ἀτεν-ίζω G0816
gaze intently, look fixedly — to fix one's eyes upon someone or something with focused, sustained attention
Atenizo is the verb of the locked gaze — eyes riveted on a person or phenomenon with full concentration. It is overwhelmingly a Lukan word, appearing 12 of its 14 NT times in Luke-Acts. When Jesus finishes reading Isaiah in the Nazareth synagogue, 'the eyes of all in the synagogue were gazing intently at him' (Luke 4:20). Peter and John fix their eyes on the lame man at the Beautiful Gate (Acts 3:4). Stephen, about to be stoned, gazes into heaven and sees the glory of God (Acts 7:55). Paul stares down Elymas the sorcerer (Acts 13:9). The verb captures a moment of visual intensity — not a casual glance but a stare loaded with expectation, recognition, or revelation. Spanish 'fijar la vista' and German 'fest anblicken' preserve this concentrated quality.
Senses
1. gaze intently, look fixedly — To direct one's gaze with sustained, purposeful intensity at a person, object, or heavenly vision. Characteristic of Luke-Acts (12 of 14 NT occurrences), where it marks pivotal moments: the Nazareth congregation staring at Jesus (Luke 4:20), the servant girl scrutinizing Peter (Luke 22:56), the apostles gazing at the ascending Lord (Acts 1:10), Peter and John locking eyes with the lame man (Acts 3:4), and Stephen looking into opened heaven (Acts 7:55). The remaining 2 Pauline uses (2 Cor 3:7, 13) describe the Israelites unable to gaze at Moses' radiant face. In every case, the verb conveys visual attention charged with significance. 14×
AR["تَفَرَّسَتْ", "تُحَدِّقُونَ", "حَدَّقَ", "حَدَّقُوا", "شاخِصَةً", "فَحَدَّقَ", "مُحَدِّقًا", "مُحَدِّقِينَ", "يُحَدِّقوا"]·ben["তাকিয়ে", "তাকিয়ে-আছ", "তাকিয়ে-থাকতে", "তাকিয়ে-থাকতে,", "দৃষ্টি-নিবদ্ধ-করতে", "দৃষ্টি-নিবদ্ধ-করিয়া", "দৃষ্টি-রাখিতেছিলেন"]·DE["blickt-fest-an", "ἀτενίσαι"]·EN["do-you-gaze", "gazing", "having-gazed", "having-looked-intently", "to-gaze"]·FR["fixer-du-regard", "regarder-fixement"]·heb["הִבִּיט", "הִבִּיטָה", "הִבִּיטוּ", "הִבַּטְתִּי", "יִסְתַּכְּלוּ", "לְהִסְתַּכֵּל", "מַבִּיטִים", "מַבִּיטוֹת"]·HI["और", "टकटकी-लगाई-हुई", "टकटकी-लगाकर", "तककर-देखतेहुए", "देखना", "देखें", "ध्यान-से-देखकर", "या", "वे-देखते-थे"]·ID["Menatap", "kamu-menatap,", "menatap"]·IT["fissare", "fissare-lo-sguardo"]·jav["Ningali-kanthi-setiti", "mandeng", "mandeng,", "mirsani", "mirsani-mantep", "nggatosaken", "ningali-kanthi-setiti,", "sasampunipun-ningali-kanthi-tliti", "saweg-ningali-kanthi-setiti"]·KO["마치", "응시하고", "응시하고-있을-때", "주목하는", "주목하여", "주시하고", "주시하지", "지켜보고"]·PT["fixar-os-olhos", "olhais-fixamente", "olhando-fixamente", "tendo-fitado", "tendo-fixado-os-olhos", "tendo-olhado-fixamente"]·RU["взирающий", "всматривающиеся", "всмотревшись", "всмотревшись-", "смотреть-пристально", "смотрите,", "устремив-взгляд", "устремлены"]·ES["fijando-la-vista", "habiendo-mirado-fijamente", "habiéndolo-mirado-fijamente", "mirando-fijamente", "mirar-fijamente", "miráis-fijamente"]·SW["akimtazama", "akitazama-kwa-makini", "akiwatazama", "kutazama", "kutazama,", "mnatutazama", "nikitazama", "wakimtazama-kwa-makini", "wakitazama-kwa-makini", "yakimtazama"]·TR["bakmayı", "dikilen", "dikkatle-bakan", "dikkatle-bakarak", "dikkatle-bakıp", "dikkatle-bakıyorlardı", "dikkatle-bakıyorsunuz", "muktedir olmak"]·urd["غور-سے-دیکھ-کر", "غور-سے-دیکھتے", "غور-سے-دیکھتے-ہو", "غور-سے-دیکھنا", "غور-سے-دیکھیں", "ٹکٹکی-باندھے"]
Related Senses
H7200 1. Qal: to see, perceive (1257×)G4771 2. you (singular address) (1077×)H8085 1. Qal: hear, perceive aurally (921×)H0859a 1. you (2nd person masculine singular pronoun) (743×)H0398 1. eat (consume food) (697×)H4191 1. die (Qal: natural/general death) (645×)G3708 1. see, perceive visually (419×)G0191 1. hear, perceive sound (360×)H???? 3. (352×)G3708 2. behold, look (exclamatory) (256×)H7272 1. foot (body part) (236×)H8354 1. drink, consume liquid (209×)H3205 1. Qal active: bear/give birth (female subject) (204×)H3205 2. Qal active: beget/father (male subject) (198×)H2421 1. Qal: live, be alive (177×)H8085 2. Qal: listen, heed, pay attention (172×)H2416a 1. alive, living (state/attribute) (146×)H2416e 1. life, lifespan, lifetime (145×)G2198 1. be alive, have life (133×)H8193 1. lip, lips (body part) (123×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἀτεν-ίζω, look intently, gaze earnestly, τοῖς ὄμμασιν stare, Refs 5th c.BC+; of the eyes, ἀτενίζοντες αὐτῷNT+2nd c.BC+: absolutely, also of the eyes, Refs 4th c.BC+:—passive, to be gazed upon, Refs __II metaphorically of the mind, ἀ. τὴν διάνοιαν πρός τιRefs 4th c.BC+; to be obstinate, Refs 2nd c.AD+