The term "gazed" in the Bible often refers to the act of looking intently or with fixed attention. This action can carry various connotations depending on the context, ranging from admiration and wonder to scrutiny and judgment. The act of gazing is mentioned in several passages throughout the Scriptures, each providing insight into the human experience and divine interaction.

Old Testament References

In the Old Testament, gazing is sometimes associated with awe and reverence. For instance, in Exodus 24:17, the Israelites gazed upon the glory of the Lord on Mount Sinai: "The sight of the glory of the LORD was like a consuming fire on the mountaintop in the eyes of the Israelites." Here, the act of gazing signifies a profound encounter with the divine presence, evoking both fear and worship.

Another significant instance is found in Numbers 21:9, where the Israelites, afflicted by venomous snakes, were instructed to gaze upon a bronze serpent set upon a pole to be healed: "So Moses made a bronze snake and mounted it on a pole. If anyone who was bitten looked at the bronze snake, he lived." This act of gazing was an act of faith and obedience, symbolizing trust in God's provision for salvation.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, the act of gazing often reflects a deeper spiritual insight or revelation. In Acts 1:10-11, as Jesus ascended into heaven, the disciples gazed intently into the sky: "They were looking intently into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 'Men of Galilee,' they said, 'why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.'" Here, the disciples' gaze is one of longing and anticipation, reflecting their hope in the promised return of Christ.

In 2 Corinthians 3:18, the Apostle Paul uses the metaphor of gazing to describe the transformative power of beholding the glory of the Lord: "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." This passage highlights the spiritual transformation that occurs when believers fix their gaze upon Christ, leading to a deeper conformity to His image.

Symbolism and Theological Implications

The act of gazing in the Bible often symbolizes a deeper spiritual reality. It can represent the human desire to seek and understand the divine, as well as the transformative power of focusing on God's glory. Gazing can also imply a call to action, as seen in the disciples' experience in Acts, where their gaze is redirected from passive observation to active participation in the mission of the Church.

In a broader theological context, gazing upon God or His works is an invitation to enter into a deeper relationship with Him. It is an act of worship, reflection, and transformation, encouraging believers to fix their eyes on Jesus, "the author and perfecter of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2). Through this focused attention, believers are reminded of their ultimate hope and calling in Christ.(imp. & p. p.) of Gaze.3707. horatos -- visible
... visible. From horao; gazed at, ie (by implication) capable of being seen -- visible.
see GREEK horao. (orata) -- 1 Occurrence. 3706, 3707. horatos. 3708 . ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3707.htm - 6k

3705. horama -- that which is seen
... sight, vision. From horao; something gazed at, ie A spectacle (especially supernatural) --
sight, vision. see GREEK horao. (orama) -- 7 Occurrences. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3705.htm - 7k

816. atenizo -- to look fixedly, gaze
... and teino (to stretch, extend) Definition to look fixedly, gaze NASB Word Usage
fixed (1), fixed...gaze (4), fixing...gaze (2), gaze (1), gazed intently (1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/816.htm - 7k

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

"He Has Trusted Me," Said the Cardinal, -- "I have Found Him...
... smiled. Madame Patoux gazed at him in fascinated silence,"gazed and
gazed,"till she found her eyes suddenly full of tears. Then ...
//christianbookshelf.org/corelli/the master-christian/v he has trusted me.htm

A New Pretender
... When she recognized him, she started violently, smote her hands together and gazed
at him with such overweening joy written on her face, that he would have ...
/.../miller/the city of delight/chapter xiii a new pretender.htm

Prayer Out of the Deep.
... Has every suffering, searching soul which ever gazed up into the darkness of the
unknown, in hopes of catching even a glimpse of a divine Eye, beholding all ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/out of the deep/vii prayer out of the.htm

Two Sunsets
... masses. As we gazed upon the scene, the sun as a mighty king in stately
majesty and resplendent glory sank to his evening repose. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/naylor/heart talks/talk forty-nine two sunsets.htm

As the Foam Upon Water
... Everywhere they cast down their spears and their weapons, everywhere they gazed
at him with brilliant threatening eyes and cried in loud voices so that the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the city of delight/chapter xx as the foam.htm

The Fulfilment
... The Christian heard her splendid voice out of the uproar, and while he gazed, he
saw mad Seraiah turn away from her, with the front of the mob turning after him ...
/.../miller/the city of delight/chapter xxiii the fulfilment.htm

The Messenger
... aloud. Kenkenes gazed at his father with the inquiry on his face that he did
not voice. ... explained. Mentu gazed at him without comprehending. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter iii the messenger.htm

The Murket's Sacrifice
... Mentu broke the bread and filled the beaker, while Sema stood aloof and gazed
with troubled eyes at the unhappy face of the young master. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xxxvi the murkets sacrifice.htm

Three Afternoons Off the Track
... I was in the middle of it, and thinking only of it and their souls, when an old
lady with fluffy white hair leaned forward and gazed at me with a beautiful ...
/.../wilson-carmichael/things as they are/chapter ii three afternoons off.htm

"There, Baby!" Said Diamond; "I'M So Happy that I Can Only Sing ...
... While he gazed up, again he heard the cry. ... Nor had he gazed long before
it went out, leaving something like a scar in the blue. ...
/.../macdonald/at the back of the north wind/chapter 25 there baby said.htm

Gazed (9 Occurrences)
...Gazed (9 Occurrences). ... Judges 5:28 "Out of the window she peered, the mother of
Sis'era gazed through the lattice: 'Why is his chariot so long in coming? ...
/g/gazed.htm - 9k

Gazingstock (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) A person or thing gazed at with scorn or abhorrence;
an object of curiosity or contempt. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ...
/g/gazingstock.htm - 9k

Gaze (46 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) A fixed look; a look of eagerness, wonder, or admiration; a continued look
of attention. 4. (n.) The object gazed on. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/g/gaze.htm - 19k

Gazelle (12 Occurrences)

/g/gazelle.htm - 13k

Gazing-stock (2 Occurrences)
... make thee vile, and will set thee as a gazing-stock," as one set up to be gazed
at, mocked and despised-a form of punishment in olden times; compare "mocking ...
/g/gazing-stock.htm - 9k

Wailingplace
... "The congregation at the wailing-place is one of the most solemn gatherings left
to the Jewish Church, and as the writer gazed at the motley concourse he ...
/w/wailingplace.htm - 7k

Wailing-place
... "The congregation at the wailing-place is one of the most solemn gatherings left
to the Jewish Church, and as the writer gazed at the motley concourse he ...
/w/wailing-place.htm - 7k

Beth-she'mesh (20 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 6:19 And He smote of the men of Beth-shemesh, because they had gazed upon
the ark of the LORD, even He smote of the people seventy men, and fifty ...
/b/beth-she'mesh.htm - 12k

Sis'era (19 Occurrences)
... (DBY RSV). Judges 5:28 "Out of the window she peered, the mother of Sis'era gazed
through the lattice: 'Why is his chariot so long in coming? ...
/s/sis'era.htm - 12k

Evildoers (46 Occurrences)
... (WEB RSV NIV). Psalms 92:11 Mine eye also hath gazed on them that lie in wait for
me, mine ears have heard my desire of the evil-doers that rise up against me. ...
/e/evildoers.htm - 18k

What does it mean to seek God's face? | GotQuestions.org

Where is Jesus now? Is Jesus in heaven? | GotQuestions.org

Gazed: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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