"to have the faculty of sight, to see, Mt. 12:22; to exercise sight, to see, Mt. 6:4; to look towards or at, Mt. 22:16; to face, Acts 27:12; to take heed, Mt. 24:4; in NT, βλέπειν ἀπό, to beware of, shun, Mk. 8:15; trans., to cast a look on, Mt. 5:28; to see, behold, Mt. 13:17; to..."
Definition and meaning
to have the faculty of sight, to see, Mt. 12:22; to exercise sight, to see, Mt. 6:4; to look towards or at, Mt. 22:16; to face, Acts 27:12; to take heed, Mt. 24:4; in NT, βλέπειν ἀπό, to beware of, shun, Mk. 8:15; trans., to cast a look on, Mt. 5:28; to see, behold, Mt. 13:17; to observe, Mt. 7:3; to have an eye to, see to, Mk. 13:9; Col. 4:17; 2 Jn. 8; to discern mentally, perceive, Rom. 7:23; 2 Cor. 7:8; Jas. 2:22; to guard against, Phil. 3:2; pass., to be an object of sight, be visible, Rom. 8:24
In the original Greek the word is written: βλέπω
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
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 blepo (G991) across the King James Bible.
But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:
Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.
Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
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Common questions
Strong's G991 (blepo) is a Greek word that means: to have the faculty of sight, to see, Mt. 12:22; to exercise sight, to see, Mt. 6:4; to look towards or at, Mt. 22:16; to face, Acts 27:12; to take heed, Mt. 24:4; in NT, βλέπειν ἀπό, to beware of, sh... It appears 118 times in the King James Bible.
The word blepo (G991) appears 118 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G991 is blepo, a Greek word defined as: to have the faculty of sight, to see, Mt. 12:22; to exercise sight, to see, Mt. 6:4; to look towards or at, Mt. 22:16; to face, Acts 27:12; to take he. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
blepo is a Greek word found in the New Testament.