Lexical Summary panah: To turn, to face, to look, to prepare Original Word: פָנָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance appear, at eventide, behold, cast out, come on, corner, dawning, empty, A primitive root; to turn; by implication, to face, i.e. Appear, look, etc. -- appear, at (even-)tide, behold, cast out, come on, X corner, dawning, empty, go away, lie, look, mark, pass away, prepare, regard, (have) respect (to), (re-)turn (aside, away, back, face, self), X right (early). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to turn NASB Translation approaches (1), clear (3), cleared (1), cleared away (1), considered (1), dawn* (1), dawns (1), declined (1), declines (1), empty (1), face (2), faced (2), faced* (1), faces (3), facing (11), facing back (1), have regard (2), look (4), looked (9), prepare (1), prepared (1), regard (2), regarded (1), regards (1), return* (1), toward (1), turn (26), turn back (2), turned (40), turned around (1), turned away (1), turned back (2), turns (3), turns away (2), turns back (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מָּנָה135 verb turn (Late Hebrew id.; Syriac  , ᵑ7 מְּנָא; Ethiopic  : Arabic  pass away, banish; compare Sabean פנה (variously) e.g. CISiv. Nos. 1, 37, 40; Assyrian pânu, face, Phoenician פנם, MI13, 18 לפני, suffix מפני Ezekiel 1:19); — Qal117 Perfect3masculine singular ׳פ Jeremiah 6:4 +, 2 masculine singular מָּנִיתָ 2 Samuel 9:8, etc.; Imperfect3masculine singular יִפְנֶה 1 Samuel 13:17 +, וַיִּ֫פֶן Exodus 2:12 +, 3 feminine singular וַתֵּ֫פֶן 1 Kings 10:13, 1singular וָאֵ֫פֶן Deuteronomy 9:15; Deuteronomy 10:5, 1plural וַנֵּ֫פֶן Deuteronomy 2:1 +, etc.; Imperative masculine singular מְּנֵה Psalm 25:16 +, etc.; Infinitiveabsolute מָּנֹה Haggai 1:9; construct לִפְנוֺת Genesis 24:63 +, etc.; Participle מֹּנֶה Deuteronomy 29:17 +, etc.; — 1 a. turn toward, אֶל person, literal, Judges 6:14; Isaiah 13:14 = Jeremiah 50:16; Job 21:5 (i.e. attentively); compare of branches Ezekiel 17:6 (in allegory); with עַל of direction Genesis 24:49; figurative with ׳אֶליֿ (in worship), Isaiah 45:22, other gods Hosea 3:1; Deuteronomy 31:18,20; Leviticus 19:4; for help Leviticus 19:31; Leviticus 20:6; Job 5:1; אֶלאָֿוֶן Job 36:21; with accusative הַמָּקוֺם אֲשֶׁר יִפְנֶה Ezekiel 10:11; with ה locative 1 Kings 17:3; Deuteronomy 2:3 (+ לָכֶם dativus ethicus [dative of interest]), Songs 6:1; with דֶּרֶךְ 1 Samuel 13:18 (twice in verse); Job 24:18, ׳אֶלדֿ Judges 20:42; 1 Samuel 13:17; figurative לְדֶרֶךְ Isaiah 53:6; Isaiah 56:11; with accusative כֹּל אֲשֶׁריִֿפְנֶה 1 Samuel 14:47, so, + שָׁם, figurative 1 Kings 2:3, i.e. whatever thou undertakest, אֶלכָּֿלאֲֿשֶׁר יִפְנֶה Proverbs 17:8. b. turn from, מִן local Genesis 18:22, figurative, of heart, with ׳מֵעִם י Deuteronomy 29:17, absolute = turn away Deuteronomy 30:17; in phrase עֹרֶף ׳פ turn (with) the back (compare ראה עֹרֶף) Jeremiah 18:17), + לִפְנֵי, Joshua 7:12 (of flight), figurative, + ׳אֶליֿ, Jeremiah 2:27; Jeremiah 32:33. c. turn and do a thing, literal (especially + verb of motion) Numbers 21:33; Deuteronomy 1:7,24; Judges 18:21; 1 Kings 10:13 17t.; to do a thing (infinitive) Ecclesiastes 2:12. d.turn, decline, of day Jeremiah 6:4, days of life Psalm 90:9. e. turn toward, approach, of evening, לִפְנוֺת עָ֑רֶב Genesis 24:63; Deuteronomy 23:12; of morning, (הַ)בֹּקֶר ׳לִפ Exodus 14:27; Judges 19:26; Psalm 46:6 (figurative). 