In classical Greek, this verb could mean looking down from above or, more commonly, overlooking in the sense of ignoring or disregarding. Acts 17:30 uses it in Paul's Areopagus speech to describe God's patient forbearance toward pagan ignorance before Christ. God 'overlooked' the times of ignorance—not in the sense of approving, but of withholding immediate judgment. The Spanish 'pasando por alto' (passing over) and French 'fermer les yeux' (closing the eyes) capture this sense of deliberate non-intervention pending a fuller revelation.