βλέπω G0991
To see, look at, perceive visually; also to beware, watch out for, or direct one's gaze with attention.
Blepo is the everyday Greek word for physical sight — seeing what is before one's eyes. Unlike horao, which often implies perception or inner awareness, blepo stays close to the act of looking itself. In the Gospels it describes both Jesus's healings of the blind (Matt 12:22) and his warnings to 'beware' of the Pharisees' leaven (Mark 8:15). Paul gives it theological depth in 2 Cor 4:18, contrasting 'things that are seen' with the unseen and eternal. The range from simple sight to vigilant watchfulness makes it a word of both physical and spiritual attentiveness.
4. look! see! (imperative directive) — Imperative directive without warning: 'look! see! pay attention!' Twelve occurrences direct attention to something being pointed out. Mark 4:24 says 'take heed what you hear'; 1 Cor 1:26 invites the Corinthians to 'see' their calling. The force is pedagogical rather than cautionary — 'observe this' rather than 'beware of that.' 12×
AR["انظُروا","انظُرْ","انْظُروا","انْظُرُوا","اُنظُروا","اُنْظُروا","اُنْظُرُوا","اُنْظُرْ","اِحذَروا","اِنظُروا"]·ben["তাকাও","তুমি-দেখ","তোমরা-দেখ","দেখ","দেখ।","দেখো"]·DE["sehen","sieht"]·EN["See","Take-heed","Watch","beware","look","look-at","see","watch","you-look-at"]·FR["regarder","voir"]·heb["הִשָּׁמְרוּ","הַבִּיטוּ","הַבֵּט","רְאֵה","רְאוּ","רוֹאִים"]·HI["तुम-देखते-हो","देख","देखो"]·ID["Berjaga-jagalah","Lihatlah","Perhatikanlah","Waspadalah","berhati-hatilah","lihatlah","perhatikanlah"]·IT["guardare"]·jav["Dipun-waspada","Mirsanana","Mirsani","Ningalana","Sumangga-kita-ngatos-atos","Waspada","gatèkna","mirsanana","ningali","tingali","Élinga"]·KO["보라","살펴보라","살피라"]·PT["Atenta","Olha","Olhai","Vede","olhais"]·RU["Взгляни-","Смотри","Смотрите","смотрите"]·ES["Mira","Mirad","mirad","miráis"]·SW["Angalia","Angalieni","Basi-angalieni","Jihadharini","Tutazame","angalieni","tazameni."]·TR["Bak","Bakin","Dikkat-edin","bak","bakın"]·urd["دیکھتے-ہو","دیکھو"]
Mark 4:24, Luke 21:8, Acts 3:4, 1 Cor 1:26, 1 Cor 8:9, 1 Cor 10:18, 1 Cor 16:10, 2 Cor 10:7, Eph 5:15, Col 2:8, Col 4:17, Heb 12:25
▼ 6 more senses below
Senses
1. see, perceive visually — The basic sense of physical sight, covering 74 occurrences. Matt 13:13-14 quotes Isaiah's paradox: 'seeing they do not see.' Translations uniformly use 'see/ve/voir/sehen.' This is the unmarked default — the eyes functioning as they should, whether the object is a speck in a brother's eye (Matt 7:3) or the works of Christ (Matt 11:4). 74×
