Strong's Hebrew: 3942. לִפְנָי (liphnay) -- Before, in the presence of, in front of

◄ 3942. liphnay ►

Lexicon

liphnay: Before, in the presence of, in front of

Original Word: לִפְּנַי
Part of Speech: Preposition
Transliteration: liphnay
Pronunciation: lif-NAY
Phonetic Spelling: (lif-nah'ee)
Definition: Before, in the presence of, in front of
Meaning: anterior

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

before

From the prepositional prefix (to or for) and paniym; anterior -- before.

see HEBREW paniym

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from a preposition prefix and panim, q.v.

Brown-Driver-Briggs

לִפְנָָֽי 1 Kings 6:17 see below [ מָּנֶה], מָּנִים.

לִפְנָ֑י 1 Kings 6:17, Ew^{§ 164 a} Ke as adjective, anterior, but read, with ᵐ5, לִפְנֵי הַדְּבִיד Th Sta Kit and others

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the preposition לְ (le) meaning "to" or "for" and פָּנֶה (panim) meaning "face" or "presence."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The concept of being "before" or "in the presence of" in the Hebrew Bible is often translated into Greek using terms such as ἐνώπιον (enopion) in the Septuagint, which corresponds to Strong's Greek Number 1799. This Greek term carries similar connotations of being in the presence of or before someone, maintaining the relational and positional nuances found in the Hebrew לִפְּנַי.

Usage: The term לִפְּנַי is used to denote position or time, indicating something that is before or in front of another, either physically or metaphorically. It is often used in the context of being in the presence of someone or something, or to indicate precedence in time.

Context: The Hebrew term לִפְּנַי (lippenay) is a prepositional phrase that is frequently encountered in the Hebrew Bible. It is a compound of the preposition לְ (le) and the noun פָּנֶה (panim), which together convey the idea of being "before" or "in the presence of." This term is versatile in its application, appearing in various contexts to describe spatial, temporal, and relational positioning.

In spatial terms, לִפְּנַי is used to describe physical positioning, such as standing before a person or object. For example, in Genesis 18:22, "The men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD." Here, לִפְּנַי indicates Abraham's position in relation to the LORD.

Temporally, לִפְּנַי can denote precedence or priority in time. It is used to describe events that occur before others, as seen in the prophetic literature where future events are foretold as occurring "before" the LORD.

Relationally, לִפְּנַי often signifies being in the presence of someone, particularly in a formal or worshipful context. It is used to describe the Israelites' relationship with God, emphasizing their position before Him in worship, obedience, or judgment.

The term is integral to understanding the dynamics of biblical narratives, where physical presence often symbolizes relational or covenantal standing. It underscores the importance of being "before" God, both in terms of physical presence and spiritual posture.

Links

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