The term "gaze" in the biblical context often refers to a fixed, intent look, sometimes with implications of wonder, desire, or scrutiny. The act of gazing can be found in various narratives and teachings throughout the Bible, illustrating both human and divine interactions.

Old Testament References

1. Lot's Wife: One of the most notable instances of gazing in the Old Testament is the account of Lot's wife. As God was destroying Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot's family was instructed not to look back. However, Lot's wife disobeyed and gazed back at the city, resulting in her transformation into a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:26). This act of gazing is often interpreted as a longing for the sinful past, serving as a cautionary tale about obedience and the consequences of looking back at a life of sin.

2. Moses and the Burning Bush: In Exodus 3:2-3, Moses encounters the burning bush. The angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush, and Moses gazed at the sight. His gaze was one of curiosity and reverence, leading to a divine encounter where God called him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.

3. The Bronze Serpent: In Numbers 21:8-9, the Israelites, plagued by venomous snakes, were instructed to gaze upon a bronze serpent set upon a pole to be healed. This act of gazing was an act of faith and obedience, prefiguring the salvific gaze upon Christ lifted up on the cross.

New Testament References

1. The Transfiguration: During the Transfiguration of Jesus, Peter, James, and John gazed upon Jesus as His appearance was transformed, and His face shone like the sun (Matthew 17:2). This gaze was one of awe and revelation, as they witnessed the divine glory of Christ.

2. The Ascension: In Acts 1:10-11, as Jesus ascended into heaven, the disciples stood gazing intently into the sky. Two angels appeared and questioned why they were gazing, reminding them of Jesus' promise to return. This gaze signifies both the wonder of the moment and the anticipation of Christ's second coming.

3. Stephen's Vision: In Acts 7:55-56, as Stephen was being martyred, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. His gaze was one of faith and assurance, even in the face of death, as he beheld the heavenly reality.

Theological Implications

The act of gazing in the Bible often carries deeper spiritual significance. It can represent a turning of the heart and mind towards God, a longing for divine truth, or a moment of revelation and transformation. In a spiritual sense, believers are encouraged to "fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2), suggesting a continual, intentional focus on Christ and His teachings.

Gazing, therefore, is not merely a physical act but a metaphor for spiritual attentiveness and devotion. It challenges believers to consider where their focus lies and to direct their gaze towards the things of God, seeking His presence and guidance in all aspects of life.1. (v. i.) To fix the eyes in a steady and earnest look; to look with eagerness or curiosity, as in admiration, astonishment, or with studious attention.

2. (v. t.) To view with attention; to gaze on .

3. (n.) A fixed look; a look of eagerness, wonder, or admiration; a continued look of attention.

4. (n.) The object gazed on.

816. atenizo -- to look fixedly, gaze
... to look fixedly, gaze. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: atenizo Phonetic Spelling:
(at-en-id'-zo) Short Definition: I direct my gaze, look steadily ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/816.htm - 7k

2334. theoreo -- to look at, gaze
... to look at, gaze. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: theoreo Phonetic Spelling:
(theh-o-reh'-o) Short Definition: I behold, look at, experience Definition: I ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2334.htm - 9k

1689. emblepo -- to look at, fig. to consider
... 1689 (from 1722 , "engaged " and 991 , "look") -- properly, stare (look) at with
a "locked-in gaze"; look at in a , way, ie with special "interest, love or ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1689.htm - 7k

333. anatheoreo -- to observe carefully
... anatheoreo Phonetic Spelling: (an-ath-eh-o-reh'-o) Short Definition: I look at
attentively, consider Definition: I look at attentively, gaze at, consider. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/333.htm - 7k

2300. theaomai -- to behold, look upon
... 2300 (from , "to gaze at a spectacle") -- properly, gaze on (contemplate) as a ;
to observe , especially to something (grasp its ); to see ( on) so as to ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2300.htm - 8k

578. apoblepo -- to look away from all else at an object
... ["In secular Greek, 578 () expresses the activity of the astronomer who observes
the heavenly motions, or that of a painter who fixes his gaze on a model ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/578.htm - 8k

4017. periblepo -- to look around
... 4017 (from 4012 , "all-around" and 991 , "look at, gaze on") -- properly, gaze
all-around; with a () look and with high personal involvement (self-interest). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4017.htm - 7k

2714. katenopion -- over against
... according to," intensifying 1799 , "in the eye, ie in the presence of") -- properly,
"down in the eye," ie in someone's direct, concentrated gaze; "in the very ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2714.htm - 7k

1914. epiblepo -- to look on (with favor)
... look upon, regard, have respect for. From epi and blepo; to gaze at (with favor,
pity or partiality) -- look upon, regard, have respect to. see GREEK epi. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1914.htm - 7k

3700. optanomai -- to appear
... prolonged form of the primary (middle voice) optomai (op'-tom-ahee); which is used
for it in certain tenses; and both as alternate of horao; to gaze (ie With ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3700.htm - 8k

8159. shaah -- to gaze
... 8158, 8159. shaah. 8160 . to gaze. Transliteration: shaah Phonetic Spelling:
(shaw-aw') Short Definition: regard. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/8159.htm - 6k

7688. shagach -- to gaze
... 7687, 7688. shagach. 7689 . to gaze. Transliteration: shagach Phonetic Spelling:
(shaw-gakh') Short Definition: gaze. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/7688.htm - 5k

7583. shaah -- to gaze
... shaah. 7584 . to gaze. Transliteration: shaah Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-aw') Short
Definition: gazing. ... root Definition to gaze NASB Word Usage gazing (1). wonder ...
/hebrew/7583.htm - 6k

6692b. tsuts -- to gaze, peep
... tsuts. 6693 . to gaze, peep. Transliteration: tsuts Short Definition: peering.
Word Origin a prim. root Definition to gaze, peep NASB Word Usage peering (1). ...
/hebrew/6692b.htm - 5k

6827. Tsephon -- perhaps "gaze," a son of Gad
... 6826, 6827. Tsephon. 6828 . perhaps "gaze," a son of Gad. Transliteration:
Tsephon Phonetic Spelling: (tsef-one') Short Definition: Zephon. ...
/hebrew/6827.htm - 6k

2372. chazah -- see, behold
... root Definition see, behold NASB Word Usage behold (7), envisioned in visions (1),
gaze (2), gloat (1), look (3), looked (1), prophesy (3), saw (7), see (12 ...
/hebrew/2372.htm - 6k

7200. raah -- to see
... 1), distinguish (1), encountered (1), enjoy (1), enjoy* (3), examined (1), experience
(1), exposed (1), face* (2), faced* (2), find (1), gaze (2), give ...
/hebrew/7200.htm - 7k

8259. shaqaph -- to overhang, look out or down
... A primitive root; properly, to lean out (of a window), ie (by implication) peep
or gaze (passively, be a spectacle) -- appear, look (down, forth, out). ...
/hebrew/8259.htm - 6k

5027. nabat -- to look
... root Definition to look NASB Word Usage beheld (1), behold (1), beholds (2), consider
(2), depend (1), depended (1), gaze (1), gazed (1), look (34), look down ...
/hebrew/5027.htm - 6k

1488. gez -- a shearing, mowing
... 1487, 1488. gez. 1489 . a shearing, mowing. Transliteration: gez Phonetic
Spelling: (gaze) Short Definition: fleece. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/1488.htm - 6k

The Gaze of the Soul
... VII The Gaze of the Soul. Looking unto ... heart. I think he would conclude
that faith is the gaze of a soul upon a saving God. When ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tozer/the pursuit of god/vii the gaze of the.htm

"Above the Sun. "
... there. Linger not to gaze on Angels, Principalities, nor Powers; Brighter
visions yet shall greet you, higher dignities are ours. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/jennings/old groans and new songs/above the sun.htm

If, Therefore, Ye Despise Marriages of Sons of Men...
... Gaze on the Beauty of your Lover: think of Him equal to the Father, made subject
also to His Mother: ruling even in the heavens, and serving upon the earth ...
/.../augustine/of holy virginity /section 55 if therefore ye.htm