AR["تَرى","تُبصِرُ","رائِينَ","رَائِينَ","ناظِرينَ","ناظِرًا","نَظَرًا","نَظَرَ","يَرى","يَرَوْنَ","يَنْظُرُ","يُبصِر","يُبصِرُونَ","يُبْصِرُ","يُبْصِرُونَ"]·ben["দেখছ","দেখছে","দেখছে,","দেখতে","দেখলেন","দেখিতেছে","দেখে","দেখেও","দেখেন","সে-দেখতে-পায়"]·DE["sehen","sieht"]·EN["does-he-see","he-sees","seeing"]·FR["regarder","voir"]·heb["הָרוֹאִים","רָאָה","רָאֹה","רָאוּ","רֹאִים","רוֹאִים","רוֹאֶה"]·HI["-जो-चंगा-हुआ-था","देखकर","देखत-हुअ","देखता","देखता-था","देखता-है","देखते-हुए","देखनेवालों"]·ID["dengan-melihat","dia-melihat","ia-melihat","melihat","melihat,"]·IT["guardare"]·jav["Mirsani","mirsani","mirsani,","nalika-mirsani","ndeleng,","ningali","sasampunipun-mirsani","sumerep","sumerep,","sumerep;"]·KO["그-","보고","보는","보는-것을","보는-자들이","보는가","보는지","보며","보면서","보면서도","보지","본다"]·PT["vendo","vendo,","vê"]·RU["Видя","видит","видит,","видя","видящие","видящий","видящими","смотря"]·ES["ve","viendo"]·SW["akaona","akiona","anamwona","anaona","huoni","kuona","mkiona","mkitazama","nikiona","wakimwona","wakiona","wakitazama,"]·TR["bakan,","bakarak","gorerek","gören","görenler","görerek","görerek,","görerek?","görünce","görür","görüyor","ve"]·urd["-سے","دیکھ-کر","دیکھتا","دیکھتا-تھا","دیکھتا-ہے","دیکھتے-ہوئے","دیکھنے-والے"]
Matt 7:3, Matt 11:4, Matt 13:13, Matt 13:13, Matt 13:14, Matt 13:16, Matt 13:17, Matt 14:30, Matt 15:31, Matt 15:31, Matt 18:10, Matt 24:2 (+38 more)
2. beware, watch out for — Imperative warning: 'beware, watch out for,' found 17 times. Mark 8:15 warns against the leaven of the Pharisees; Mark 13:5,9 caution against deception and persecution. Arabic iḥdharū (احذروا), Korean josimhara (조심하라), and Swahili jihadharini all shift from 'see' to 'be on guard,' showing translators recognize a distinct cautionary speech act. 17×
AR["احْذَروا","احْذَرُوا","انظُروا","اُنظُروا","اِحذَروا","اِحْذَرُوا","اِنْظُروا","فَليَنظُر","لِـيَنْظُرْ"]·ben["দেখ","দেখুক,","দেখো","সাবধান","সাবধান-হও"]·DE["sehen","sieht"]·EN["Beware","Watch-out","beware","let-him-look","let-him-watch","take-heed","watch","watch-out"]·FR["regarder","voir"]·heb["הִבִּיטוּ","הִזָּהֲרוּ","הִשְׁמְרוּ","הִשָּׁמְרוּ","הִשָׁמְרוּ","יִרְאֶה","רְאוּ"]·HI["देखे","देखो","सावधान-रहो"]·ID["Perhatikanlah","Waspadalah","berhati-hatilah","biarlah-melihat","hendaklah-berjaga-jaga","jagalah","waspadalah"]·IT["guardare"]·jav["Dipunéwang-éwang","Waspada","dipungatosaken","jagènana","mirsanana","mirsanana,","prayitna,","waspada","waspadaa"]·KO["보라","살피라","조심하라"]·PT["Atentai","Guardai-vos","Olhai","Vede","acautelai-vos","guardai-vos","vede","veja","veja,"]·RU["Берегитесь","Остерегайтесь","Смотрите","берегитесь","пусть-смотрит","пусть-смотрит,","смотрите"]·ES["Guardaos","Mirad","guardaos","mirad","mire"]·SW["Angalieni","Jiangalieni","Jihadharini","Jihadharini-na","aangalie,","angalieni","jihadharini","jihadharini-na","mtu-yeyote"]·TR["Dikkat-edin","Sakının","baksın","bakın","dikkat-edin","nasıl","sakının"]·urd["خبردار-رہو","دیکھو","دیکھے","ہوشیار-رہو"]
Matt 24:4, Mark 8:15, Mark 12:38, Mark 13:5, Mark 13:9, Mark 13:23, Mark 13:33, Luke 8:18, Acts 13:40, 1 Cor 3:10, 1 Cor 10:12, Gal 5:15 (+5 more)
3. look at, direct one's gaze — Intentional looking: 'look at, direct one's gaze,' with 17 occurrences. Matt 5:28 warns about looking at a woman lustfully; Matt 22:16 says Jesus does not 'look at' (i.e., show partiality toward) appearances. Spanish 'mirando' and Swahili 'tazama' distinguish this focused gaze from passive seeing, emphasizing deliberate visual attention. 17×
AR["أن-يَنظُرَ","أَنْ-تَرَى","البَصَرَ","تَرَى","تَنظُرُ","رُؤْيَةِ","لِأَرى","مَنْ-يَنْظُرُ","ناظِراً","نَاظِرِينَ","يَرَى","يَنْظُرُ","يُبصِرُ"]·ben["আপনি-দেখেন","তাঁহাদের","দেখছ","দেখছে","দেখছেন","দেখতে","দেখার","দেখার,","দেখিতেছ","দেখিতেছে","দেখে"]·DE["sehen","sieht"]·EN["looking","seeing","to-look-at","to-see","you-look"]·FR["regarder","voir"]·heb["כִּי","לִ-רְאוֹת","לִרְאוֹת","מַבִּיט","מַבִּיטִים","פּוֹנֶה","רְאוֹת","רָאָה","רוֹאִים","רוֹאֶה"]·HI["उनके-देखते-देखते","देखता-है","देखते","देखते-हुए","देखतेहुए","देखना","देखने","देखने-के-लिए","देखने-को","देखनेवाला","देखे"]·ID["Engkau-melihat","Engkau-memandang","melihat","memandang","menghadap","sedang-melihat","untuk-melihat"]·IT["guardare"]·jav["madhep","mirsani","mirsani.","nalika-saweg-ningali","ningali","ningali,","panjenengan-ningali","supados-ningali"]·KO["그들-이","뒤를-돌아보는-자는","바라보면서","보기를","보는","보는-것-에서","보는-자","보는다고","보니라","보도록","보려고","보신다","보지","본다","향하는"]·PT["de-olhar","observando","olhando","olhar","olhas","para-ver","que-olha","ver","ver,","verem"]·RU["-спину","-уши","видеть","видит","смотреть","смотришь","смотрящие","смотрящий","смотрящих","смотрящую"]·ES["a-ver","mirando","mirarlo","miras","que-mira","ver"]·SW["akitazama","anaona.","anayemtazama","inayoelekea","kukitazama","kuona","kuona.","mkitazama","ona,","unaangalia","uso","wakitazama"]·TR["-e","bakan","bakarlarken","bakarsın","bakmaya","bakıyorsun","gördü","görebilir","görmek","görmek-için","görmeyi.","görüyordu","onu"]·urd["دیکھ-سکتے","دیکھتا-ہے","دیکھتی","دیکھتے","دیکھتے-ہوئے","دیکھنا","دیکھنے","دیکھنے-والا","دیکھنے-کو","دیکھے"]
Matt 5:28, Matt 12:22, Matt 22:16, Mark 12:14, Luke 7:21, Luke 9:62, Acts 1:9, Acts 1:11, Acts 8:6, Acts 12:9, Acts 27:12, Rom 11:8 (+5 more)
5. be visible, be seen — Middle/passive: 'be visible, be seen,' covering 8 occurrences. Paul's key theological contrast in 2 Cor 4:18 — ta blepomena vs. ta me blepomena (things seen vs. unseen) — drives this sense. Spanish 'cosas que se ven' and the participial construction confirm a stative or passive meaning: what presents itself to sight. 8×
