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Bible Dictionaries
Countenance
King James Dictionary
or COUNTENANCE, n. L., to hold.
1. Literally, the contents of a body the outline and extent which constitutes the whole figure or external appearance. Appropriately, the human face the whole form of the face, or system of features visage.
A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance. Proverbs 15 .
Be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance. Matthew 6 .
2. Air look aspect appearance of the face as in the phrase, to change or alter the countenance.
3. The face or look of a beast as a horse of a good countenance.
4. Favor good will kindness.
Thou hast made him glad with thy countenance. Psalms 21 .
Hence in scriptural language, the light of Gods countenance is his smiles or favorable regards, his favor and grace and to hide his face or countenance is to manifest his displeasure, and withdraw his gracious aids. So the rebuke of his countenance indicates his anger and frowns. Psalms 80 .
This application of face or countenance, which seems to be of high antiquity, proceeded probably from the practice of turning away the face to express anger, displeasure and refusal a practice still common, but probably universal among rude nations. The opposite conduct would of course express favor. The grant of a petition is accompanied with a look directed to the petitioner the refusal or denial, with an averted face. Hence,
5. Support aid patronage encouragement favor in promoting and maintaining a person or cause.
It is the province of the magistrate, to give countenance to piety and virtue.
Let religion enjoy the countenance of the laws.
Give no countenance to violations of moral duty.
6. Show resemblance superficial appearance.
The election being done, he made countenance of great discontent thereat.
7. In law, credit or estimation.
To keep the countenance, is to preserve a calm, composed or natural look, unruffled by passion to refrain from expressing laughter, joy, anger or other passion, by an unchanged countenance.
In countenance, in favor in estimation.
If the profession of religion were in countenance among men of distinction, it would have a happy effect on society.
To keep in countenance, to give assurance or courage to to support to aid by favor to prevent from shame or dismay.
To put in countenance, to give assurance to encourage or to bring into favor to support.
Out of countenance, confounded abashed with the countenance cast down not bold or assured.
To put out of countenance, to cause the countenance to fall to abash to intimidate to disconcert.
COUNTENANCE,
1. To favor to encourage by opinion or words.
The design was made known to the minister, but he said nothing to countenance it.
2. To aid to support to encourage to abet to vindicate by any means.
Neither shalt thou countenance a poor man in his cause. Exodus 23 .
3. To encourage to appear in defense.
He countenanced the landing in his long boat.
4. To make a show of.
Each to these ladies love did countenance.
5. To keep an appearance.
Dictionary of Words from the King James Bible. Public Domain. Copy freely.
Material presented was supplied by Brandon Staggs and was derived from the KJV Dictionary found on his website located at av1611.com.
The unabridged 1828 version of this dictionary in the SwordSearcher Bible Software.
Entry for 'Countenance'. King James Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/kjd/c/countenance.html.
