H5027 H5027
To look, gaze, behold — in Hifil: directing one's eyes toward something, often with attention, concern, or evaluative intent.
Nabat in its Hifil form is the Hebrew Bible's primary verb for directed, purposeful looking. Unlike ra'ah (seeing as perception) or chazah (visionary beholding), nabat emphasizes the deliberate turning of one's gaze toward an object. God looks down from heaven upon the children of men (Ps 33:13). Moses is afraid to look at the burning bush (Exod 3:6). The psalmist pleads, 'Look upon me and answer me' (Ps 13:3). Korean consistently distinguishes the senses — baraboda for plain gazing, naeryeodaboda for looking down, nunyeogyeoboda for scrutinizing — confirming the semantic contours that the multilingual evidence reveals across the 70 occurrences.
Senses
1. look, gaze upon — The basic sense of visual looking or gazing — directing one's eyes toward something without special evaluative or directional nuance. This is the unmarked, general act of beholding. God tells Abram to look toward the heavens and count the stars (Gen 15:5); Lot's wife looked back toward Sodom (Gen 19:26); Moses hid his face, afraid to look at God (Exod 3:6). Spanish miró, French regarda, German blickte, and Korean baraboda (바라보다) all converge on simple directed vision. With 48 occurrences, this is the default reading. 48×
AR["(انْظُرْ)", "أَنْظُرُ", "انْظُرُوا", "اُنْظُرُوا", "اُنْظُرْ", "تَنْظُرَانِ", "تُبْصِرَانِ.", "فَ-نَظَرَ", "وَ-أَنْظُرُ", "وَ-نَظَرَ", "وَنَظَرَ", "يَنظُرُ", "يَنْظُرُونَ"]·ben["(দৃষ্টি-দিন)", "আমি-দেখব", "এবং-তাকাল", "এবং-সে-তাকাল", "ও-আমি-দেখব", "ও-দেখব", "তাকাও", "তাকাক", "তাকায়", "তাকিয়ে-দেখে", "দেখ", "দেখব", "দেখুন", "দেখে", "দেখেন", "দেখো"]·DE["blicken", "blickt", "blickte", "und-blicken", "und-blickte", "und-er-looked", "und-looked"]·EN["(look)", "I-look", "I-shall-look", "and-I-will-look", "and-he-looked", "and-let-me-behold", "and-looked", "let-look", "look", "looks"]·FR["et-il-regarda", "et-regarda", "et-regarder", "regarder"]·heb["אביט", "הביטה", "הביטו", "ו-אביטה", "ו-הביט", "יביט", "יביטו"]·HI["और-देख", "और-देखा", "और-देखूँगा", "देख", "देखता-है", "देखती-हैं", "देखते-हैं", "देखूँगा-मैं", "देखें", "देखो", "निहारता-है", "मैं-देखूँगा"]·ID["(perhatikanlah)", "Aku-akan-memandang", "Pandanglah", "aku-memandang", "dan-Aku-akan-memandang", "dan-aku-melihat", "dan-aku-memandang", "dan-dia-memandang", "dan-melihat", "dan-memandang", "hendaklah-memandang", "lihatlah", "memandang", "pandanglah", "perhatikanlah"]·IT["e-egli-guardò", "e-guardare", "e-guardo'", "e-guardò", "guardare", "guardate", "guardo'"]·jav["Kawula-mandeng", "Mirsani-a", "lan-kawula-mirsani", "lan-kula-mandeng", "lan-kula-ningali", "lan-mirsani", "lan-ningali", "lan-piyambakipun-mirsani", "lan-piyambakipun-ningali", "mboten", "mirsanana", "mirsani", "mirsani-a", "ndonga"]·KO["그리고-돌아보았다", "그리고-바라보리라", "그리고-바라봤다", "그리고-보았다", "내가-내려다보리라", "내가-바라보리라", "바라보라", "바라보소서", "바라본다", "보라", "보소서", "보시니", "응시하나이다", "지켜보라"]·PT["(olha)", "E-olhou", "Olhai", "contemplarei", "e-contemplarei", "e-olharei", "e-olhou", "e-verei", "olha", "olha;", "olhai", "olham", "olham.", "olharei", "olhem", "¶ E-olhou"]·RU["(посмотри)", "Посмотрите", "взирает", "взирайте", "и-буду-смотреть", "и-взираю", "и-посмотрел", "и-увижу", "посмотрите", "призрю", "пусть-смотрят,", "смотри", "смотрит", "смотрят", "увижу"]·ES["(mira)", "Mirad", "Y-miró", "mira", "mirad", "miran", "miraré", "miren", "y-miraré", "y-miró"]·SW["Angalia", "Tazameni", "anaangalia", "angalia", "angalieni", "na-akaangalia", "na-akatazama", "na-nitatazama", "na-nitazame", "na-nitazingatia", "nitamtazama", "tazama", "wananitazama", "ya-tazame", "yanaangalia"]·TR["(bak)", "Bakin", "Ve-baktı", "bak", "bakacagim", "bakacağım", "bakar", "bakarlar", "bakin", "baksın", "bakın", "ve-bakacagim", "ve-bakacağım", "ve-baktı", "ve-göreyim"]·urd["اور-دیکھا", "اور-دیکھوں", "اور-دیکھوں-گا", "اور-نظر-کروں-گا", "دیکھ", "دیکھتا ہے", "دیکھتی-ہیں", "دیکھو", "دیکھیں", "غور کرتا ہے", "میں-دیکھوں-گا", "گھورتے-ہیں"]
Gen 15:5, Gen 19:26, Exod 3:6, Exod 33:8, Num 12:8, Num 21:9, 1 Sam 2:32, 1 Sam 17:42, 1 Sam 24:8, 1 Kgs 18:43, 1 Kgs 18:43, 1 Kgs 19:6 (+36 more)
2. look down from above — Looking downward from a higher vantage point, typically of God gazing from heaven upon the earth or humanity. Ps 33:13 — 'From heaven the LORD looks down; he sees all the children of man.' Also Ps 80:14 — 'Look down from heaven and see.' Korean naeryeodaboda (내려다보다, 'look down upon') consistently marks this spatial orientation. The divine perspective is the dominant context: God surveys from above, often as prelude to judgment or mercy (Ps 74:20; Job 35:5). The nine occurrences form a tight cluster around this vertical gaze motif. 9×
AR["انظُر", "انْظُرْ", "انْظُرْ-", "نَظَرَ", "يَنْظُرْ"]·ben["তিনি-দেখেছেন", "দেখ", "দেখ-", "দেখেন", "দেখো"]·DE["blicken", "blickte", "er-hat-gesehen"]·EN["Look-down", "he-has-seen", "he-looked", "look", "look-down", "looks-down"]·FR["il-a-vu", "le-regarder", "regarder"]·heb["הבט", "הביט"]·HI["देख", "देखता-है", "देखा"]·ID["Dia-melihat", "Lihatlah", "Pandanglah", "lihatlah", "melihat", "pandanglah"]·IT["egli-ha-visto", "guardare", "guardo'"]·jav["Mandhenga", "Mirsanana", "Mugi-ningali", "Ningali", "Panjenenganipun-mirsani", "mandhenga-", "mirsani", "ningali"]·KO["그가-보았다", "내려다보소서", "돌아보소서", "바라보라", "바라보셨도다", "보시니", "살펴-보소서"]·PT["Olha", "contemplou", "olha", "olha-", "viu"]·RU["взгляни", "взгляни-", "видит", "посмотрел", "посмотри", "призри", "смотрит"]·ES["Mira", "mira", "mira-", "miró"]·SW["Angalia", "ametazama", "anatazama", "angalia", "kuona", "tazama"]·TR["Bak", "bak", "bak-", "baktı"]·urd["دیکھ", "دیکھا", "دیکھتا-ہے", "نظر-کر-", "نظر-کی"]
3. regard, observe attentively — Sustained, evaluative looking — regarding or observing with scrutiny, concern, or judgment. When Samuel is sent to Jesse's house, God warns him: 'Do not look on his appearance' (1 Sam 16:7) — the verb here carries the weight of assessment. The psalmist asks God to 'regard' (Ps 13:3) and 'look upon' trouble (Ps 10:14). Korean nunyeogyeoboda (눈여겨보다, 'look attentively') and salpida (살피다, 'examine') capture this evaluative dimension that distinguishes it from neutral gazing. 8×
