The Light of Your Face

Shining Faces

אוֹר Make to shine, enkindle.

make [your] face shine

מָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ ׳יָאֵר י Yahweh make his face shine upon thee Numbers 6:25 (priest's blessing),

reappearing Psalm 31:17 (followed by עַלֿ),

Psalm 67:2 (followed by אֶתֿ),

Psalm 80:4;

Psalm 80:8;

Psalm 80:20;

Psalm 119:135 (followed by ב),

Daniel 9:17 compare Psalm 4:7;

without מָּנִים (followed by ל) Psalm 118:27;

once, of face of man, Ecclesiastes 8:1 מָּנָיו חָכְמַת אָדָם תָּאִיר the wisdom of a man lighteth up his face.

"LORD God of hosts, restore us; light up your face and we shall be saved" (Ps 80:20).

Psalm 119:135

Ps 34:5 Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.

The shining face of Moses after meeting with God--covered with a veil.

Transfiguration of Jesus

Priestly blessing

Wikipedia, "Priestly Blessing"

May the LORD (YHWH) bless you and guard you -

יְבָרֶכְךָ יהוה, וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ

("Yebhārēkh-khā Adhōnāy weyishmerēkhā ...)

May the LORD make His face shed light upon you and be gracious unto you -

יָאֵר יהוה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ, וִיחֻנֶּךָּ

("Yāʾēr Adhōnāy pānāw ēlekhā wiḥunnékkā ...)

May the LORD lift up His face unto you and give you peace -

יִשָּׂא יהוה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ, וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם

("Yissā Adhōnāy pānāw ēlekhā wiyāsēm lekhā shālōm.")

NAB

Numbers 6:23-25

²⁴ The LORD bless you and keep you!

²⁵ The LORD let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you!

²⁶ The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace!

Our culture

• Beaming with pleasure: children on Christmas day, a proud parent watching a child perform well, "the look of love."
• Happiness makes our faces "light up." "Women aglow."
• Halos.
• New age religion: auras. (Just a parallel, not something I affirm.)
• Beatific vision.

"Smile," Lyrics by Parker and Watson

Sung by Nat King Cole, Judy Garland, Michael Buble ...

Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying?
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile.