Eye-sight, or the ability to see, is a significant theme in the Bible, both in a literal and metaphorical sense. The physical act of seeing is often used to illustrate spiritual truths, moral discernment, and divine revelation.

Physical Eye-sight

In the Bible, physical eye-sight is a gift from God, enabling individuals to perceive the world around them. The creation narrative in Genesis highlights the importance of sight as God observes His creation and declares it good (Genesis 1:31). The ability to see is often associated with health and wholeness, and the loss of sight is depicted as a significant affliction. For instance, the account of Isaac in his old age describes his dimming vision: "When Isaac was old and his eyes were so weak that he could no longer see..." (Genesis 27:1).

Miracles of restored sight are prominent in the ministry of Jesus, underscoring His divine authority and compassion. In the Gospel of John, Jesus heals a man born blind, illustrating both physical and spiritual enlightenment: "Having said this, He spit on the ground, made some mud, and applied it to the man’s eyes. Then He told him, 'Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam' (which means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came back seeing" (John 9:6-7).

Metaphorical Eye-sight

Beyond the physical, eye-sight in the Bible often symbolizes spiritual insight and understanding. The prophets frequently use the imagery of sight to convey messages from God. Isaiah speaks of a time when the eyes of the blind will be opened, symbolizing the coming of spiritual enlightenment and salvation (Isaiah 35:5).

Jesus frequently addressed spiritual blindness, particularly among the religious leaders of His time. In Matthew 15:14, He warns, "Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit" . This metaphor highlights the danger of lacking spiritual discernment and the importance of seeking true understanding.

Moral and Ethical Implications

The Bible also uses the concept of eye-sight to discuss moral and ethical behavior. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches about the eye as the lamp of the body: "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness" (Matthew 6:22-23). This passage emphasizes the importance of maintaining purity and righteousness in one's perspective and actions.

The Psalms often reflect on the eyes as instruments of moral choice. Psalm 101:3 states, "I will set no worthless thing before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me" . Here, the psalmist commits to avoiding evil and focusing on what is righteous and pleasing to God.

Divine Eye-sight

God's omniscience is frequently described in terms of His perfect sight. Proverbs 15:3 declares, "The eyes of the LORD are in every place, observing the evil and the good" . This divine eye-sight assures believers of God's constant awareness and justice, providing comfort and accountability.

In Revelation, the vision of the glorified Christ includes eyes "like a flame of fire" (Revelation 1:14), symbolizing His penetrating insight and judgment. This imagery reinforces the theme of divine eye-sight as both a source of hope for the righteous and a warning to the wicked.

In summary, eye-sight in the Bible encompasses a range of meanings, from the literal ability to see to profound spiritual truths about understanding, morality, and divine omniscience. Through physical and metaphorical uses, the Scriptures invite believers to seek clarity, righteousness, and alignment with God's vision.3788. ophthalmos -- the eye
... eye, sight. From optanomai; the eye (literally or figuratively); by implication,
vision; figuratively, envy (from the jealous side-glance) -- eye, sight. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3788.htm - 7k5869. ayin -- an eye
... 1), confidence (1), disdained* (1), displease* (2), displeased* (4), disregard*
(1), eye (68), eyebrows* (1), eyelids* (1), eyes (372), eyesight (1), forehead ...
/hebrew/5869.htm - 7k

He Comes to his Own.
... The specialist made a very thorough examination and then informed the young student
tactfully but plainly that he would lose his eyesight, surely and not slowly ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on johns gospel/he comes to his own.htm

God Heals a Blind Girl
... Ruth had moved from that state, her aunt (who had also moved) received a letter
from Annie's mother, saying, "Annie seems to be losing her eyesight again." She ...
/.../touching incidents and remarkable answers to prayer/god heals a blind girl.htm

Of Existence, and Knowledge of It, and the Love of Both.
... And this grand and wonderful instinct belongs to men alone of all animals; for,
though some of them have keener eyesight than ourselves for this world's light ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 27 of existence and knowledge.htm

Of the Parts of Man: the Eyes and Ears.
... discuss, since the office of seeing ought to be in that which sees, not in that
which is seen; or in the tension of the air together with the eyesight; or in ...
/.../lactantius/on the workmanship of god/chap viii of the parts of.htm

Appearance at Sea of Galilee.
... John recognises the Lord, not because he had better eyesight than the rest, nor
because he had a better position in the boat, nor because while the rest were ...
/.../the expositors bible the gospel of st john vol ii/xxiv appearance at sea of.htm

The Sixth Miracle in John's Gospel --The Blind Made to See, and ...
... to be learned is that the fountain in which we have to be cleansed 'from sin and
from uncleanness,' whose waters are the lotion that will give eyesight to the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture i/the sixth miracle in johns.htm

Growing Faith.
... to watch the man move from birth-blind hopelessness through clay-anointed surprise
and wonder and Siloam-walking expectancy on to water-washing eyesight. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on johns gospel/growing faith.htm

Chapter xlviii
... And he said: Bring them to me that I may bless them. Now Israel's eyesight
was poor because of old age; he could not see well. So ...
/.../leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xlviii.htm

Letter Lxxxviii. (AD 406. )
... You say that you are persecuted, while many of us have our eyesight destroyed by
the lime and acid with which your men are armed for the purpose. ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter lxxxviii a d 406.htm

Acts IX
... was there three days without seeing, and did neither eat nor drink." The physical
effect of the intense light into which he had gazed upon his eyesight was not ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts ix.htm

Eyesight (7 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Eyesight (7 Occurrences). Matthew ... body. If then your
eyesight is good, your whole body will be well lighted; (WEY). ...
/e/eyesight.htm - 8k

Eye-sight (1 Occurrence)
Eye-sight. Eyesight, Eye-sight. Eye-witness . Multi-Version Concordance
Eye-sight (1 Occurrence). ... (WBS). Eyesight, Eye-sight. Eye-witness . Reference
/e/eye-sight.htm - 6k

Lighted (36 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Matthew 6:22 "The eye is the lamp of the body. If then your eyesight
is good, your whole body will be well lighted; (WEY). ...
/l/lighted.htm - 16k

Rewarded (37 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV). 2 Samuel 22:25 Therefore Yahweh has rewarded
me according to my righteousness, According to my cleanness in his eyesight. ...
/r/rewarded.htm - 16k

Recompensed (20 Occurrences)
... me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eyesight. ... to
my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight. ...
/r/recompensed.htm - 12k

Cleanness (9 Occurrences)
... NIV). 2 Samuel 22:25 Therefore Yahweh has rewarded me according to my
righteousness, According to my cleanness in his eyesight. (WEB ...
/c/cleanness.htm - 9k

Kite (3 Occurrences)
... Our first translators used "vulture"; our latest efforts give "falcon," a smaller
bird of different markings, not having the kite's reputation for eyesight. ...
/k/kite.htm - 9k

Within (400 Occurrences)
... children unto Abraham. (KJV ASV DBY WBS). Matthew 6:23 but if your eyesight
is bad, your whole body will be dark. If however the ...
/w/within.htm - 36k

Eye-witness (2 Occurrences)
Eye-witness. Eye-sight, Eye-witness. Eyewitnesses . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(WEY). Eye-sight, Eye-witness. Eyewitnesses . Reference Bible.
/e/eye-witness.htm - 7k

Eye-services (1 Occurrence)
Eye-services. Eye-service, Eye-services. Eyesight . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(DBY). Eye-service, Eye-services. Eyesight . Reference Bible.
/e/eye-services.htm - 6k

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