The term "intently" in the context of the Bible often refers to a focused, earnest, and unwavering attention or gaze. This concept is significant in understanding how individuals in the Scriptures engage with God, His Word, and His works. The act of looking or listening intently is frequently associated with spiritual insight, revelation, and the pursuit of divine truth.

Biblical Instances:

1. Acts 1:10-11 : "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' intent gaze into the sky signifies their deep longing and anticipation for the return of Christ. Their focus is not merely physical but also spiritual, reflecting their hope and expectation.

2. Acts 3:4 : "Peter looked directly at him, as did John. 'Look at us!' said Peter." In this passage, Peter and John fix their gaze intently on the lame man at the temple gate. This moment of focused attention precedes a miraculous healing, illustrating how intent observation can be a precursor to divine action and intervention.

3. Acts 6:15 : "All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel." The Sanhedrin's intense scrutiny of Stephen is met with a divine revelation of his countenance, suggesting that looking intently can lead to witnessing the presence and glory of God in His servants.

4. Acts 10:4 : "Cornelius stared at him in fear and asked, 'What is it, Lord?' The angel answered, 'Your prayers and gifts to the poor have ascended as a memorial offering before God.'" Cornelius's intent gaze upon the angelic messenger reflects his reverence and readiness to receive divine instruction, highlighting the importance of attentiveness in spiritual encounters.

Theological Implications:

The act of looking or listening intently in the Bible often signifies a readiness to receive and respond to God's revelation. It is an expression of faith and expectation, where the believer positions themselves to perceive and understand God's will and purpose. This focused attention is not passive but active, involving the heart and mind in a pursuit of truth and understanding.

Practical Application:

For believers today, the concept of looking or listening intently serves as a reminder to approach Scripture, prayer, and worship with a focused and earnest heart. It encourages Christians to seek God with undivided attention, trusting that such intentional pursuit will lead to deeper spiritual insight and a more profound relationship with the Lord. The practice of intent focus is a spiritual discipline that fosters growth and maturity in the faith journey.(adv.) In an intent manner; as, the eyes intently fixed.1617. ektenesteron -- more intently
... more intently. Part of Speech: Adverb Transliteration: ektenesteron Phonetic Spelling:
(ek-ten-es'-ter-on) Short Definition: more earnestly Definition: more ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1617.htm - 6k

1619. ektenos -- intently, fervently
... intently, fervently. Part of Speech: Adverb Transliteration: ektenos Phonetic Spelling:
(ek-ten-oce') Short Definition: earnestly, strenuously Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1619.htm - 6k

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

1874. epakroaomai -- to listen attentively
... listen intently to. From epi and the base of akroates; to listen (intently) to --
hear. see GREEK epi. see GREEK akroates. (epekroonto) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1874.htm - 6k

578. apoblepo -- to look away from all else at an object
... intently regard, pay attention. From apo and blepo; to look away from everything
else, ie (figuratively) intently regard -- have respect. see GREEK apo. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/578.htm - 8k

3879. parakupto -- to stoop sideways, to stoop to look
... parakupto Phonetic Spelling: (par-ak-oop'-to) Short Definition: I stoop, peer in,
look down Definition: I stoop, peer in, look down, look intently. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3879.htm - 6k

1983. episkopeo -- to look upon, fig. to care for
... 1983 (from 1909 , ", fitting," intensifying 4648 , "look intently") --
properly, focus on, look at with real (caring) interest. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1983.htm - 7k

1984. episkope -- a visiting, an overseeing
... 1984 (a feminine noun, derived from 1909 , ", appropriately fitting," which intensifies
4648 , "look intently") -- properly, that naturally goes on to provide ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1984.htm - 7k

1227. diablepo -- to look through, to see clearly
... Word Origin from dia and blepo Definition to look through, to see clearly NASB Word
Usage looked intently (1), see (1), see clearly (2). see clearly. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1227.htm - 7k

1985. episkopos -- a superintendent, an overseer
... 1985 (a masculine noun, derived from 1909 , "fitting contact," which intensifies
4649 , "look intently," like at an end-marker concluding a race) -- properly ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1985.htm - 8k

5027. nabat -- to look
... A primitive root; to scan, ie Look intently at; by implication, to regard with pleasure,
favor or care -- (cause to) behold, consider, look (down), regard ...
/hebrew/5027.htm - 6k

