pa.nah describes turning in a new direction, facing toward something, or turning toward a person, path, or object.

The prevailing use describes a person or group changing direction in movement or being directed toward a route. The same verb also marks facing or orientation, turning attention toward someone or something, turning toward other gods or one’s own way, and, in Piel forms, preparing a place or route.

1. Changing direction in movement · dominant

   Qal forms describe people or groups redirecting their course: in Deuteronomy 1:7 the imperative introduces setting out into the hill country, while in Genesis 18:22 the men depart toward Sodom. In 1 Samuel 13:17 and 1 Samuel 13:18, separate raiding parties take different roads.

   Deuteronomy 1:7Deuteronomy 1:40Genesis 18:22Deuteronomy 10:51 Samuel 13:171 Samuel 13:18
2. Facing or being oriented toward a direction · common

   Active participles identify the direction toward which objects or places face. In 1 Kings 7:25 the cattle are described as facing north, sea, Negeb, and east; in Ezekiel 43:1 the gate faces east, and in Ezekiel 46:19 the priestly chambers face north.

   1 Kings 7:25Ezekiel 11:1Ezekiel 43:1Ezekiel 46:19Ezekiel 9:2
3. Turning attention or regard toward someone · occasional

   The verb can frame a directed response or gaze. In 1 Kings 8:28 the speaker asks God to turn to his servant's prayer; in 2 Kings 13:23 the APB renders God's response to Israel as having “turned toward them.” In 2 Kings 23:16, Josiah turns and sees the graves on the mountain.

   1 Kings 8:282 Kings 13:232 Kings 23:162 Kings 2:242 Samuel 9:8Ezekiel 36:9
4. Turning toward a chosen way or object · occasional

   The clause can mark a change of allegiance or course toward a specified object. In Deuteronomy 31:18 and Deuteronomy 31:20, the people turn to other gods; in Isaiah 53:6 each person turns to his own way. Ezekiel 29:16 likewise speaks of turning after them.

   Deuteronomy 31:18Deuteronomy 31:20Isaiah 53:6Isaiah 56:11Ezekiel 29:16Deuteronomy 9:27
5. Preparing or making room · rare

   Piel forms occur where a place or route is made ready. In Genesis 24:31 the APB renders the speaker's action as “I have prepared the house and a place for the camels,” while Isaiah 40:3 gives the imperative “Prepare the way of the LORD.”

   Genesis 24:31Isaiah 40:3

In the Anselm Project Bible: Across these verses, the APB commonly uses “turned,” “turn,” and “facing,” while also using “prepared” where Piel forms concern a house, camel-place, or highway. These renderings confirm the clauses' overall direction and orientation without assigning every English expression exclusively to this verb.