פָּנָה135 H6437
turn, turn toward, face, orient; prepare or clear a way; turn of time (evening); look, regard; decline, pass away
Most commonly describes physical turning of the body or changing direction — the way Pharaoh turned and entered his house (Exodus 7:23), or how Moses turned aside to see the burning bush. Can express static orientation (which way something faces), as when the temple basins faced outward in 1 Kings 7:25. The intensive Piel stem means preparing or clearing a road, particularly in Isaiah's 'prepare the way of the LORD' (40:3). In temporal contexts, the infinitive marks transitions: 'at the turning of evening' (Genesis 24:63). Occasionally implies giving attention or regard, and rarely describes time declining or passing away.
6. Qal: look, regard, give attention — Extension to mental attention: turning one's gaze or focus toward someone, implying regard or consideration. Hindi uses देखा (saw) and ध्यान दिया (gave attention), Swahili -angalia (look at), showing the metaphorical shift from physical to perceptual turning. Only 3 clear instances: Exodus 2:12 (Moses looked this way and that), Psalm 102:17 (he regards the prayer), Haggai 1:9 (you looked for much). 3×
AR["التَفَتَ","تَوَقَّعْتُمْ","فَ-الْتَفَتَ"]·ben["ও-ঘুরল","তাকিয়েছ","তিনি-ফিরেছেন"]·DE["er-hat-regarded","und-er-wandte","wandte-sich"]·EN["Looking","and-he-turned","he-has-regarded"]·FR["et-il-tourna","se-tourner","tourner"]·heb["ו-יפן","פנה","פנו"]·HI["उसने-ध्यान-दिया","और-देखा","तुमने-देखा"]·ID["Dan-ia-menoleh","Ia-berpaling","Mengharapkan"]·IT["e-egli-volse","si-volse","volgere"]·jav["Lan-nolèh","Panjenenganipun-sampun-nolih","mirsani"]·KO["그리고-돌아보았다","돌아보셨도다","향했다"]·PT["E-virou","Olhais","Voltou-Se"]·RU["И-посмотрел","Обратился","Ожидали"]·ES["Esperabais","Se-volvió","Y-miró"]·SW["Na-akatazama","amegeuka","mlitazamia"]·TR["Baktınız","Ve-döndü","döndü"]·urd["اور-مڑا","تم-نے-توقّع-کیا","وہ-متوجہ-ہوا"]
▼ 9 more senses below
Senses
1. Qal: turn, turn around — The primary physical sense of rotating the body or changing direction in space, supported by consistent use of Arabic الْتَفَتَ (turn around), Korean 돌아보았다/돌이켰다 (turned/turned back), and Swahili -geuka across all grammatical forms. This is the default meaning with 85 occurrences, including Moses turning to look right and left (Exodus 2:12) and military forces turning to flee (Judges 20:45). 85×
AR["اِلْتَفِتُوا","تَحَوَّلوا","تَوَجَّهُوا","فَ-التَفَتَ","فَ-الْتَفَتَ","فَ-الْتَفَتُوا","فَالْتَفَتَ","فَٱلْتَفَتَ","وَ-الْتَفَتَ","وَ-اِلتَفَتَ"]·ben["এবং-ঘুরল","এবং-ঘুরলেন","এবং-তারা-ফিরল","এবং-ফিরল","এবং-ফিরলেন","ও-ঘুরল","ফিরে-যাও","ফের"]·DE["und-er-wandte","und-wandte","wenden"]·EN["and-he-turned","and-turned","turn"]·FR["et-il-se-tourna","et-il-tourna","et-tourna","tourner"]·heb["ו-יפן","ו-יפנו","ו-פנה","ו-פנו","פנו"]·HI["और-मुड़ा","और-मुड़े","और-वह-मुड़ा","और-वे-मुड़े","तो-मुड़े","मुड़ो"]·ID["Berpalinglah","Dan-berpaling","Dan-berpaling-lah","Dan-mereka-berpaling","berbaliklah","berpalinglah","dan-berbeloklah","dan-berpaling","dan-mereka-menoleh"]·IT["e-egli-si-voltò","e-egli-volse","e-si-volse","e-volse","volgere"]·jav["Lan-minger","Lan-mirsani","Lan-nolèh","lan-minger","lan-mirsani","lan-piyambakipun-mirsani","lan-sami-minger","manggiha","minger","wangsul"]·KO["그리고-돌아보셨다","그리고-돌아보았다","그리고-돌아서다","그리고-돌아섬다","그리고-돌아섰다","그리고-돌았다","그리고-돌이켰다","그리고-돌이키셨다","돌아가라","돌아라","돌아서라"]·PT["E-viraram","E-viraram-se","E-virou-se","E-voltou-se","e-viraram-se","e-virou","e-virou-se","e-voltou-se","virai","virai-vos","voltai-vos","¶ E-viraram-se","¶ Virai-vos"]·RU["И-обернулись","И-обратился","И-повернулись","И-повернулся","Повернитесь","и-обернулся","и-обратились","и-обратился","и-повернули","и-повернулся","поверните","повернитесь"]·ES["Y-se-volvieron","Y-se-volvió","Y-volvieron","volveos","y-miraron","y-miró","y-se-volvió","y-volvió"]·SW["Na-wakageuka","geukeni","kumweka","na-akageuka","na-akamgeukia","na-wakageuka"]·TR["Ve-döndü","Ve-döndüler","dönün","ve-döndü","ve-döndüler"]·urd["اور-متوجہ-ہوا","اور-مُڑا","اور-مُڑے","اور-مُڑے-اُنہوں-نے","اور-مڑا","اور-مڑے","اور-پھرا","اور-پھرے","موڑو","مڑو"]
2. Qal: face toward, be oriented — Static orientation rather than dynamic turning — describes which direction something faces or is positioned toward. Arabic shifts to مُتَّجِهَة/مُتَوَجِّهَة (directed/facing) and Korean uses 향하는 (facing toward), distinguishing this from active motion. Used architecturally in Joshua's boundary descriptions ('the border faces toward...') and for the temple fixtures in 1 Kings 7:25. 22×
AR["الـ-مُوَجَّهِ","الْ-مُتَّجِهَةَ","الْ-مُتَّجِهَةُ","الْ-مُتَّجِهَةِ","الْ-مُتَّجِهِ","الْمُتَوَجِّهِ","تَتَّجِهُ","مُتَوَجِّهَةٌ","مُتَّجِهَةٌ","مُوَجَّهٌ","يَلتَفِتونَ"]·ben["-মুখ-করা","-মুখোমুখি","ফেরে","মুখ-করা","মুখ-করে","মুখকরা","মুখের"]·DE["Angesicht","der-facing","facing","wenden"]·EN["facing","the-facing","turning"]·FR["[פנים]","face","faisant-face","le-facing","se-tourner"]·heb["ה-פונה","ה-פונות","מופנה","פונה","פונים","פנות","פנים","פנים ׀"]·HI["-का-मुख","जो-मुख-करता-था","जो-मुड़ती-है","मुख","मुख-करता","मुख-करता-था","मुख-करती","मुख-करती-थीं","मुख-करते-थे","मुड़ते-हैं"]·ID["berpaling","menghadap","yang-menghadap"]·IT["di-fronte","il-facing","viso","volgere","volto"]·jav["ingkang-madhep","ingkang-ngadhepi","ingkang-ngajeng","madhep","ngadhepi","sami-noleh"]·KO["그-향하는","돌아보는","향하고-있는","향하는"]·PT["a-que-dá-para","as-voltadas","dá-para","o-que-enfrenta","o-voltado","que-vira","virando-se","voltado","voltados"]·RU["обращаются","обращены","обращённого","обращённые","обращённым","обращённых"]·ES["la-que-mira","las-que-miran","mira","mirando","se-vuelven"]·SW["inayoelekea","kaskazini","kusini","lilielekea","lililolekea","linaelekea","linaloelekea","linalotazama","magharibi","mashariki","vinavyoelekea","wakielekea","wanageukia","zilielekea"]·TR["avlunun","bakan","dönen","dönüyorlar"]·urd["جو-رُخ-ہے","جو-مڑتی-ہے","رخ کیے ہوئے","رخ-کرتا-تھا","رخ-کرتا-ہوا","رخ-کرتی-ہیں","رخ-کرنے-والا","رخ-کرنے-والے","رُخ-کیے","رُخ-ہے","متوجہ-ہیں"]
