ἀτενίζω
atenizō
to gaze
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Greek verb ἀτενίζω (atenizō) means "to gaze". This action of gazing can imply focused attention or a sense of being fully engaged with what one is looking at. The verb is used 14 times in the Bible, indicating its significance and frequency in the original text. The range of usage for ἀτενίζω is quite broad. It can describe a physical act of looking intently, as well as a mental focus on something, such as a thought or an idea. The context in which the verb is used often suggests a sense of wonder, awe, or perhaps even fixation. This range of usage allows for nuanced interpretation and application in various biblical passages. Given its 14 occurrences, ἀτενίζω likely carries some significance to the authors and intended audience of the biblical texts. However, without further context or linguistic data, it's difficult to specify exactly what this significance entails. Nonetheless, the verb remains an interesting case study in the nuances of ancient Greek language and its usage in biblical writings.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
14 total occurrences across the text
He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him.
Luke 22:56A certain servant girl saw him as he sat in the light, and looking intently at him, said, “This man also was with him.”
Acts 1:10While they were looking steadfastly into the sky as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white clothing,
Acts 3:4Peter, fastening his eyes on him, with John, said, “Look at us.”
Acts 3:12When Peter saw it, he responded to the people, “You men of Israel, why do you marvel at this man? Why do you fasten your eyes on us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made him walk?
Acts 6:15All who sat in the council, fastening their eyes on him, saw his face like it was the face of an angel.
Acts 7:55But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
Acts 10:4He, fastening his eyes on him, and being frightened, said, “What is it, Lord?” He said to him, “Your prayers and your gifts to the needy have gone up for a memorial before God.
Acts 11:6When 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.
Acts 13:9But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fastened his eyes on him,
Acts 14:9He was listening to Paul speaking, who, fastening eyes on him, and seeing that he had faith to be made whole,
Acts 23:1Paul, looking steadfastly at the council, said, “Brothers, I have lived before God in all good conscience until today.”
2 Corinthians 3:7But if the service of death, written engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look steadfastly on the face of Moses for the glory of his face, which was passing away,
2 Corinthians 3:13and not as Moses, who put a veil on his face, that the children of Israel wouldn’t look steadfastly on the end of that which was passing away.