Averted eyes...

[Strider1002]

I'm looking to compile a list of times when people were forced to avert their eyes from God himself or His works. Can anyone give me some examples? Thanks!

I don't know the Bible yet as much as I'd like. I can start with Lot and his family escaping Sodom, of course...

 

[Forge3]

The scripture that says nobody can look upon the face of God and live.

 

[DamianWarS]

the only passage that comes to mind is when Moses is talking to God in Exodus 33 and God passed by him and covers his eyes so he doesn't see him saying "You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!". However the language of "averting eyes" or the like is not used in the bible, not even in the KJV. In fact the word "avert" isn't even found in the KJV and is rare in other translations. You might be confusing this concept with other stories that try and establish themselves with a very "bible-sounding" language (which by that I mean an older style of English like that of the KJV)

Angels in the bible such as the ones in Isaiah 6 had six wings. 2 for flying, 2 to cover their feet and 2 to cover their faces. Certainly celestial beings designed with wings to cover their face suggest the same as this interaction with Moses that God cannot be seen face to face. There are also other stories that further develop this, i'm not sure how many but one that comes to mind is when Jacob wrestles with God in Genesis 32:23-34. At the end Jacob explains "I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved."

 

[MrPolo]

Exodus 3:6 And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

Exodus 33:20 But," he said, "you cannot see my face; for man shall not see me and live."

Exodux 34:35 the people of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone; and Moses would put the veil upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him.

 

[Strider1002]

Maybe I wasn't clear enough. I'm not looking just for the phrase "averted eyes," but just any instance in which people had to look away from something divine... or give God space to work.

 

[RINO 72]

John 1:18
English Standard Version (ESV)
18 No one has ever seen God; the only God,[a] who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

John 6:46
English Standard Version (ESV)
46 not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father.

 

[RINO 72]

Isaiah 6:5
And I said: "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!"

Im studying John and this came to mind also Damian posted about it, but in John 12, it's interesting to whom the writer says Isaiah was speaking to. Sorry didnt mean to go off on a rabbit trail .

 

[St_Worm2]

Even the angelic creatures who existed in the Lord's presence could not look at Him.

In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called out to another and said, "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory." And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke. Isaiah 6:1-4​

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Whoops, sorry Damian, I just saw that you already posted this reference.

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