"to fix one’s eyes upon, look steadily, gaze intently, Lk. 4:20"
Definition and meaning
to fix one’s eyes upon, look steadily, gaze intently, Lk. 4:20
In the original Greek the word is written: ἀτενίζω
Historical context
Luke wrote as a historian addressing a Greek audience. He carefully interviewed eyewitnesses and arranged events in order. The social and economic realities he describes — Roman taxation, Jewish religious hierarchy, the marginalization of women and the poor — are consistent with first-century Judea under Roman administration.
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 atenizo (G816) across the King James Bible.
And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.
And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?
And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.
But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.
Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
Then Saul,(who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,
The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,
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Common questions
Strong's G816 (atenizo) is a Greek word that means: to fix one’s eyes upon, look steadily, gaze intently, Lk. 4:20 It appears 13 times in the King James Bible.
The word atenizo (G816) appears 13 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G816 is atenizo, a Greek word defined as: to fix one’s eyes upon, look steadily, gaze intently, Lk. 4:20. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
atenizo is a Greek word found in the New Testament.