Lexical Summary blepó: To see, to look at, to behold, to perceive Original Word: βλέπω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance behold, perceive, take heed.A primary verb; to look at (literally or figuratively) -- behold, beware, lie, look (on, to), perceive, regard, see, sight, take heed. Compare optanomai. see GREEK optanomai HELPS Word-studies 991 blépō – properly, to see, be observant (watchful). 991 (blépō) suggests "to see something physical, with spiritual results (perception)." That is, it carries what is seen into the non-physical (immaterial) realm so a person can take the needed action (respond, beware, be alert). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. verb Definition to look (at) NASB Translation beware (5), careful (1), careful* (1), consider (1), facing (1), guard (1), keep on seeing (2), look (7), looking (5), looks (1), partial* (2), saw (12), see (54), seeing (8), seen (8), sees (8), sight (2), take care (5), take heed (5), watch (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 991: βλέπωβλέπω; (imperfect ἔβλεπον); future βλεψω; 1 aorist ἔβλεψα; (present passive βλέπομαι); the Sept. for רָאָה, פָּנָה, חָזָה, הִבִּיט; in Greek writings from Aeschylus down; to see, discern: 1. With the bodily eye; a. to be possessed of sight, have the power of seeing, opposed to τυφλός: Matthew 12:22; Matthew 13:16; Matthew 15:31; John 9:7, 15, 19, 25; Acts 9:9; Romans 11:8, 10; Revelation 3:18, etc. (Sophocles Oed. Col. 73; Aristophanes Plutarch, 15; Xenophon, mem. 1, 3, 4; Aelian v. h. 6, 12, etc. Exodus 4:11; Exodus 23:8, etc. Tobit 11:15). τό βλέπειν sight, the power of seeing, Luke 7:21 (G L T Tr WH omit τό). b. to perceive by the use of the eyes, to see, look, descry; α. absolutely: βλεπόντων αὐτῶν while they were looking, Acts 1:9; ( c. to turn the eyes to anything, to look at, look upon, gaze at: γυναῖκα, Matthew 5:28; εἰς τί or τινα (Winer's Grammar, § 33 g.), Luke 9:62; John 13:22; Acts 3:4; εἰς τόν οὐρανόν, Acts 1:11 T Tr WH; in the sense of looking into (i. e. in order to read), βιβλίον, Revelation 5:3f. d. universally, to perceive by the senses, to feel: τόν ἄνεμον ἰσχυρόν (T WH omit ἰσχυρόν), Matthew 14:30 (κτυπον δέδορκα, Aeschylus sept. 104). e. to discover by use, to know by experience: τί, Romans 7:23; followed by ὅτι, 2 Corinthians 7:8; by attract. τό θηρίον, ὅτι κτλ., Revelation 17:8; ὑπέρ ὁ βλέπει με for ὑπέρ τοῦτο, ὁ βλέπει με ὄντα, lest he think me greater than on personal knowledge he finds me to be, 2 Corinthians 12:6. 2. metaphorically, to see with the mind's eye; a. to have (the power of) understanding: βλέποντες οὐ βλέπουσι, though endued with understanding they do not understand, Matthew 13:13; Luke 8:10. b. to discern mentally, observe, perceive, discover, understand; absolutely: δἰ ἐσόπτρου, 1 Corinthians 13:12; of the omniscient God βλέπων ἐν τῷ κρύπτω seeing in secret, where man sees nothing, Matthew 6:4, 6, 18 (here L T Tr WH βλέπων ἐν τῷ κρυφαίῳ); ἐγγίζουσαν τήν ἡμέραν, Hebrews 10:25 (from certain external signs); Ἰησοῦν ... ἐστεφανωμένον, we see (from his resurrection and from the effects and witness of the Holy Spirit) Jesus crowned, Hebrews 2:9; followed by ὅτι, Hebrews 3:19; James 2:22. c. to turn the thoughts or direct the mind to a thing, to consider, contemplate, look to; absolutely βλέπετε take heed: Mark 13:23, 33; with an accusative of the thing or person, 1 Corinthians 1:26; 1 Corinthians 10:18; 2 Corinthians 10:7; Philippians 3:2; Colossians 2:5; followed by πῶς with indicative (Winers Grammar, 300 (282); Buttmann, 255 (219)), Luke 8:18; 1 Corinthians 3:10; Ephesians 5:15; to weigh carefully, examine, followed by the interrogative τί with indicative Mark 4:24; εἰς πρόσωπον τίνος, to look at i. e. have regard to one's external condition — used of those who are influenced by partiality: Matthew 22:16; Mark 12:14. By a use not found in Greek authors ἑαυτόν βλέπειν to look to oneself (equivalent tosibicavere): Mark 13:9; followed by ἵνα μή (cf. Buttmann, 242 (209)), 2 John 1:8; βλέπειν ἀπό τίνος (equivalent tosibicavereabaliquo) to beware of one (Winers Grammar, 223 (209), cf. 39 (38); Buttmann, 242 (209), cf. 323 (278)), Mark 8:15; Mark 12:38; look to in the sense of providing, taking care: followed by ἵνα, 1 Corinthians 16:10; followed by μή with subjunctive aorist, Matthew 24:4; Mark 13:5; Luke 21:8; Acts 13:40; 1 Corinthians 8:9 (μήπως); 1 Corinthians 10:12; Galatians 5:15; Hebrews 12:25; followed by μή with future indicative, Colossians 2:8; Hebrews 3:12. The Greeks say ὁρᾶν μή (cf. Winers Grammar, 503 (468f); Buttmann, 242f (209)). 