Blessed is He who came Down
... 6. How beautiful is Baptism"in the eye of the heart; come, let us gaze on it!"Like
as by a seal ye have been moulded;"receive ye its image,"that nought ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn ix blessed is he.htm

Knox Little -- Thirst Satisfied
... with difficulties, in the midst of a world that is overwhelmed with sorrow, in the
midst of a time of severe temptation, to constantly rise and gaze high above ...
/.../kleiser/the worlds great sermons volume 8/knox little thirst satisfied.htm

God's Glory in Hiding Sin
... Go and stand, O mortal man, and gaze upon the sun at mid-day! ... The glory itself blindeth,
for the finite mind of man is not able to gaze thereon. ...
/.../spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/gods glory in hiding sin.htm

The Obedience of Faith
... you. Faith can see the invisible and the impossible. Gaze on the vision
until your heart says: It must be true. It is true. There ...
/.../murray/the school of obedience/vi the obedience of faith.htm

Concerning Things Accomplished in the Synaxis.
... the gift of sacred light to those initiated, yet it [239] gave to me the power to
see first, and through its first light I am enlightened to gaze upon the ...
/.../dionysius/ecclesiastical hierarchy/caput iii i concerning things.htm

The Looks of Jesus
... not blind Jesus to the limitations and shallowness of the young man's aspirations,
but His clear knowledge of these does not harden the gaze into indifference ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/the looks of jesus.htm

The Open Door.
... To-day, the Festival of the Blessed Trinity, Three Persons, yet one God, we are
permitted to gaze for a moment through the open door, on the Home of God, yes ...
/.../the life of duty a years plain sermons v 2/sermon xxxv the open door.htm

Gaze (46 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To view with attention; to gaze on . 3 ... 4. (n.) The object gazed on.
Multi-Version Concordance Gaze (46 Occurrences). Matthew ...
/g/gaze.htm - 19k

Gloat (11 Occurrences)
... (vi) To look steadfastly; to gaze earnestly; -- usually in a bad sense, to gaze
with malignant satisfaction, passionate desire, lust, or avarice. ...
/g/gloat.htm - 9k

Gazed (9 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Gaze. Multi-Version Concordance
Gazed (9 Occurrences). Acts 7:55 But he, being full of the ...
/g/gazed.htm - 9k

Waving (23 Occurrences)
... Matthew 11:7 When the messengers had taken their leave, Jesus proceeded to say to
the multitude concerning John, "What did you go out into the Desert to gaze at ...
/w/waving.htm - 13k

Fixing (13 Occurrences)
... Acts 23:1 Then Paul, fixing a steady gaze on the Sanhedrin, said, "Brethren, it
is with a perfectly clear conscience that I have discharged my duties before ...
/f/fixing.htm - 10k

Regard (230 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To keep in view; to behold; to look at; to view;
to gaze upon. ... 10. (n.) A look; aspect directed to another; view; gaze. 11. ...
/r/regard.htm - 36k

Proceeded (72 Occurrences)
... Matthew 11:7 When the messengers had taken their leave, Jesus proceeded to say to
the multitude concerning John, "What did you go out into the Desert to gaze at ...
/p/proceeded.htm - 27k

Shulammite (1 Occurrence)
... Return, return, that we may gaze at you. Why do you desire to gaze at the Shulammite,
as at the dance of Mahanaim? (WEB JPS ASV BBE NAS NIV). ...
/s/shulammite.htm - 7k

Stare (4 Occurrences)
... 2. (vi) To look with fixed eyes wide open, as through fear, wonder, surprise, impudence,
etc.; to fasten an earnest and prolonged gaze on some object. ...
/s/stare.htm - 8k

Dance (18 Occurrences)
... Return, return, that we may gaze at you. Why do you desire to gaze at the Shulammite,
as at the dance of Mahanaim? (WEB JPS ASV BBE DBY NAS RSV NIV). ...
/d/dance.htm - 15k

What is glorification? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that the Shulammite had dark skin (Song of Solomon 1:6)? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean to guard your heart? | GotQuestions.org

Gaze: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus