λεπ-ίς G3013
scales (on eyes or skin), flakes, layers
This noun denotes thin, flake-like layers that peel or fall away—originally describing fish scales, onion skins, metal fragments, or anything that forms in layered plates. In Acts 9:18, scales fall from Saul's eyes after Ananias prays for him, restoring his sight. Whether literal or metaphorical, the image conveys the removal of blindness and the reception of divine illumination.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Acts 9:18 records that after Ananias laid hands on Saul, something like scales fell from his eyes and he regained sight. The multilingual glosses (scales, escamas, écaille) preserve the physical imagery, likely metaphorical for spiritual blindness removed. This dramatic moment marks Saul's transformation from persecutor to apostle, with restored sight symbolizing new spiritual perception. 1×
AR["قُشُورٍ"]·ben["আঁশ"]·DE["λεπίδες"]·EN["scales"]·FR["écaille"]·heb["קַשְׂקַשִּׂים"]·HI["छिलके"]·ID["sisik"]·IT["scaglia"]·jav["sisik,"]·KO["비늘들-이"]·PT["escamas"]·RU["чешуя"]·ES["escamas"]·SW["magamba"]·TR["pullar"]·urd["چھلکے"]
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
λεπ-ίς, ίδος, ἡ, (λέπω) epithelial debris, Refs 5th c.BC+; layer of the skull, Refs; ᾠοῦ λ. egg-shell, Refs 5th c.BC+; cup of a filbert, Refs 1st c.AD+; coat of an onion, Refs 2nd c.AD+ __2 collectively, scales of fish, λεπίδος σιδηρέης ὄψιν ἰχθυοειδέος Refs 5th c.BC+; also of serpents, variant in Refs 5th c.BC+ __3 of other things, λ. χαλκοῦ flakes that fly from copper in hammering, Refs 5th…