פָּנָה (pa.nah)
pa.nah
to turn
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 105 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The verb panah means to turn, shift direction, or face a new way. In the Hebrew Bible it describes physical movement as much as mental attention. A person might turn away from a place, approach an evening, or simply look toward something with interest. The word captures the motion of the body and the focus of the eye in one action.
Its range extends beyond simple turning to include the idea of facing or regarding someone. For example, when God turns His face toward people, it signals favor and attention, as seen in Psalm 25:16. Conversely, turning away can mean rejection or avoidance. The word appears frequently in narratives where characters change their course, such as Moses turning back to Egypt in Exodus 3:31, or soldiers shifting positions in battle.
A notable feature of panah is its use with the face (panim) to describe attention. It is not just about moving limbs but about directing one’s whole being toward an object. Translators often render it as "turn," "look," or "face" depending on context. This flexibility shows that in Hebrew thought, physical orientation and spiritual attention are closely linked.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word panah captures a simple but profound movement: turning. It describes both physical direction and mental focus. When we turn toward something, we are not just moving our bodies; we are directing our attention and heart. This dual meaning reminds us that where we place our focus shapes our spiritual life.
Scripture shows this clearly in how God relates to people. In Psalm 25:16, the psalmist asks God to turn His face toward him. This is a request for divine attention and favor. It suggests that God’s turning is an act of grace, bringing light into dark places. We can trust that He notices our struggles and desires to engage with us personally.
At the same time, we are called to turn away from things that harm our relationship with God. Leviticus warns against turning to idols or mediums. This is not just about avoiding wrong actions but redirecting our loyalty. By choosing where to look and where to go, we align ourselves with truth rather than distraction.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 105 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ he turned15×
- turn11×
- and/ they turned11×
- [were] turning8×
- you turn5×
- and/ you will turn4×
- and/ I turned4×
- to/ [the] turning of3×
- they will turn3×
- make clear3×
- it turned3×
- it has turned3×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וַ/יִּ֤פֶן5×
- פֹּנִ֣ים4×
- וַ/יִּ֣פֶן4×
- וַ/יִּפְנוּ֙3×
- וַ/יִּפְנ֞וּ3×
- פַּנּ֖וּ2×
- פְּנוּ\־2×
- פְּנֵה\־2×
- פֹנִ֨ים\׀2×
- פֹנִ֣ים\׀2×
- לִ/פְנ֣וֹת2×
- יִפְנ֔וּ2×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 18:22
The men turned from there, and went toward Sodom, but Abraham stood yet before Yahweh.
This verse shows the contrast between the angels turning toward Sodom and Abraham remaining before Yahweh, highlighting that standing before God requires staying put in His presence rather than following the crowd.
-
Exodus 32:15
Moses turned, and went down from the mountain, with the two tablets of the covenant in his hand; tablets that were written on both their sides. They were written on one side and on the other.
Moses turning down from the mountain with the tablets illustrates a decisive shift in direction after encountering God, carrying His word into the midst of the people's failure.
-
Leviticus 19:4
“‘Don’t turn to idols, nor make molten gods for yourselves. I am Yahweh your God.
The command not to turn to idols uses this verb to emphasize that idolatry is a deliberate redirection of one’s focus and allegiance away from Yahweh toward false gods.
-
Deuteronomy 1:7
Turn, and take your journey, and go to the hill country of the Amorites and to all the places near there: in the Arabah, in the hill country, in the lowland, in the South, by the seashore, in the land of the Canaanites, and in Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates.
God commands Israel to turn and take their journey, showing that this word often introduces a new phase of obedience and movement toward the promised inheritance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word panah mean?
How is panah different from other words for turning?
Where does this word appear most often?
Does panah only mean physical movement?
Every Occurrence (105 verses across 23 books)
Genesis 4 verses
The men turned from there, and went toward Sodom, but Abraham stood yet before Yahweh.
Genesis 24:31He said, “Come in, you blessed of Yahweh. Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house, and room for the…
Genesis 24:49Now if you will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me. If not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand, or…
Genesis 24:63Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the evening. He lifted up his eyes and looked. Behold, there were camels…