Lexical Summary ayin: Eye, spring, fountain Original Word: עַיִן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance eye (Aramaic) corresponding to ayin; an eye -- eye. see HEBREW ayin Topical Lexicon Term Overview Strong’s Hebrew 5870 appears exclusively in the Aramaic portions of Ezra and Daniel. While the form is Aramaic, the thematic ideas correspond with the broader Hebrew concept of the “eye” as an organ of sight, a seat of perception, and a metaphor for supervision, discernment, and divine providence. Literal Usage In Daniel 4:34 the term denotes Nebuchadnezzar’s physical eyes: “But at the end of those days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my reason returned to me” (Berean Standard Bible). The verse records a historical moment of repentance in which literal sight becomes the avenue to spiritual illumination. The action of looking up underscores human dependence on Heaven for sanity and understanding. Divine Oversight in Ezra Ezra 5:5 employs the term in the expression “the eye of their God”: “But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, and they were not stopped until the report reached Darius and an answer was returned concerning this matter”. Here the word depicts God’s unblinking guardianship over the rebuilding of the temple despite imperial opposition. The verse echoes earlier Hebrew texts such as Psalm 33:18 and Proverbs 15:3, situating post-exilic Israel within the perpetual protective gaze of the covenant-keeping Lord. Prophetic Symbolism in Daniel 7 Daniel 7:8 and Daniel 7:20 describe the “little horn” that possesses “eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth that spoke great things.” In apocalyptic imagery, multiple eyes convey intelligence, watchfulness, and penetrating insight. The eyes of the arrogant horn contrast with the omniscient gaze of God; they symbolize a counterfeit wisdom that sets itself against the Most High. The repetition of the word in verse 8 underscores the horn’s pretension to human-like perception, while verse 20 intensifies the image, stressing its boastful speech allied with perceptive power. The language anticipates the Antichrist figure developed in New Testament prophecy (compare 2 Thessalonians 2:3–4; Revelation 13:5-7). Historical Context All five occurrences fall within the sixth–fifth century B.C. milieu: the exile’s closing decades (Daniel) and the early Persian period (Ezra). The exiles faced foreign domination, yet they were assured of God’s vigilance (Ezra 5:5). At the same time, Daniel’s visions exposed the impermanence of Gentile empires, each symbolized by beastly forms whose “eyes” never exceed the sovereignty of the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:9–10). Theological Implications 1. Omniscience: God’s “eye” signals His exhaustive knowledge of human affairs (Job 34:21). Ministry Application • Pastoral Encouragement: Leaders can assure congregations that God’s watchful care persists amid opposition, using Ezra 5:5 as a model for perseverance in building ministries. Christological Foreshadowing Where human and beastly eyes fail, Jesus Christ is portrayed as the One “whose eyes are like blazing fire” (Revelation 1:14), combining omniscience with perfect purity. The limited, boasting eyes of Daniel’s little horn serve as an antithetical backdrop to the Lord’s searching, righteous gaze. Points for Further Study • Compare the Hebrew occurrences of Strong’s 5869 to map continuities of theme across both Testaments. The five Aramaic uses of Strong’s 5870 together affirm that whether in historic narrative, temple reconstruction, or apocalyptic vision, every eye—human or symbolic—ultimately testifies to the sovereign, all-seeing Lord of Scripture. Forms and Transliterations וְעֵ֣ין וְעַיְנִ֣ין ועין ועינין כְּעַיְנֵ֤י כעיני עַיְנִ֜ין עַיְנַ֣י ׀ עיני עינין ‘ay·nay ‘ay·nîn ‘aynay ‘aynîn ayNai ayNin kə‘aynê kə·‘ay·nê keayNei veayNin veEin wə‘aynîn wə‘ên wə·‘ay·nîn wə·‘ênLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 5:5 HEB: וְעֵ֣ין אֱלָהֲהֹ֗ם הֲוָת֙ NAS: But the eye of their God KJV: But the eye of their God was INT: the eye of their God was Daniel 4:34 Daniel 7:8 Daniel 7:8 Daniel 7:20 5 Occurrences |
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