AR["أَنْظُرُ", "النّاظِرُ", "انْظُرْ", "تَنظُرُ", "تَنْظُرُ", "تَنْظُرْ"]·ben["আমি-দেখব", "তাকাও", "তাকাবে", "তুমি-দেখ", "তুমি-দেখো", "দেখো", "যিনি-দেখেন"]·DE["blicke", "blickte", "der-blickte", "look"]·EN["I-will-regard", "do-you-look-at", "look", "the-One-looking", "you-look-upon"]·FR["[אביט]", "[תביט]", "le-regarder", "regarde", "regarder"]·heb["אביט", "ה-מביט", "הביטה", "תבט", "תביט"]·HI["जो-देखता-है", "तू-देखता-है", "देख", "देखता-है", "देखूँगा।"]·ID["Aku-memandang", "Engkau-lihat?", "Engkau-memandang", "Pandanglah", "memandang", "menoleh", "yang-memandang"]·IT["guarda", "guardare", "guardo'"]·jav["Ingkang-mirsani", "Kawula-mirsani", "Ningalana", "Panjenengan-mirsani", "mirsani", "ningali", "panjenengan-mirsani"]·KO["내가-쳐다보지", "돌아보다", "바라보시는-이-가", "보라", "보시나이다", "살피소서", "주-께서-눈여겨-보시나이까"]·PT["Atenta", "O-que-olha", "olharei", "olhas", "olhes", "para-dar"]·RU["Смотрящий", "взгляну", "видишь", "воззри", "оглядывайся", "смотри", "смотришь"]·ES["El-que-mira", "Mira", "miraré", "miras", "mires"]·SW["Tazama", "anayeitazama", "angalia", "kuziangalia", "unaangalia", "unatazama", "unawaangalia", "utaangalia"]·TR["bak", "bakacağım", "bakan", "bakarsın", "bakma", "baktırırsın"]·urd["تُو-دیکھتا-ہے", "دیکھ", "دیکھنے-والا", "دیکھوں-گا"]
4. look upon with concern — Looking upon someone with compassion, concern, or entreaty — a relational gaze that expects response. Often found in prayers: 'Look upon the face of your anointed' (Ps 84:9); 'Look, O LORD, and see' (Lam 1:11; 2:20). Korean doraboda (돌아보다, 'turn and look') and Swahili -angalie ('look with concern') mark the emotional and relational quality. Hab 1:5 extends this to astonished looking — 'Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded.' The four occurrences all carry this appeal for attentive, caring regard. 4×
AR["وَ-ابصِروا", "وَارَ", "وَانْظُرْ"]·ben["এবং-দৃষ্টি-কর", "এবং-দৃষ্টি-দিন", "এবং-দেখো", "এবং-বিবেচনা-করুন"]·DE["und-blickte"]·EN["and-look", "and-look-upon", "and-see"]·FR["et-le-regarder", "et-regarder", "et-regardez!"]·heb["ו-הבט", "ו-הביטה", "ו-הביטו"]·HI["और-दृष्टि-कर", "और-देखो", "और-निगाह-कर", "और-विचार-कर"]·ID["dan-pandanglah", "dan-perhatikanlah", "dan-perhatikanlah,"]·IT["e-guardare", "e-guardo'"]·jav["lan-mirsanana", "lan-sami-ningali"]·KO["그리고-바라보소서", "그리고-주목하라", "돌아보소서"]·PT["e-olha", "e-olhai"]·RU["и-вглядитесь", "и-взгляни", "и-посмотри"]·ES["y-mira", "y-observa", "y-ved"]·SW["na-tazameni", "na-uangalie"]·TR["ve-bak", "ve-bakın"]·urd["اور-غور-کر", "اور-غور-کرو", "اور-نظر-کر"]
5. sense 5 — A single occurrence in Isa 5:30 (the Pi'el form, unique in the Hebrew Bible for this root) describing looking over the land and seeing darkness and distress. English 'and he looks,' Spanish 'y se mirará,' French 'et regarder' — the translations treat it as a straightforward act of looking, but the Pi'el stem and the context of cosmic judgment set it apart. Some grammarians consider this an intensified or iterative gaze over the scene of devastation. 1×
AR["وَ-يَنظُرُ"]·ben["ও-দেখবে"]·DE["und-blickte"]·EN["and-he-looks"]·FR["et-regarder"]·heb["ו-ניבט"]·HI["और-वह-देखेगा"]·ID["Dan-ia-memandang"]·IT["e-guardare"]·jav["Lan-menawi-mirsani"]·KO["보면"]·PT["E-olhará"]·RU["и-посмотрит"]·ES["Y-se-mirará"]·SW["na-akitazama"]·TR["ve-bakacak"]·urd["اور-دیکھے-گا"]
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
† [נָבַט] vb.Pi., Hiph. look (NH Pi. id.; Arabic نَبَطَ is well or issue forth (of water). Assyrian nabâṭu is shine DlHWB 443; Sab. epith. נבט protector (? lit. looking with consideration upon MordtZMG xxx. 1876, 37); n.pr. נבטאל God has seen, i.e. considered Levy-OsZMG xix. 1865, 231);— Pi. Pf. consec. וְנִבַּט Is 5:30 look (lit.), sq. לְ. Hiph. Pf. הִבִּיט Nu 21:9 + 3 times; וְהִבַּטְתָּ֫ 1 S…