afraid! Dryden.

3. To present a face or front.