Studying the Hebrew word paniym opens up one of the most interesting concepts in Scripture.   Strong’s concordance says that paniym can be translated as “the face (as the part that turns),” and that the word is “used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively).”  It informs us that the word is translated in the King James Version of the Bible with many different words, including the following:  countenance, face, favour, form, front, presence, and shewbread.

The word paniym first occurs in Genesis 1:2,

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:1-2 KJV)

Paniym occurs 1,890 times in the Old Testament. almost as much as the word Elohim (God or god) which occurs 2,249 times.  In Genesis 1:20 we see that birds shall fly above the earth “on the face of the firmament of heaven.”  In Genesis 1:29 we find every herb which bears seed “upon the face of the earth.”  Genesis 2:6 reveals a mist watering “the face of the ground.”  And, in Genesis 3:8 Adam and Eve hide themselves “from the face of the LORD God.”

And after Adam who next sees God’s face?  Surely the Angel of the Lord appears in the flesh to Abraham, but is it not Jacob who first sees the spiritual face of God? 

And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.  And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.  And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face (paniym) to face (paniym), and my life is preserved.  And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh. (Genesis 32:24-31 KJV)

It was on this occasion, where Jacob prevailed in faith, that God renamed him Israel.   Strong’s says that Israel literally means, “he will rule as God.”  This passage, then, shows the metamorphosis of Jacob from a carnal Christian (Jacob means supplanter) to a Christian overcomer.  The overcomers of God will be the first who see him face to face.

As for me, I will behold thy face (paniym) in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. (Psalms 17:15 KJV)

As C.S. Lewis ends his great Till We Have Faces, “I ended my first book with the words no answer.  I know now, Lord, why you utter no answer.  You are yourself the answer.  Before your face (paniym) questions die away.  What other answer would suffice?  Only words, words; to be led out to battle against other words.  Long did I hate you, long did I fear you. I might—-”

As in the beginning God brooded over the face of the waters, so he broods today over our faces, that we might, ultimately and one day, look like him.  In that day we will see him face to face and see him as he truly is.  

And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. (1 John 2:28-3:3 KJV)