Lately, one of my favorite pastime amusements is “name that Bible verse”. I came up with this game myself: someone quotes a Bible verse in English and I try to quote it in Hebrew from memory (I am a native Hebrew speaker and English is a second language to me). I have made many interesting discoveries through this game, like guessing what the Bible translator intended or my surprise at realizing that I didn’t completely understand the original Hebrew. However, the most interesting thing I discovered through this game is actually a treasure: the word “presence” in the context of the presence of God:

The excavation of this treasure actually began when I was thinking about the Hebrew translation of the well-known worship song “I Will Exalt” by Amanda Cook which we often worship God with at Tiferet Yeshua. The two opening words of the song are “Your presence”, two words which easily bring to mind a number of Bible verses from memory….in English. However, “your presence” in modern Hebrew (nochechutcha) would not bring to mind bible verses.

If Moses spoke English, he would have said:

“If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here”

(Exodus 33:15 NKJ)

In Hebrew, however, he said:

“If Your face does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.”

(Exodus 33:15)

The biblical Hebrew word “panecha” (Your face) is translated as “presence” in English. In the Hebrew translation of the worship song “I Will Exault”, we do not use the biblical Hebrew expression for the English word “presence”. We translated the word literally, using the modern Hebrew word (nochechutcha) instead. The root of the modern Hebrew word for presence “נ.כ.ח” (N.K.H) comes from a word that appears in the Bible. For example:

For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and the LORD examines all his paths.

(Provers 5:21 BSB)

כִּי נֹכַח עֵינֵי ה’ דַּרְכֵי אִישׁ וְכָל מַעְגְּלֹתָיו מְפַלֵּס (משלי 5:21)

The word “nochechut” (presence) in modern Hebrew relates to someone’s physical location. For me, this definition calls to mind being in boring work meetings where I cannot actually claim being “present” just because I am physically in the conference room with my co-workers.

The definition of the word “face” in modern Hebrew – just like in Enlgish – is “the front part of the human or animal head, from the forehead to the chin”. So, with that definition in mind, if my “face” is actually turned toward the cell phone in my hand during those those borning work meetings, then am I actually present in the meeting?

When considering the definition of “presence” in the English and biblical Hebrew contexts, using the word “face” has the added idea of attention and eyes intently focused.

Take a look at the word “face” in the biblical Hebrew which is translated as “presence” in the following verses:

Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob

-Psalm 114:7 BSB

מִלִּפְנֵי אָדוֹן חוּלִי אָרֶץ מִלִּפְנֵי אֱלוֹהַּ יַעֲקֹב (תהילים 114:7)

Let us enter His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him in song.

-Psalms 95:2 BSB

נְקַדְּמָה פָנָיו בְּתוֹדָה בִּזְמִרוֹת נָרִיעַ לוֹ (תהילים 95:2)

Jonah, however, got up to flee to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.

-Jonah 1:3

וַיָּקָם יוֹנָה לִבְרֹחַ תַּרְשִׁישָׁה, מִלִּפְנֵי יְהוָה (יונה 1:3)

Isn’t that a wonderful meaning of the word “presence”? God’s face, His gaze upon us, the focused attention which His face expresses. Let’s remember that the word “presence” in biblical Hebrew is “face”, and therefore to be in the presence of God is to be in the intent gaze of His face, His illuminating, holy face. When we know that His face is turned toward us, we cannot but feel His eyes gazing at us. And we cannot but return that gaze and worship Him.

-Shlomit Goldman