358、“脸沉了下来”表示内层发生改变。这从“脸”和它“沉了下来”的含义清楚可知。在古人当中，“脸”表示内在事物，因为内在事物透过脸闪耀出来。而且在上古时代，人们是这样：脸与内在事物完全一致，以至于谁都能从一个人的脸上看出他的性情或心智是什么样。他们认为脸上表现一套，却又思想另一套，是一件很可怕的事；在那些时代，伪装和欺骗被认为是可憎的，所以脸表示内在的东西。当仁爱从脸上闪耀出来时，经上就说脸“仰”起；反之，则说脸“沉”下来。这也解释了为何论到主，经上说祂“向人仰脸”，如赐福时（民数记6:26；诗篇4:6），以此表示主将仁爱赐给人。从耶利米书明显看出，“脸沉下来或沉下脸来”表示什么：
我必不向你们沉下脸来，因为我是怜悯的。（耶利米书3:12）
“耶和华的脸”表示怜悯，当祂向人“仰脸”时，意味着祂出于怜悯赐给他仁爱；当祂“沉下脸来”时，也就是当人的脸沉下来时，情况则相反。
New Century Edition
Cooper(2008,2013)
[NCE]358. The meaning of his face fell as a change at the deeper levels can be established by the symbolism of the face and of falling. Among the ancients the face symbolized the inner depths, because those depths shine out through the face. People's nature in earliest times was such that the face was in complete harmony with what was inside, so that everyone could see in another's face what that other's temperament or mind was like. They considered it heinous to show one thing on the face while thinking another. In those days pretense and fraud were abhorrent. As a result, the face symbolized inner things. When charity shone out from the face, the face was said to be lifted, but when the opposite was true, the face was said to fall. This is also why the Lord is said to lift his face on us (as in the blessing from Numbers 6:26 and Psalms 4:6), meaning that the Lord gives us the capacity to love others.{*1} What the falling of the face is can be seen in Jeremiah:
"I will not make my face fall toward you, because I am merciful," says Jehovah. (Jeremiah 3:12)
Jehovah's face is mercy. When he lifts his face on anyone, the meaning is that in his mercy he gives that person the gift of charity. The opposite occurs when he makes his face fall — that is, when a person's own face falls.
Footnotes:
{*1} Numbers 6:26 says, "May Jehovah lift his face on you and give you peace." Psalms 4:6 says, "Lift the light of your face on us, Jehovah." [LHC]
Potts(1905-1910) 358
358. That by the "faces falling" is signified that the interiors were changed, is evident from the signification of the "face" and of its "falling." The face, with the ancients, signified internal things, because internal things shine forth through the face; and in the most ancient times men were such that the face was in perfect accord with the internals, so that from a man's face everyone could see of what disposition or mind he was. They considered it a monstrous thing to show one thing by the face and think another. Simulation and deceit were then considered detestable, and therefore the things within were signified by the face. When charity shone forth from the face, the face was said to be "lifted up;" and when the contrary occurred, the face was said to "fall;" wherefore it is also predicated of the Lord that He "lifts up His faces upon man" as in the benediction (Num. 6:26; and in Ps. 4:6), by which is signified that the Lord gives charity to man. What is meant by the "face falling" appears from Jeremiah:
I will not make My face to fall toward you, for I am merciful, saith Jehovah (Jer. 3:12). The "face of Jehovah" is mercy, and when He "lifts up His face" upon anyone, it signifies that out of mercy He gives him charity; and the reverse when He "makes the face to fall" that is, when man's face falls.
Elliott(1983-1999) 358
358. 'The facea falling' means change taking place as to interiors. This is clear from the meaning of 'the face' and from the meaning of 'falling'. Among the ancients the face meant internal things, for it is through the face that internal things shine forth. What is more, people in most ancient limes were such that the face was in complete accord with internal things, so that anyone could see from another person's face the character of his disposition or mind (animus aut mens). They considered it something monstrous to express one thing in the face and to be thinking another; pretence and deceit in those times were abhorrent. Consequently the face meant things that were internal. When charity shone out of the face, the face was said to be 'lifted up', but when the reverse happened the face was said to 'fall'. This also explains why the Lord is referred to as lifting up His face upon man, as in the Blessing in Num 6:26 and Ps 4:6, which means the Lord's gift of charity to man. What 'the falling of the face' means is clear in Jeremiah,
I will not cause My face to fall upon you, for I am merciful, said Jehovah. Jer 3:12.
By 'Jehovah's face' is meant mercy. When He 'lifts up His face' on anyone, He is from His mercy imparting charity to him. The reverse is the case when He 'causes His face to fall', that is, when man's face falls.
Latin(1748-1756) 358
358. Quod per 'cadere facies' significetur quod interiora mutentur, etiam a significatione 'faciei' et significatione 'cadere' constat; facies apud antiquos significavit interna, quia per faciem interna elucent; tales etiam antiquissimis temporibus fuerunt ut facies prorsus concordaret cum internis, sic ut quisque ex facie videre potuisset qualis animus aut mens ejus esset; pro enormi re ducebant aliud facie ostendere, aliud cogitare; simulatio et dolus tunc fuit abominabilis; quare per 'faciem' significabantur interna; cum charitas elucebat ex facie, tunc dicebatur 'elevari facies'; cum autem contrarium, tunc dicebatur 'facies cadere'; quare etiam de Domino praedicatur quod 'facies elevet super hominem,' ut in Benedictione, Num. vi 26; et Ps. iv 7 [A.V. 6], quo significatur quod Dominus det homini charitatem: quid cadere facies, constat apud Jeremiam, Non faciam cadere faciem Meam erga vos, quoniam misericors Ego, dictum Jehovae, iii 12;'facies Jehovae' est misericordia; cum 'elevat faciem' super aliquem, est quod ex misericordia ei charitatem det: contrarium est cum 'facit cadere faciem,' hoc est, cum homini facies cadit.