βλέπω
blepō
to see
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Greek word βλέπω (blepō) is a fundamental concept in the New Testament, occurring 136 times in the Bible. At its core, βλέπω means "to see." This verb encompasses a range of visual experiences, from literal sight to metaphorical understanding. In its various contexts, βλέπω can refer to physical sight, as when Jesus heals the blind (e.g., John 9:1-41). However, it also extends to spiritual perception, where individuals are said to "see" the kingdom of God (e.g., Matthew 13:16-17) or understand the truth of a situation (e.g., 2 Corinthians 4:6). This versatility underscores the significance of βλέπω, which is not merely a physical act but a means of perceiving and understanding the world around us. The frequency and variety of βλέπω's occurrences in the Bible highlight its importance in the narrative. It is a verb that reveals the complexities of human experience, from the mundane to the profound, and underscores the interconnectedness of physical and spiritual sight. Been used as a metaphor for understanding, insight, and awareness, βλέπω is a fundamental concept that underlies many aspects of the human condition.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
136 total occurrences across the text — showing 50
but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Matthew 6:4so that your merciful deeds may be in secret, then your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
Matthew 6:6But you, when you pray, enter into your inner room, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
Matthew 6:18so that you are not seen by men to be fasting, but by your Father who is in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 7:3Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but don’t consider the beam that is in your own eye?
Matthew 11:4Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see:
Matthew 12:22Then one possessed by a demon, blind and mute, was brought to him and he healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw.
Matthew 13:13Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they don’t see, and hearing, they don’t hear, neither do they understand.
Matthew 13:13Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they don’t see, and hearing, they don’t hear, neither do they understand.
Matthew 13:14In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says, ‘By hearing you will hear, and will in no way understand; Seeing you will see, and will in no way perceive:
Matthew 13:14In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says, ‘By hearing you will hear, and will in no way understand; Seeing you will see, and will in no way perceive:
Matthew 13:16“But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear.
Matthew 13:17For most certainly I tell you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see the things which you see, and didn’t see them; and to hear the things which you hear, and didn’t hear them.
Matthew 14:30But when he saw that the wind was strong, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”
Matthew 15:31so that the multitude wondered when they saw the mute speaking, the injured healed, the lame walking, and the blind seeing—and they glorified the God of Israel.
Matthew 15:31so that the multitude wondered when they saw the mute speaking, the injured healed, the lame walking, and the blind seeing—and they glorified the God of Israel.
Matthew 18:10See that you don’t despise one of these little ones, for I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 22:16They sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are honest, and teach the way of God in truth, no matter whom you teach, for you aren’t partial to anyone.
Matthew 24:2But he answered them, “You see all of these things, don’t you? Most certainly I tell you, there will not be left here one stone on another, that will not be thrown down.”
Matthew 24:4Jesus answered them, “Be careful that no one leads you astray.
Mark 13:33Watch, keep alert, and pray; for you don’t know when the time is.
Mark 4:12that ‘seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest perhaps they should turn again, and their sins should be forgiven them.’ ”
Mark 4:12that ‘seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest perhaps they should turn again, and their sins should be forgiven them.’ ”
Mark 4:24He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you, and more will be given to you who hear.
Mark 5:31His disciples said to him, “You see the multitude pressing against you, and you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ”
Mark 8:15He warned them, saying, “Take heed: beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.”
Mark 8:18Having eyes, don’t you see? Having ears, don’t you hear? Don’t you remember?
Mark 8:23He took hold of the blind man by the hand, and brought him out of the village. When he had spat on his eyes, and laid his hands on him, he asked him if he saw anything.
Mark 8:24He looked up, and said, “I see men; for I see them like trees walking.”
Luke 7:21In that hour he cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits; and to many who were blind he gave sight.
Mark 12:14When they had come, they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you are honest, and don’t defer to anyone; for you aren’t partial to anyone, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?
Mark 12:38In his teaching he said to them, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk in long robes, and to get greetings in the marketplaces,
Mark 13:2Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone on another, which will not be thrown down.”
Mark 13:5Jesus, answering, began to tell them, “Be careful that no one leads you astray.
Mark 13:9But watch yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils. You will be beaten in synagogues. You will stand before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them.
Mark 13:23But you watch. “Behold, I have told you all things beforehand.
Luke 6:41Why do you see the speck of chaff that is in your brother’s eye, but don’t consider the beam that is in your own eye?
Luke 6:42Or how can you tell your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck of chaff that is in your eye,’ when you yourself don’t see the beam that is in your own eye? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck of chaff that is in your brother’s eye.
Luke 7:44Turning to the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered into your house, and you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head.
Luke 8:10He said, “To you it is given to know the mysteries of God’s Kingdom, but to the rest in parables; that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’
Luke 8:10He said, “To you it is given to know the mysteries of God’s Kingdom, but to the rest in parables; that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’
Luke 8:16“No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a container, or puts it under a bed; but puts it on a stand, that those who enter in may see the light.
Luke 8:18Be careful therefore how you hear. For whoever has, to him will be given; and whoever doesn’t have, from him will be taken away even that which he thinks he has.”
Luke 9:62But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for God’s Kingdom.”
Luke 10:23Turning to the disciples, he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things that you see,
Luke 10:23Turning to the disciples, he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things that you see,
Luke 10:24for I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see the things which you see, and didn’t see them, and to hear the things which you hear, and didn’t hear them.”
Luke 11:33“No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, that those who come in may see the light.
Luke 21:8He said, “Watch out that you don’t get led astray, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is at hand.’ Therefore don’t follow them.
Luke 21:30When they are already budding, you see it and know by your own selves that the summer is already near.