Josh 15:2, Josh 15:7, 1 Kgs 7:25, 1 Kgs 7:25, 1 Kgs 7:25, 1 Kgs 7:25, 2 Chr 4:4, 2 Chr 4:4, 2 Chr 4:4, 2 Chr 4:4, Ezek 8:3, Ezek 9:2 (+10 more)
3. Hifil: cause to turn — Hifil causative stem: making something or someone turn, or turning something oneself. Arabic employs أَدَارُوا (they rotated/turned something), Korean 돌렸다 (caused to turn), showing the transitive causative force. Examples include Samson tying torches to foxes' tails and turning them loose (Judges 15:4) and the turning of hearts (1 Samuel 10:9). 8×
AR["أَدَارَتْ","الْتَفَتَتْ","الْتَفَتُوا","كَ-التِفَاتِهِ","مَنْ-يَلْتَفِتُ","وَ-رَبَطَ","يَلْتَفِتُوا","يَلْتَفِتْ"]·ben["এবং-ঘুরালেন","তাঁর-ঘুরানোর-সময়","তারা-তাকিয়েছে","ফিরিয়ে-দিয়েছে-","ফিরেছে","যে-ফেরে"]·DE["und-wandte","wandte-sich","wenden","wie-er-wandte"]·EN["and-turned","as-he-turned","has-turned-","have-turned","one-turning","she-has-turned","they-turn-back","turn"]·FR["comme-il-se-tourna","et-tourna","se-tourner"]·heb["הפנה-","הפנו","הפנתה","ו-פנה","כְּ-הַפְנוֹתוֹ","מפנה"]·HI["और-मोड़ा","फेर-लिया-","मुड़ते-समय-वह","मुड़ने-वाला","मुड़ा","मुड़े"]·ID["berbalik","berpaling","dan-menoleh","ia-telah-membalikkan-","ketika-ia-berpaling","menoleh","yang-berbalik."]·IT["come-egli-si-voltò","e-si-volse","volgere"]·jav["lan-ngubengi","minger","minger-","nalika-piyambakipun-minger","nolèh","tiyang-kang-noleh"]·KO["그리고-돌렸다","돌렸다-","돌릴-때에-그가","돌아보는-자-가","돌아보았다-그들이","돌아섰다-그들이","돌이켰다"]·PT["ao-virar-ele","e-virou","olharam","quem-se-volte","virou-","virou-se","voltaram","voltaram-se"]·RU["и-повернул","когда-повернул-он","оборачивающегося","обратился","оглянулись","повернул-","повернулись"]·ES["cuando-volvió","ha-vuelto","quien-vuelva","se-ha-vuelto","se-vuelven","volvieron","y-volvió"]·SW["alipomgeukia","anayegeuka","geuka","imegeuka","imegeuza-","na-akageuka","wamegeuka"]·TR["döndü","döndü-","döndüler","döndüğünde-o","dönen","ve-çevirdi"]·urd["اور-موڑا","اُنہوں-نے-مُڑا","باپ-مُڑے","جب-اُس-نے-پھیرا","مُڑنے-والا","مُڑی","مُڑے","وہ-مُڑا"]
4. Piel: prepare, clear a way — Intensive Piel stem with specialized sense of clearing, preparing, or making ready — especially roads or spaces. Arabic renders with هَيِّئُوا (prepare!) and افْسَحُوا (make room!), Korean 예비하라 (prepare!), Swahili -tayarisha (prepare/make ready). Famous in Isaiah 40:3 'prepare the way of the LORD' and Psalm 80:9 'you cleared ground for it (the vine)'. 6×
