סָתַר

From the study of Isaiah 8:17

Range of meaning

'Hiding the face' is a fixed expression for withdrawing favour and active help, so that a person or people are left exposed to trouble. It shows up in two settings. (1) Covenant judgment, where God turns away from a people who have broken faith with him (Deut 31:17–18; 32:20; Mic 3:4; Isa 54:8; 59:2; 64:7; Ezek 39:23–24). (2) Personal lament, where someone suffering complains, 'How long will you hide your face?' (Ps 13:1; 27:9; 30:7; 44:24; 88:14). The opposite is the priestly blessing, 'Yahweh make his face shine on you… lift up his face to you' (Num 6:25–26).

Against the English

English readers may hear the phrase as God being shy, mysterious or simply out of sight, or as an inner feeling of spiritual dryness. In Hebrew it is something God does on purpose. It is a relational and often judicial act: the face of the king, or of God, being turned away.

How it drifted

Later devotional talk about 'the hiddenness of God' (God as mysterious or hard to perceive, and seasons when God 'feels far away') can be read back into the phrase. Here it carries a specific covenant meaning.

Used elsewhere in the period

Deuteronomy 31:17–18 is the background text: 'I will forsake them and hide my face from them, and they will be devoured… I will surely hide my face on that day because of all the evil they have done.' Micah, a prophet of the same period, uses it the same way (Mic 3:4). Mesopotamian laments also speak of a god turning his face or neck away from a sufferer. In the ancient Near East generally, seeing the face of a king or god meant being given access and favour (see S. E. Balentine, The Hidden God).

From the study of Proverbs 22:3

Range of meaning

Hide, conceal. In the Niphal: hide oneself, be hidden, take shelter.

Against the English

'Hideth himself' (KJV) can sound cowardly to modern ears. The point is sensible self-protection: taking cover. BSB 'take cover' and NIV 'take refuge' capture this.

Used elsewhere in the period

Niphal: 1 Samuel 20:5, 19 (David hides in the field), 1 Kings 17:3 (Elijah hides by the brook). The noun sēter, 'shelter, covert,' appears in Psalm 32:7, 91:1 and 119:114 ('you are my hiding place').

From the study of Isaiah 29:14

Range of meaning

To hide or conceal. The reflexive form used here (hithpael) means "to hide oneself, go into hiding" (1 Samuel 23:19; 26:1; Isaiah 45:15 "a God who hides himself").

Against the English

"Will be hidden" (KJV, ESV, BSB) is passive. The Hebrew is reflexive: the discernment hides itself. NIV "will vanish" keeps the result but loses the hiding image that links to the next verse.

Used elsewhere in the period

Isaiah 29:15 has the same root: "Woe to those who dig deep to hide [lastir] counsel from the LORD." Isaiah 45:15 uses this exact form of God himself.