אֲנַף
a.naph
face
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Hebrew word "אֲנַף" (a.naph) is defined as "face." It appears 24 times in the Bible, indicating its importance in the text. This word likely refers to the physical face, but its usage may also encompass the concept of presence or appearance. The semantic domain of "Body & Health" suggests that the word may be used in contexts related to physical or emotional well-being. Given its definition and frequency of use, "אֲנַף" likely plays a significant role in describing interactions, emotions, and relationships in the Bible. The word may be used to convey ideas such as "to meet face-to-face," "to show one's face," or "to hide one's face." Its significance lies in its ability to convey the importance of physical presence and appearance in various contexts, including social interactions, worship, and divine encounters. The 24 occurrences of "אֲנַף" in the Bible suggest that it is a multifaceted word with a range of applications. Its use in various contexts, including Genesis, Exodus, and Amos, indicates that it is a fundamental concept in the Hebrew language and the biblical narrative.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
24 total occurrences across the text
Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground; and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before Yahweh, worshiping Yahweh.
Nehemiah 8:6Then Ezra blessed Yahweh, the great God. All the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” with the lifting up of their hands. They bowed their heads, and worshiped Yahweh with their faces to the ground.
Psalms 10:4The wicked, in the pride of his face, has no room in his thoughts for God.
Isaiah 49:23Kings shall be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers. They will bow down to you with their faces to the earth, and lick the dust of your feet. Then you will know that I am Yahweh; and those who wait for me shall not be disappointed.”
Genesis 3:19You will eat bread by the sweat of your face until you return to the ground, for you were taken out of it. For you are dust, and you shall return to dust.”
Genesis 19:1The two angels came to Sodom at evening. Lot sat in the gate of Sodom. Lot saw them, and rose up to meet them. He bowed himself with his face to the earth,
Genesis 42:6Joseph was the governor over the land. It was he who sold to all the people of the land. Joseph’s brothers came, and bowed themselves down to him with their faces to the earth.
Genesis 48:12Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth.
Numbers 22:31Then Yahweh opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw Yahweh’s angel standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face.
Deuteronomy 33:10They shall teach Jacob your ordinances, and Israel your law. They shall put incense before you, and whole burnt offering on your altar.
1 Samuel 1:5but to Hannah he gave a double portion, for he loved Hannah, but Yahweh had shut up her womb.
1 Samuel 20:41As soon as the boy was gone, David arose out of the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times. They kissed one another, and wept one with another, and David wept the most.
1 Samuel 24:8David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth, and showed respect.
1 Samuel 25:23When Abigail saw David, she hurried and got off her donkey, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground.
1 Samuel 25:41She arose, and bowed herself with her face to the earth, and said, “Behold, your servant is a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.”
1 Samuel 28:14He said to her, “What does he look like?” She said, “An old man comes up. He is covered with a robe.” Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground, and showed respect.
2 Samuel 14:4When the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, showed respect, and said, “Help, O king!”
2 Samuel 14:33So Joab came to the king, and told him; and when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king; and the king kissed Absalom.
2 Samuel 18:28Ahimaaz called, and said to the king, “All is well.” He bowed himself before the king with his face to the earth, and said, “Blessed is Yahweh your God, who has delivered up the men who lifted up their hand against my lord the king!”
1 Kings 1:31Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth, and showed respect to the king, and said, “Let my lord king David live forever!”
2 Samuel 24:20Araunah looked out, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him. Then Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.
1 Kings 1:23They told the king, saying, “Behold, Nathan the prophet!” When he had come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.
1 Chronicles 21:21As David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out of the threshing floor, and bowed himself to David with his face to the ground.
2 Chronicles 7:3All the children of Israel looked on, when the fire came down, and Yahweh’s glory was on the house. They bowed themselves with their faces to the ground on the pavement, worshiped, and gave thanks to Yahweh, saying, “For he is good; for his loving kindness endures forever.”