[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/countenance.html) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/) / [The Judaism dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/) / countenance [← C](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/C/) # countenance «countenance» in Mova's judaism dictionary: **A person's face, or the look on it** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it. ### part of speech noun (a countenance, countenances); verb (countenance, countenances, countenanced, countenancing — formal) ### meaning for a pupil 1) (formal, old-fashioned) A person's face, or the look on it. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/countenance/#m1) 2) (verb, formal) To allow or approve of something, usually used in «not countenance»: the teacher would not countenance cheating. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/countenance/#m2) 3) (in «keep your countenance») to keep a calm, straight face and not laugh. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/countenance/#m3) ### sense in the lessons In the Tanakh and Jewish tradition: It means a person's face, and "lift up His countenance" means that God looks kindly on someone. In the Writings it also means the look on a face, showing feeling, and "the salvation of His countenance" means God's face bringing rescue. Interpretation: The priestly blessing asks God to lift His face toward Israel and give peace. Cain's fallen face is taken as a sign of his anger and shame. The poets' wish to see God's face is read as longing for His help and nearness. In the primary lessons: Found in older books and the Bible («the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee» — a blessing asking God to look kindly on you). In stories it tells the reader about a face and mood: a cheerful countenance, a grim countenance. Alice often has trouble keeping her countenance when the creatures say silly things. ### examples - And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. (Torah GEN.4.5, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/countenance/#x1) - The LORD lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. (Torah NUM.6.26, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/countenance/#x2) - And the LORD said unto Cain: 'Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? (Torah GEN.4.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/countenance/#x3) - Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. (Writings PRO.27.17, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/countenance/#x4) - The north wind bringeth forth rain, and a backbiting tongue an angry countenance. (Writings PRO.25.23, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/countenance/#x5) - Hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise Him for the salvation of His countenance. (Writings PSA.42.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/countenance/#x6) - The old man had a kind countenance. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/countenance/#x7) - His countenance fell when he heard the news. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/countenance/#x8) - Alice could hardly keep her countenance when the Mock Turtle sang. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/countenance/#x9) - The headteacher would not countenance bullying. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/countenance/#x10) - The Badger's countenance was stern but kind. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/countenance/#x11) - «The Lord make his face shine upon you,» says the blessing in the Bible. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/countenance/#x12) - Her countenance brightened when she saw the letter. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/countenance/#x13) - Dad would never countenance lying. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/countenance/#x14) - Her countenance glowed, and her eyes were like two stars. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/countenance/#x15) ### note Old-fashioned and formal; in everyday talk say «face» or «look». «His countenance fell» means he looked disappointed. As a verb it is almost always negative: «I will not countenance it.» ### In the corpora - [And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/jps/GEN.93/) - [And the LORD said unto Cain: 'Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/jps/GEN.94/) - [And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as beforetime.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/jps/GEN.935/) - [The LORD lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/jps/NUM.246/) - [a nation of fierce countenance, that shall not regard the person of the old, nor show favour to the young.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/jps/DEU.787/) ### Trees and pragmatics [Every meaning and example of «countenance» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/countenance/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.