H5787 H5787
Blind — unable to see, whether physically sightless or spiritually imperceptive; used of persons, animals, and nations.
An adjective describing the inability to see, spanning the physical and the spiritual. Physically, it refers to those born sightless or struck blind (Exod 4:11), persons protected by law from cruelty (Lev 19:14; Deut 27:18), and blemished animals unfit for sacrifice (Deut 15:21; Mal 1:8). The Jebusites' taunt about 'the blind and the lame' defending Jerusalem (2 Sam 5:6, 8) uses it as a term of contempt. Figuratively, Isaiah employs it extensively for Israel's spiritual dullness — blind watchmen (Isa 56:10), a blind servant (Isa 42:19), and the promise that blind eyes will be opened (Isa 29:18; 35:5; 42:7, 16, 18). Spanish 'ciego' and French 'aveugle' cover both physical and metaphorical registers.
Senses
1. blind (physical or spiritual) — Unable to see, used in both literal and figurative senses. Literally, it describes physical blindness as a condition God sovereignly assigns (Exod 4:11), a disability the Torah protects (Lev 19:14; Deut 27:18), and a sacrificial disqualification (Deut 15:21; Mal 1:8). Figuratively, especially in Isaiah, it characterizes spiritual insensibility — Israel as God's blind servant (Isa 42:19), blind leaders (Isa 56:10), and the eschatological promise of sight restored (Isa 29:18; 35:5; 42:7). The Psalms echo this hope: 'The LORD opens the eyes of the blind' (Ps 146:8). Multilingual glosses — Spanish 'ciego,' French 'aveugle' — confirm one adjective spanning both domains. 26×
AR["أَعْمَى", "العُمْيَانَ", "العُمْيَانِ", "الـ-عُمْيِ", "الْأَعْمَى", "الْعُمْيَانَ", "الْعُمْيَانُ", "الْعُمْيِ", "عَمْيَاءَ", "عُمْيَانٌ"]·ben["অন্ধ", "অন্ধদের", "অন্ধদের-এর", "অন্ধদেরকে", "অন্ধের"]·DE["blind", "der-blind", "erweckte"]·EN["blind", "is-blind", "of-the-blind", "the-blind"]·FR["[עור]", "[עורים]", "aveugle", "blind", "le-aveugle", "le-blind"]·heb["ה-עיוורים", "ה-עיור", "עור", "עיוור", "עיוורות", "עיוורים", "עיור"]·HI["अंधा", "अंधे", "अंधे-के", "अंधों", "अंधों-की", "अंधों-ने", "अनधा", "अन्धे"]·ID["buta", "orang-buta", "orang-orang-buta", "yang-buta"]·IT["[עורים]", "blind", "cieco", "il-cieco"]·jav["Tiyang-wuta", "ingkang-wuta", "tiyang-tiyang-wuta", "tiyang-wuta", "wuta"]·KO["그-눈-먼-자가", "그-소경들", "그-소경들이", "눈-먼-자를", "눈-번", "눈먼", "눈먼-자", "눈먼-자들을", "눈먼-자들이니", "눈먼-자를", "눈먼-자이냐", "눈이-머거나", "소경과", "소경들의"]·PT["cego", "cegos", "dos-cegos", "o-cego", "os-cegos"]·RU["слеп", "слепого", "слепое", "слепой", "слепота", "слепы", "слепым", "слепых"]·ES["a-ciego", "ciego", "ciegos", "de-los-ciegos", "el-ciego", "los-ciegos"]·SW["kipofu", "upofu", "vipofu", "ya-vipofu"]·TR["kor", "korler", "korleri", "korlerin", "kör", "körler", "körleri", "körü", "körün"]·urd["اندھا", "اندھوں", "اندھوں-کو", "اندھوں-کی", "اندھوں-کی-آنکھوں-کو", "اندھی", "اندھے", "اندھے-کو", "اندھے-کے", "اندھے-ہیں"]
Exod 4:11, Lev 19:14, Lev 21:18, Deut 15:21, Deut 27:18, Deut 28:29, 2 Sam 5:6, 2 Sam 5:8, 2 Sam 5:8, Job 29:15, Ps 146:8, Isa 29:18 (+14 more)
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
† עִוֵּר adj. blind;—only abs. ע׳ Ex 4:11 +, pl. עִוְרִים 2 S 5:6 +, f. עִוְרוֹת Is 42:7; (c. art. הָעִוֵּר Dt 28:29, elsewhere הַע׳ Baer Ginsb; van d. H. לָעִוֵּר Jb 29:15, הָעִוְרִים 2 S 5:6, 8; Is 42:18);—blind, usually as subst. = the blind: 1. lit., physically blind: a. of men Ex 4:11 (J; opp. פִּקֵּחַ), 2 S 5:6, 8(×2); Lv 19:14 (H), Dt 27:18; Je 31:8 Jb 29:15; in sim. Dt 28:29; Zp 1:17; Is…