What does “the face of the Lord” mean (1 Peter 3:12)?

First Peter 3:12 says, “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” This verse is a direct quote of Psalm 34:15–16a, where David speaks of the Lord delivering the righteous.

The face of the Lord is a common and significant theme throughout the Bible. Jacob wrestled with God and later realizes that he saw Him “face to face” (Genesis 32:30). Moses spoke with the Lord “face to face” (Exodus 33:11), after which his own face shined brightly (Exodus 34:29). In Numbers 6:24–26, God instructs the high priest Aaron and his sons how to bless the Israelites. They were to say, in part, “The Lord make his face shine on you . . . ; the Lord turn his face toward you.” In this context, the face of the Lord is a source of blessing and approval.

The psalms also use the phrase the face of the Lord to refer to God’s attention and focus. In Psalm 4:6, David prays that the Lord would make His face shine on His people. In Psalm 27:8, David says he will seek the Lord’s face. In Psalm 88:14, one of the sons of Korah laments because the Lord has hidden His face from him. In Psalm 89:15, the people shout with joy as they walk in the light from the Lord’s face.

The face of the Lord is also a symbol of God’s splendor, power, and glory. Moses asked to see God’s glory, and God’s response was “You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live” (Exodus 33:20). God showed Moses a small portion of His glory but reiterated that “my face must not be seen” (verse 23). In the presence of God, the seraphim dare not look on God’s glory. Isaiah reported that ”with two wings they covered their faces” (Isaiah 6:2) as they proclaimed the holiness of the Lord (verse 3).

The face is the part of the body through which we see, hear, and speak. We give our full attention and focus to something or someone by turning our face toward that thing or person. When the Bible speaks of someone being “face to face” with God, the idea is that he is in God’s very presence receiving God’s full attention. Similarly, when God turns or sets His face on someone, then He is focusing on that person, whether for the purpose of blessing or judging.

When the psalmist and Peter say, “The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,” they’re saying God is opposed to evildoers. God, the righteous Judge, knows their wicked actions and is determined to punish them.