5234. nakar -- to regard, recognize
... A primitive root; properly, to scrutinize, ie Look intently at; hence (with recognition
implied), to acknowledge, be acquainted with, care for, respect, revere ...
/hebrew/5234.htm - 6k

To the Rev. A. Brandram
... of an act of dishonesty which had been committed by my porters, I found him lying
on his bed, for it was the hour of the siesta, reading intently one of the ...
/.../borrow/letters of george borrow/to the rev a brandram 61.htm

Jesus Makes his First Disciples.
... A small field; but a large harvest]; 36 and he looked [Gazed intently.
The word is used at Mark 14:67; Luke 22:61 Mark 10:21, 27. ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xxi jesus makes his first.htm

The Future State a Self-Conscious State.
... conduct, were made clear to my own view; suppose that for four-and-twenty hours
continuously I were compelled to look at my wickedness intently, just as I ...
/.../shedd/sermons to the natural man/the future state a self-conscious 2.htm

On the Third Day He Rose Again from the Dead; He Ascended into ...
... As he entered the sepulchre, he steadfastly (intently) beholds' (theore) in
one place the linen swathes that had bound about His Head. ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xvii on the third.htm

The Evidence of Our Lord's Wounds
... to thine own wounds, nor to thine own pains, or sins, or prayers, or tears, but
remember that "with his stripes we are healed." Gaze, then; intently gaze, upon ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 34 1888/the evidence of our lords.htm

The Olivet Message.
... And so with ears and eyes they listen intently for the good-bye word"His last message.
It will mean so much in the coming days. Two things the Master says. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on power/the olivet message.htm

Choked Channels.
... But that series of incidents, coming one after the other in such rapid succession,
set me thinking intently about that strange distinction between being ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on power/choked channels.htm

Concerning Free-Will
... As I was walking yesterday evening, my friend, along the shore of the sea, and was
gazing on it somewhat intently, I saw an extraordinary instance of divine ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/methodius/concerning free-will/concerning free-will.htm

The Lamb of God in Scripture
... Tonight I do not intend so much to preach a sermon as to urge those who have seen
the Lamb of God to look at him more intently, to study Him more, and ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 39 1893/the lamb of god in.htm

Things as They Are
... [Illustration: Old India. "You think you know us; you know nothing at all about
us!" and the old eyes peer intently into yours, and the old head shakes and he ...
//christianbookshelf.org/wilson-carmichael/things as they are/title page.htm

Intently (16 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (adv.) In an intent manner; as, the eyes intently
fixed. Multi-Version Concordance Intently (16 Occurrences). ...
/i/intently.htm - 10k

Gazing (11 Occurrences)
... (YLT). Luke 22:56 A certain servant girl saw him as he sat in the light, and looking
intently at him, said, "This man also was with him." (See RSV). ...
/g/gazing.htm - 9k

Opened (182 Occurrences)
... NIV). Mark 8:25 Then again he laid his hands on his eyes. He looked intently,
and was restored, and saw everyone clearly. (See NIV). ...
/o/opened.htm - 36k

Observed (84 Occurrences)
... Acts 11:6 When I had looked intently at it, I considered, and saw the four-footed
animals of the earth, wild animals, creeping things, and birds of the sky. ...
/o/observed.htm - 30k

Observing (28 Occurrences)
... Acts 11:6 When I had looked intently at it, I considered, and saw the four-footed
animals of the earth, wild animals, creeping things, and birds of the sky. ...
/o/observing.htm - 14k

Girl (71 Occurrences)
... (WEY BBE NAS). Luke 22:56 A certain servant girl saw him as he sat in the light,
and looking intently at him, said, "This man also was with him." (WEB NAS NIV). ...
/g/girl.htm - 28k

Gaze (46 Occurrences)
... Acts 11:6 When I had looked intently at it, I considered, and saw the four-footed
animals of the earth, wild animals, creeping things, and birds of the sky. ...
/g/gaze.htm - 19k

Intentions (3 Occurrences)

/i/intentions.htm - 7k

Intensely (9 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (adv.) Intently. 2. (adv.) To an extreme degree; as,
weather intensely cold. Multi-Version Concordance Intensely (9 Occurrences). ...
/i/intensely.htm - 8k

Intents (3 Occurrences)

/i/intents.htm - 7k

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