AR["المَنظورَ","المَنظورُ","مَرْئِيٌّ","مَرْئِيَّة","مَرْئِيّ"]·ben["দেখা-যাচ্ছে","দেখা-যাচ্ছে-না","দেখা-যায়","যা-দেখা-যায়","যা-দেখা-যায়,","যা-দেখা-যায়;"]·DE["sehen"]·EN["being-seen"]·FR["regarder","voir"]·heb["הַ-נִּרְאֵית","נִרְאִים","נִרְאֶה"]·HI["जो-देखी-जाती-हैं","देखी-जाती","देखी-जाने-वाली","देखी-जाने-वाली,","देखी-जाने-वाली।"]·ID["terlihat","terlihat,","yang-dilihat,","yang-terlihat","yang-terlihat."]·IT["guardare"]·jav["dipuntingali","ingkang-katingal","ingkang-katingal,","ingkang-katingal;","katingal","perkawis-perkawis"]·KO["보이는","보이는-것들은","보이는-것들을","보이는-것이","보이지-않는-것들을"]·PT["coisas-visíveis","que-é-visto","vista,","vistas","vistas-coisas"]·RU["видимое","видимом","видимых","не-"]·ES["cosas-que-se-ven","que-se-ve","que-se-ven","siendo-vistas","siendo-visto"]·SW["kinachoonekana","linalooonekana","vinavyoonekana","vinavyoonekana,","visivyoonekana,","visivyoonekana;","yasiyoonekana"]·TR["ebedi","görüleni","görülenlerin","görülmüş","görünenlere-","o-","çünkü"]·urd["دکھائی-دینے-والا","دکھائی-دینے-والیں","دیکھی-ہوئی","نہ-دیکھی-تھیں"]
6. were looking, gazing intently — Sustained gazing in imperfect tense: 'were looking, gazing intently,' with 3 occurrences. Mark 5:31 asks who touched Jesus while the crowd 'was looking'; John 13:22 has the disciples 'looking at one another' in confusion. The imperfect aspect captures ongoing, intent visual engagement rather than a momentary glance. 3×
AR["أَتَرَى","تَرى","نَظَرُوا"]·ben["তাকিয়ে-থাকছিলেন","তুমি-দেখছ","দেখছ"]·DE["sehen"]·EN["You-see","were-looking"]·FR["voir"]·heb["הִבִּיטוּ","רוֹאֶה-אַתָּה"]·HI["देख-रहे-थे","देखता-है","देखते-हो"]·ID["Engkau-melihat","Kamu-melihat","memandang"]·IT["guardare"]·jav["Panjenengan-ningali","Pirsa","ningali"]·KO["바라보았다","보느냐","보시나이다"]·PT["Vês","olhavam"]·RU["Видишь","смотрели"]·ES["Miraban","Ves"]·SW["Unaona","walitazamana"]·TR["Görüyorsun","bakıyorlardı"]·urd["دیکھتا-ہے","دیکھتے-تھے","دیکھتے-ہو"]
7. see, experience (future/prophetic) — Future/prophetic seeing: 'you will see,' appearing twice (Matt 13:14; Acts 28:26), both quoting Isa 6:9. This frames blepo as experiencing or witnessing what God has declared. Spanish 'veréis' and German 'sieht' render the future tense straightforwardly, but the Isaiah quotation gives it an ironic edge: seeing without understanding. 2×
AR["تَنظُرونَ","تَنظُرُونَ"]·ben["দেখবে","দেখিবে"]·DE["sieht"]·EN["you-will-see"]·FR["regarder","voir"]·heb["תִּרְאוּ"]·HI["तुम-देखोगे,","देखोगे"]·ID["akan-melihat,","kamu-akan-melihat"]·IT["guardare"]·jav["badhé-mirsani,","panjenengan-badhé-ningali,"]·KO["보리라","볼-것이나"]·PT["vereis","vereis,"]·RU["смотреть-будете,","увидите"]·ES["veréis"]·SW["mtaona","mtatazama"]·TR["bakacaksınız","kesinlikle"]·urd["دیکھو-گے","دیکھوگے"]
BDB / Lexicon Reference
βλέπω, Refs 6th c.BC+: imperfect ἔβλεπον Refs: future βλέψομαι Refs 4th c.BC+, Doric dialect infinitive βλεψεῖσθαι LXX+2nd c.AD+aorist ἔβλεψα (see. below): perfect βέβλεφα (ἀπο-) Refs 5th c.AD+; βέβλοφα (ἐμ-) Refs 2nd c.AD+ —passive, aorist ἐβλέφθην (προσ-) Refs 1st c.AD+perfect βέβλεμμαι to be supplied in Refs 2nd c.AD+ —chiefly in present and aorist active in early writers: middle (except…