2. a. turn and look, look, literal, אֶל person Numbers 12:10; 2Chronicles 20:24; 26:20, וַיִּפֶן כֹּה וָכֹה Exodus 2:12; with לְמָ֑עְלָה Isaiah 8:21 absolute look (back) 2 Chronicles 13:14; with אַתֲרִי look behind one (and see, or say), Joshua 8:20; Judges 20:40; 2 Samuel 1:7; 2 Samuel 2:20; 2 Kings 2:24, look after anotber Ezekiel 29:16 (figurative for seek alliance with); with אֶל of direction Exodus 16:10; Numbers 17:7. b. of inanimate things, face, with אֶל location Joshua 15:7, usually of facing points of compass, with ה locative 1 Kings 7:25 (4 t. in verse) = 2Chronicles 4:4 (4 t. in verse), Joshua 15:2; Ezekiel 8:3; Ezekiel 46:19, but also with קָדִים Ezekiel 43:17; Ezekiel 44:1; Ezekiel 46:1,12; Ezekiel 47:2, compare Ezekiel 43:1. c. especially figurativelook at,אֶלֿ person, regard, (1) graciously 2 Samuel 9:8; of ׳י Ezekiel 36:9; Leviticus 26:9; 2 Kings 13:23; Psalm 40:5, + חָנַן Psalm 25:16; Psalm 69:17; Psalm 86:16; Psalm 119:132; with אֶלתְּֿפִלָּה 1 Kings 8:28 2Chronicles 6:19; Psalm 102:18, אֶלמִֿנְחָה Numbers 16:15; Malachi 2:13; (2) sternly, אֶלקְֿשִׁי הָעָם Deuteronomy 9:27. d. look for (אֶל of thing) = expect Haggai 1:9. e. figurative look at (ב of thing) = consider Ecclesiastes 2:11. — 2Chronicles 25:23 see מַּנָּה Pi`el Perfect3masculine singular מִּנָּה Zephaniah 3:15, etc.; Imperative masculine plural מַּנּוּ Isaiah 40:3 2t.; — turn away, put out of the way, with accusative of person Zephaniah 3:15 ("" הֵסִיר); hence make clear, with accusative הַבַּיִת, i.e. clear away things scattered about, make orderly, German 'aufräumen' Genesis 24:31; empty it Leviticus 14:36; figurative, with accusative דֶּרֶךְ make clear, free from obstacles, Isaiah 40:3; Isaiah 57:14; Isaiah 62:10; Malachi 3:1; accusative omitted clear away (ground) before it, i.e. to plant it Psalm 80:10 (figurative). Hiph`il (especially Jeremiah) Perfect3masculine singular הִפְנָה Jeremiah 48:39, 3feminine singular הִפְנְתָה Jeremiah 49:24, etc.; Imperfect וַיֶּ֫פֶן Judges 15:4; Infinitive construct suffix הַפְנֹתוֺ 1 Samuel 10:9; Participle מַפְנֶה Nahum 2:9; — 1 turn, with accusative וַיֶּפֶן זָנָב אֶלזָֿנָב Judges 15:4, עֹרֶף Jeremiah 48:39 (compare הפך Joshua 7:8), שִׁכְמוֺ לָלֶכֶת 1 Samuel 10:9. 2 make a turn, shew (signs of) turning, + נָסוּ Jeremiah 46:21, לָנוּם Jeremiah 49:24; opposed to נָסוּ Jeremiah 46:5, compare Nahum 2:9; + אֶל person Nah 47:3. Hoph`al Imperative masculine plural הָפְנוּ Jeremiah 49:8 (Ges§ 46a, N.) be ye turned back! (in flight, + נֻסוּ); Participle מָפְנֶה צָפ֫וֺנָה Ezekiel 9:2 the gate . . . which is faced northward (compare Qal 2 b. Topical Lexicon Scope of Usage The root פָנָה spans roughly one hundred thirty-five occurrences across the Law, Prophets, and Writings. It depicts an act of turning, facing, or directing oneself, whether bodily (turning one’s face or path) or spiritually (turning one’s heart or attention). The contexts range from individual decisions (Genesis 18:22) to national calls to repentance (Hosea 5:4). Because the word moves easily between concrete motion and moral response, it often serves as a hinge in the narrative, marking decisive moments of obedience or rebellion. Physical Orientation in Narrative Contexts 1. Patriarchal journeys: “The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD” (Genesis 18:22). The narrator