"pr. to look in the face, met. a nautical term, to bear up against the wind, Acts 27:15*"
Definition and meaning
pr. to look in the face, met. a nautical term, to bear up against the wind, Acts 27:15*
In the original Greek the word is written: ἀντοφθαλμέω
Historical context
The Roman Empire provided infrastructure no previous civilization had built — roads, sea routes, a common language in Greek, and relative peace across the Mediterranean. Jewish synagogues existed in every major city, giving Paul a starting point everywhere he traveled. The early church had no buildings, no political power, no social standing — and spread faster than any movement in ancient history.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of antophthalmeo (G503) across the King James Bible.
And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive.
Refiner gives you the full lexicon entry, AI-powered verse insight, historical commentary, cross-references, and voice study — all in one place.
Free to start · Disciple $4.99/mo · Shepherd $9.99/mo
Common questions
Strong's G503 (antophthalmeo) is a Greek word that means: pr. to look in the face, met. a nautical term, to bear up against the wind, Acts 27:15* It appears 1 times in the King James Bible.
The word antophthalmeo (G503) appears 1 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G503 is antophthalmeo, a Greek word defined as: pr. to look in the face, met. a nautical term, to bear up against the wind, Acts 27:15*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
antophthalmeo is a Greek word found in the New Testament.