AR["افْسَحُوا","افْسَحُوا-","هَيَّأْتَ","هَيَّأْتُ","هَيِّئُوا","وَيُمَهِّدُ-"]·ben["এবং-সে-প্রস্তুত-করবে-","তুমি-পরিষ্কার-করেছিলে","প্রস্তুত-কর","প্রস্তুত-করেছি","সরিয়ে-দাও"]·DE["du-cleared","habe-bereitet","und-wandte-sich","wenden"]·EN["You-cleared","and-he-will-clear-","clear","clear-","have-prepared","prepare"]·FR["avoir-prépara","et-se-tourner","se-tourner","tourner"]·heb["ו-פינה","פינית","פנו","פנו-","פניתי"]·HI["और-वह-तैयार-करेगा-","तूने-साफ़-किया","तैयार-करो","तैयार-किया-है","साफ़-करो"]·ID["Engkau-membersihkan","Persiapkanlah","dan-dia-akan-meratakan-","menyediakan","siapkanlah"]·IT["avere-preparò","e-volgere","si-volse","volgere"]·jav["Cawis-na","Cecawisna","Cecawisna-","Panjenengan-sampun-ngresiki","lan-piyambakipun-nyawisaken-","sampun-nyawisaken"]·KO["그리고-마련하리라-","예비하라","예비하라-","주께서-치우셨나이다","치웠다"]·PT["Preparaste","e-preparará","preparai","preparai-","preparei"]·RU["и-расчистит-","приготовил","приготовьте","расчистил-Ты","расчистите","расчистите-"]·ES["Limpiaste","Preparad","preparad","preparad-","preparé","y-preparará"]·SW["Tayarisheni","Uliandaa","na-ataandaa","nimetayarisha","tayarisheni"]·TR["hazirlayin","hazirlayin-","hazırladım","hazırladın","ve-hazırlayacak-"]·urd["اور-وہ-تیار-کرے-گا","تیار-کرو","تیار-کیا-ہے","صاف-کیا-تُو-نے"]
5. Qal infinitive: turning of time — Temporal use: the infinitive construct with preposition expressing 'at the turn of' or 'toward the turning of' evening, morning, or day. Arabic employs عِنْدَ إِقْبَالِ (at the approach of) and Spanish al acercarse/al amanecer (at the approach/at dawn), marking transitions between temporal periods. Found in Genesis 24:63 'at eventide' and Exodus 14:27 'at the morning watch'. 6×
AR["إِلَى-","عِنْدَ-إِقْبالِ","عِنْدَ-إِقْبَالِ","عِنْدَ-إِقْبَالِ-","عِنْدَ-التِفَاتِ","عِنْدَ-اِنْفِلَاقِ"]·ben["তাকানো","প্রতি-পরিণত-হওয়ায়-","প্রতি-ফেরা","ফেরার-দিকে","সন্ধ্যার-সময়ে","হতে"]·DE["bei-turning-von","bei-wenden-von","gegen-","hin-zu-turning-von","wandte-sich","zu-turning-von-"]·EN["at-the-turning-of","at-turn-of","at-turning-of","toward-turning-of","toward-turning-of-","turning"]·FR["se-tourner","vers-tournant-de","vers-turning-de-","à-le-tournant-de","à-tournant-de","à-tourner"]·heb["ל-פנות","ל-פנות-","פנות"]·HI["पर-मुड़ने","फिरते","फिरने","फिरने-को","मुड़ने","मुड़ने-पर-"]·ID["memperhatikan","menjelang","menjelang-"]·IT["a-il-turning-di","a-turning-di","si-volse","verso-turning-di","verso-turning-di-","volgere"]·jav["kangge-ngajengaken","mirsani","nalika-byar","nalika-minger","nalika-sonten-","ngadhepi"]·KO["-돌아올-때","돌아갈-때에","에-돌아가는","에-돌아올-때","에-향하기","향하기"]·PT["ao-romper-da","ao-virar","ao-virar-de","ao-voltar-de-","volver-se"]·RU["к-повороту","к-повороту-","обращения","перед","при-наступлении"]·ES["al-acercarse-","al-amanecer","al-amanecer-de","al-volver","al-volverse","volver"]·SW["kabla-ya","kugeukia","kunapokucha","wakati-wa","wakati-wa-kugeulia-"]·TR["-bakmak","-dönünce","dönerken","dönmesinde-","dönüşünde","dönüşünde-"]·urd["توجہ","قریب-","لوٹتے-وقت","وقت","پھرنے-پر","پھٹنے"]