3. in a geographical sense, like Latinspecto (English look), of places, mountains, buildings, etc., turned toward any quarter, as it were facing it: followed by κατά with the accusative, Acts 27:12 (cf. Buttmann, D. American edition under the word Strong’s Greek 991 (βλέπω) gathers the ideas of looking, seeing, perceiving, considering, guarding, and discerning. It moves easily from literal eyesight to spiritual insight, from the simple act of noticing to the moral duty of careful watchfulness. The word’s 132 New Testament appearances span Gospel narrative, apostolic exhortation, and apocalyptic vision, binding together many strands of biblical theology. Physical sight restored or exercised • The verb frequently records Jesus’ compassion in giving sight to the blind (Matthew 12:22; Luke 7:21; John 9:7, John 9:15, John 9:25). Sight regained becomes the firstfruits of the coming kingdom. Spiritual perception and its absence • Jesus laments hardened hearts that “seeing they do not see” (Matthew 13:13-14; Mark 4:12; Luke 8:10), echoing Isaiah’s prophetic critique. Watchfulness and moral vigilance • The Lord’s eschatological warnings are laced with βλέπω: “See that no one leads you astray” (Matthew 24:4; Mark 13:5), “See, I have told you everything in advance” (Mark 13:23), “Watch, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not go naked and let his shame be exposed” (Revelation 16:15). – “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit” (Colossians 2:8). – “See to it, brothers, that none of you has a wicked heart of unbelief” (Hebrews 3:12). – “Therefore let him who thinks he stands beware lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12). Pastoral evaluation and discernment • Paul urges the Corinthians to “look at what is right before your eyes” (2 Corinthians 10:7) and to observe the Israelite altar “consider Israel according to the flesh” (1 Corinthians 10:18). Christological focus • John the Baptist “saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’” (John 1:29). Corporate participation in the unseen • Romans 8:24-25 distinguishes present hope from what “is seen,” teaching endurance in anticipation of glory. Key ministry implications 1. Proclamation: Preachers hold Christ before the congregation’s eyes, inviting both sight and insight (John 1:29; 2 Corinthians 4:5-6). Historical note In the Septuagint βλέπω often translates רָאָה (ra’ah, “to see”), preserving the Hebrew link between sight and covenant obedience (Deuteronomy 11:26-32). The New Testament continues this trajectory, binding physical observation to spiritual responsibility. Summary From blind eyes opened to saints on guard, from John’s proclamation of the Lamb to John’s vision of the New Jerusalem, βλέπω gathers the biblical call to look, to perceive, and to live accordingly. What begins as a glance becomes a gateway to faith, obedience, and enduring hope “until we see Him as He is.” Englishman's Concordance Matthew 5:28 V-PPA-NMSGRK: πᾶς ὁ βλέπων γυναῖκα πρὸς NAS: to you that everyone who looks at a woman KJV: That whosoever looketh on a woman to INT: every one that looks upon a woman to Matthew 6:4 V-PPA-NMS Matthew 6:6 V-PPA-NMS Matthew 6:18 V-PPA-NMS Matthew 7:3 V-PIA-2S Matthew 11:4 V-PIA-2P Matthew 12:22 V-PNA Matthew 13:13 V-PPA-NMP Matthew 13:13 V-PIA-3P Matthew 13:14 V-PPA-NMP Matthew 13:14 V-FIA-2P Matthew 13:16 V-PIA-3P Matthew 13:17 V-PIA-2P Matthew 14:30 V-PPA-NMS Matthew 15:31 V-PPA-AMP Matthew 15:31 V-PPA-AMP Matthew 18:10 V-PIA-3P Matthew 22:16 V-PIA-2S Matthew 24:2 V-PIA-2P Matthew 24:4 V-PMA-2P Mark 4:12 V-PPA-NMP Mark 4:12 V-PSA-3P Mark 4:24 V-PMA-2P Mark 5:31 V-PIA-2S Mark 8:15 V-PMA-2P Strong's Greek 991 |
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