highlights Abraham’s steadfast posture in contrast to the departing angels, underscoring covenant intimacy. Such scenes reveal פָנָה as an indicator of pivotal shifts in plot and character. Personal Decision and Turning of the Heart Beyond bodily motion, many texts merge the physical and moral spheres: “Do not turn to idols” (Leviticus 19:4). The exterior gesture mirrors an interior allegiance. Job echoes this linkage: “If I have made gold my trust… then let sorrow come upon me” (Job 31:24-28), implying that turning the face of trust to wealth equals idolatry. The psalmist chooses the opposite posture: “Turn to me and be gracious to me” (Psalm 25:16). He petitions the Lord to orient His countenance toward the sufferer, confident that divine regard changes circumstances. Corporate Repentance and Covenant Renewal Prophets employ פָנָה when summoning the nation back to covenant fidelity. Isaiah warns: “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help… but do not look to the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 31:1). Failure to “look to” Yahweh entails trusting foreign alliances. Hosea laments, “Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God, for a spirit of prostitution is within them; they do not know the LORD” (Hosea 5:4). Actual return demands turning the entire national orientation God-ward. Chronicles memorializes a righteous response: “In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, Josiah began to seek the God of his father David” (2 Chronicles 34:3). The king’s seeking involves turning from idolatrous altars and restoring proper worship. Priestly and Prophetic Language Concerning the Face of God The verb often answers the plea that God would “turn” His face toward or away. Divine favor: “May the LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you” (Numbers 6:25) assumes the positive turning of God’s countenance. Divine judgment: “I will surely hide My face in that day because of all the evil they have done” (Deuteronomy 31:18). In Ezekiel the same polarity structures prophetic drama: “Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will turn My face against them” (Ezekiel 15:7). Whether blessing or curse, the direction of God’s face determines Israel’s destiny. Examples of Blessing and Judgment Bound to Turning 1. Blessing connected to obedience: “If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all His commands… the LORD will open the heavens” (Deuteronomy 28:1-12). The passage repeatedly contrasts turning toward commandments with turning aside after idols. Messianic and Eschatological Overtones Isaiah’s Servant songs anticipate a perfected turning: “I have set My face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame” (Isaiah 50:7). The steadfast, unwavering face foreshadows the Messiah’s resolute journey to the cross (Luke 9:51). Zechariah extends the theme into the future: “They will look on Me, the One they have pierced” (Zechariah 12:10). The eschaton is characterized by a collective turning toward the pierced yet glorified Lord. Practical Ministry Applications 1. Preaching and teaching: Emphasize that repentance is more than ceasing wrongdoing; it is a positive re-orientation toward God’s person and will. Summary פָנָה weaves through Scripture as a vivid picture of orientation—physical, relational, and spiritual. Wherever