רָאָה1315 H7207
see, perceive, look at; appear, be seen; provide, consider (primary verb of visual perception)
This is the foundational Hebrew verb for seeing, appearing over 1,300 times throughout Scripture. Beyond physical sight, it encompasses mental perception, divine revelation, and providential care. The verb appears in pivotal moments: God 'seeing' human affliction, Abraham naming the place 'the LORD will see/provide' (Genesis 22:14), and prophets being called 'seers.' Cognate across all Semitic languages, it can mean passive appearance ('be seen') as well as active observation. The breadth from literal eyesight to spiritual insight makes this one of Scripture's most theologically loaded verbs. The Hiphil causative means 'show' or 'let see,' and Niphal passive means 'appear' or 'be seen.'
Senses
BDB / Lexicon Reference
רָאָה1315 vb. see (NH id.; וארא MI4, הראני l7, cf. רית spectacle l12; Sab. ראי see, expect, DHM ZMG xxix (1875), 596, 599; Arabic رَأَى see, so Ethiopic ርእየ: 𝔗 רֵו, רֵיוָא human appearance, features, etc. (cf. Heb. רֳאִי 2));— Qal1141 Pf. 3 ms. ר׳ Gn 29:10 +, sf. וְרָֽאֲךָ consec. Ex 4:14, רָאָהוּ 2 K 2:12 +; 3 fs. רָֽאֲתָה Gn 38:14, sf. רָאָֽתְךָ Jb 42:5; 2 ms. רָאִיתָ Gn 20:10 +, etc.; Impf. 3…