7. Qal: decline, pass away — Temporal or figurative declining, passing away, or waning. Notably, Arabic switches to فَنَتْ (perished/vanished) and مَالَ (inclined/declined) — different roots from the core 'turn' verb, indicating genuine polysemy recognized cross-linguistically. Describes the day declining (Jeremiah 6:4) and years passing as a tale (Psalm 90:9). 2×
AR["فَنَتْ","مَالَ"]·ben["চলে-যায়","ঢলে-পড়েছে"]·DE["pass-weg","wenden"]·EN["has-turned","pass-away"]·FR["se-tourner","tourner"]·heb["פנה","פנו"]·HI["गुजर-गए","मुड़-गया"]·ID["berlalu","condong"]·IT["si-volse","volgere"]·jav["langkung","mèh-telas"]·KO["기울었다","지나갔나이다"]·PT["declinou","passam"]·RU["прошли","склоняется"]·ES["declina","declinaron"]·SW["linapita","zimepita"]·TR["döndü","geçti"]·urd["مڑ-گئے","ڈھل-گیا"]
8. sense 8 — Single uncertain occurrence in Zephaniah 3:15 'he has turned away (judgment)' — possibly removal or reversal sense, but too isolated to characterize confidently. Arabic ha-apartado (has removed) suggests a take-away meaning distinct from spatial turning. 1×
AR["أَبْعَدَ"]·ben["ফিরিয়ে-দিয়েছেন"]·DE["wandte-sich"]·EN["he-has-turned-away"]·FR["se-tourner"]·heb["פינה"]·HI["फेर-दिया-है-उसने"]·ID["menyapu-bersih"]·IT["volgere"]·jav["Panjenenganipun-nundhung"]·KO["쫓아내셨다"]·PT["virou"]·RU["очистил"]·ES["ha-apartado"]·SW["ameufagilia"]·TR["döndürdü"]·urd["رفع-کر-دیا"]
9. sense 9 — Anomalous single occurrence in Leviticus 14:36: 'they shall empty (the house)' before the priest examines for leprosy. Spanish y-vaciarán (they will empty), French et-ils-devra-vide (must empty). This may belong to a different root or represent a specialized Levitical technical term that became isolated from the core turning semantics. 1×
AR["وَ-يُفْرِغُونَ"]·ben["এবং-খালি-করবে"]·DE["und-sie-soll-leer"]·EN["and-they-shall-empty"]·FR["et-ils-devra-vide"]·heb["ו-פנו"]·HI["और-खाली किया जाएगा"]·ID["dan-mengosongkan"]·IT["e-essi-dovra-vuotare"]·jav["lan-ngosongaken"]·KO["그리고-비우리라"]·PT["e-esvaziarão"]·RU["и-опустошат"]·ES["y-vaciarán"]·SW["na-wataifanya-tupu"]·TR["ve-boşaltacaklar"]·urd["اور-خالی-کریں"]
10. sense 10 — Single architectural term in 2 Chronicles 25:23 rendered 'the corner (gate)' — the place where a wall turns. German wenden, French [הפונה], showing the turning point where direction changes. May be substantival use of the participle: 'the turning place'. 1×
AR["الزَّاوِيَةِ"]·ben["কোণের"]·DE["wenden"]·EN["the-corner"]·FR["[הפונה]"]·heb["ה-פונה"]·HI["कोने"]·ID["Sudut"]·IT["viso"]·jav["Pojok"]·KO["그-모통이의"]·PT["a-esquina"]·RU["угловых"]·ES["la-Esquina"]·SW["Kona"]·TR["köşeye-bakan"]·urd["کونے-کے"]
BDB / Lexicon Reference
פָּנָה135 vb. turn (NH id.; Syriac ܦܢܳܐ, 𝔗 פְּנָא; Ethiopic ፈነወ: Arabic فَنِى pass away, banish; cf.Sab. פנה (variously) e.g. CIS iv. Nos. 1, 37, 40; Assyrian pânu, face, Ph. פנם, MI 13, 18 לפני, sf. מפני l 19);— Qal117 Pf. 3 ms. פ׳ Je 6:4 +, 2 ms. פָּנִיתָ 2 S 9:8, etc.; Impf. 3 ms. יִפְנֶה 1 S 13:17 +, וַיִּ֫פֶן Ex 2:12 +, 3 fs. וַתֵּ֫פֶן 1 K 10:13, 1 s. וָאֵ֫פֶן Dt 9:15; 10:5, 1 pl. וַנֵּ֫פֶן…