"the face, countenance, visage, Mt. 6:16, 17; 17:2, 6; according to late usage, a person, individual, 2 Cor. 1:11; hence, a personal presence, 1 Thess. 2:17; from the Hebrew, πρόσωπον πρὸς πρόσωπον, face to face, clearly, perfectly, 1 Cor. 13:12; face, surface, external form, figu..."
Definition and meaning
the face, countenance, visage, Mt. 6:16, 17; 17:2, 6; according to late usage, a person, individual, 2 Cor. 1:11; hence, a personal presence, 1 Thess. 2:17; from the Hebrew, πρόσωπον πρὸς πρόσωπον, face to face, clearly, perfectly, 1 Cor. 13:12; face, surface, external form, figure, appearance, Mt. 16:3; Lk. 12:56; external circumstances, or condition of any one, Mt. 22:16; Mk. 12:14; πρόσωπον λαμβάνειν, to have respect to the external circumstances of any one, Lk. 20:21; Gal. 2:6; ἐν προσώπῳ, in presence of, 2 Cor. 2:10; ἀπὸ προσώπου, from the presence of, from, Acts 3:19; also, from before, Acts 7:45; εἰς πρόσωπον, and κατὰ πρόσωπον, in the presence of, before, Acts 3:13; 2 Cor. 8:24; also, openly, Gal. 2:11; κατὰ πρόσωπον, ἔχειν, to have before one’s face, to have any one present, Acts 25:16; ἀπὸ προσώπου, from, Rev. 12:14; πρὸ προσώπου, before, Acts 13:24
In the original Greek the word is written: πρόσωπον
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of prosopon (G4383) across the King James Bible.
Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?
And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.
And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,
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Common questions
Strong's G4383 (prosopon) is a Greek word that means: the face, countenance, visage, Mt. 6:16, 17; 17:2, 6; according to late usage, a person, individual, 2 Cor. 1:11; hence, a personal presence, 1 Thess. 2:17; from the Hebrew, πρόσωπον πρὸς πρόσωπον, fa... It appears 70 times in the King James Bible.
The word prosopon (G4383) appears 70 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4383 is prosopon, a Greek word defined as: the face, countenance, visage, Mt. 6:16, 17; 17:2, 6; according to late usage, a person, individual, 2 Cor. 1:11; hence, a personal presence, 1 Thess.. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
prosopon is a Greek word found in the New Testament.