The Light of Your Face

Cannot see God face-to-face

Book of Exodus 33:20 God says "Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see Me and live", echoed in the Christian New Testament in the Gospel of John 1:18: "No man hath seen God at any time".

Jacob and the Mysterious Stranger

Jacob wrestling with the Angel is a biblical story commonly depicted in art. The story appears in chapter 32 of Genesis, and chapter 12 of the Book of Hosea. In Genesis 35:1-7 there is again a reference to the story.

Peniel = "Face of God"

Israel = "He fought God"

Shining Faces

אוֹר Make to shine, enkindle.

Num 6:25	The LORD let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you!
Ps 31:17
67:2
Ps 80:4
Ps 80:8
Ps 80:20
Ps 119:135
Dan 9:17
Ps 4:7
Ps 118:27
Ecc 8:1
Ps 119:135
Ps 34:5

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

New Testament

Transfiguration of Jesus

Face of Stephen during martyrdom?

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.

Links

• Wikipedia, "Divine countenance."