persons or nations turn their faces determines whether they experience the warmth of divine favor or the cold shadow of judgment. The call reverberates from Eden to the New Jerusalem: face the Lord, and live. Forms and Transliterations בִּפְנוֹתָ֖ם בפנותם הִפְנ֑וּ הִפְנ֛וּ הִפְנ֤וּ הִפְנְתָ֥ה הִפְנָה־ הַפֹּנ֖וֹת הַפֹּנֶ֖ה הַפֹּנֶ֣ה הַפֹּנֶ֥ה הַפּוֹנֶ֔ה הַפּוֹנֶ֣ה הָפְנוּ֙ הפונה הפנה הפנה־ הפנו הפנות הפנתה וְאֶפְנֶ֥ה וַיִּ֖פֶן וַיִּ֜פֶן וַיִּ֣פֶן וַיִּ֤פֶן וַיִּ֥פֶן וַיִּ֧פֶן וַיִּפְנ֖וּ וַיִּפְנ֞וּ וַיִּפְנ֣וּ וַיִּפְנ֤וּ וַיִּפְנ֥וּ וַיִּפְנוּ֙ וַיֶּ֤פֶן וַנֵּ֙פֶן֙ וַנֵּ֜פֶן וַנֵּ֣פֶן וַתֵּ֛פֶן וָאֵ֗פֶן וּפִנָּה־ וּפִנּ֣וּ וּפָנִ֜יתָ וּפָנִ֣יתִֽי וּפָנִ֣יתִי וּפָנִ֣יתָ וּפָנִ֤יתִֽי וּפָנִ֥יתָ וּפָנָ֞ה וּפָנָ֥ה ואפן ואפנה ויפן ויפנו ונפן ופנה ופנה־ ופנו ופנית ופניתי ותפן יִ֝פְנֶה יִפְנ֔וּ יִפְנֶ֔ה יִפְנֶ֖ה יִפְנֶ֛ה יִפְנֶ֣ה יִפְנֶ֤ה יִפְנֶ֥ה יִפְנֶה֙ יִפְנוּ֙ יפנה יפנו כְּהַפְנֹת֤וֹ כהפנתו לִפְנ֣וֹת לִפְנ֤וֹת לִפְנ֥וֹת לִפְנֽוֹת־ לפנות לפנות־ מַפְנֶֽה׃ מָפְנֶ֣ה מפנה מפנה׃ פְּנ֣וּ פְּנ֣וּ ׀ פְּנ֥וֹת פְּנ֥וּ פְּנ֨וּ פְּנֵ֣ה פְּנֵ֥ה פְּנֵה־ פְּנוֹת֙ פְּנוּ֩ פְּנוּ־ פְנוּ־ פִּנִּ֣יתִי פִּנִּ֥יתָ פִּנָּ֖ה פַּנּ֖וּ פַּנּוּ־ פָּ֭נָה פָּנ֔וּ פָּנ֣וּ פָּנִ֑ינוּ פָּנָ֣ה פָּנֹ֤ה פָנ֥וּ פָנִ֔יתָ פָנָ֔ה פָנָ֣ה פָנָ֥ה פֹּנִ֣ים פֹּנִים֙ פֹּנֶ֖ה פֹּנֶ֣ה פֹנִ֣ים ׀ פֹנִ֨ים ׀ פֹנֶ֤ה פנה פנה־ פנו פנו־ פנות פנים פנינו פנית פניתי תִּפְנ֤וּ תִּפְנֶ֖ה תִּפְנֶ֤ה תִּפְנֶֽה׃ תִּפְנוּ֙ תֵּ֖פֶן תֵּ֗פֶן תֵּ֣פֶן תפן תפנה תפנה׃ תפנו bifnoTam bip̄·nō·w·ṯām bip̄nōwṯām faNah faNita faNu fenu foNeh foNim hā·p̄ə·nū hafeNu hap·pō·neh hap·pō·nō·wṯ hap·pō·w·neh hāp̄ənū happoNeh happōneh happoNot happōnōwṯ happōwneh hifnah hifneTah hifNu hip̄·nāh- hip̄·nə·ṯāh hip̄·nū hip̄nāh- hip̄nəṯāh hip̄nū kə·hap̄·nō·ṯōw kehafnoTo kəhap̄nōṯōw lifNot lip̄·nō·wṯ lip̄·nō·wṯ- lip̄nōwṯ lip̄nōwṯ- mā·p̄ə·neh mafeNeh mafNeh map̄·neh māp̄əneh map̄neh pā·nāh p̄ā·nāh pā·nî·nū p̄ā·nî·ṯā pā·nōh pā·nū p̄ā·nū pan·nū pan·nū- Panah pānāh p̄ānāh paNinu pānînū p̄ānîṯā panNu pannū pannū- paNoh pānōh paNu pānū p̄ānū pə·nêh pə·nêh- pə·nō·wṯ pə·nū pə·nū- p̄ə·nū- peneh pənêh pənêh- peNot pənōwṯ peNu pənū pənū- p̄ənū- pin·nāh pin·nî·ṯā pin·nî·ṯî pinNah pinnāh pinNita pinnîṯā pinNiti pinnîṯî pō·neh p̄ō·neh pō·nîm p̄ō·nîm poNeh pōneh p̄ōneh poNim pōnîm p̄ōnîm tê·p̄en Tefen têp̄en tifNeh tifNu tip̄·neh tip̄·nū tip̄neh tip̄nū ū·p̄ā·nāh ū·p̄ā·nî·ṯā ū·p̄ā·nî·ṯî ū·p̄in·nāh- ū·p̄in·nū ufaNah ufaNita ufaNiti ufinnah ufinNu ūp̄ānāh ūp̄ānîṯā ūp̄ānîṯî ūp̄innāh- ūp̄innū vaEfen vaiYefen vaiYifen vaiyifNu vanNefen vatTefen veefNeh wā’êp̄en wā·’ê·p̄en wan·nê·p̄en wannêp̄en wat·tê·p̄en wattêp̄en way·ye·p̄en way·yi·p̄en way·yip̄·nū wayyep̄en wayyip̄en wayyip̄nū wə’ep̄neh wə·’ep̄·neh yifNeh yifNu yip̄·neh yip̄·nū yip̄neh yip̄nūLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 18:22 HEB: וַיִּפְנ֤וּ מִשָּׁם֙ הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔ים NAS: Then the men turned away from there KJV: And the men turned their faces from thence, and went INT: turned there the men Genesis 24:31 Genesis 24:49 Genesis 24:63 Exodus 2:12 Exodus 7:23 Exodus 10:6 Exodus 14:27 Exodus 16:10 Exodus 32:15 Leviticus 14:36 Leviticus 19:4 Leviticus 19:31 Leviticus 20:6 Leviticus 26:9 Numbers 12:10 Numbers 14:25 Numbers 16:15 Numbers 16:42 Numbers 21:33 Deuteronomy 1:7 Deuteronomy 1:24 Deuteronomy 1:40 Deuteronomy 2:1 Deuteronomy 2:3 135 Occurrences |
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