"to be a spectator, to gaze on, contemplate; to behold, view with interest and attention, Mt. 27:55; 28:1; to contemplate mentally, consider, Heb. 7:4; in NT to see, perceive, Mk. 3:11; to come to a knowledge of, Jn. 6:40; from the Hebrew, to experience, undergo, Jn. 8:51"
Definition and meaning
to be a spectator, to gaze on, contemplate; to behold, view with interest and attention, Mt. 27:55; 28:1; to contemplate mentally, consider, Heb. 7:4; in NT to see, perceive, Mk. 3:11; to come to a knowledge of, Jn. 6:40; from the Hebrew, to experience, undergo, Jn. 8:51
In the original Greek the word is written: θεωρέω
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 theoreo (G2334) across the King James Bible.
And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:
In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.
And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly.
And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.
There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;
And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.
And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
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Common questions
Strong's G2334 (theoreo) is a Greek word that means: to be a spectator, to gaze on, contemplate; to behold, view with interest and attention, Mt. 27:55; 28:1; to contemplate mentally, consider, Heb. 7:4; in NT to see, perceive, Mk. 3:11; to come to a kn... It appears 55 times in the King James Bible.
The word theoreo (G2334) appears 55 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G2334 is theoreo, a Greek word defined as: to be a spectator, to gaze on, contemplate; to behold, view with interest and attention, Mt. 27:55; 28:1; to contemplate mentally, consider, Heb. 7:4;. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
theoreo is a Greek word found in the New Testament.