5149 eyes
The part of the body designed for seeing. In Scripture eyes are often associated with light, watchfulness or spiritual understanding, whereas blindness may be a metaphor for darkness, ignorance of God or rebellion against him. The eyes of God watch over all his creation.
Eyes are part of the physical body
Dt 28:65; Job 11:20; Job 31:16; Ps 69:3
Eyes may represent the whole person Lk 10:23; Rev 1:7
Eyesight is a vital sense Mt 6:22 See also Ps 54:7; Pr 20:12; La 4:17; Mt 11:5 pp Lk 7:22; Mt 20:33 pp Mk 10:51 pp Lk 18:41; Ac 28:27; 1Co 12:17
Eyes may have a powerful emotional effect SS 4:9
Eyes reflect character, feelings and emotions Malice: Ps 35:19; Pr 6:13; Pr 10:10; Pr 16:30 Haughtiness: Ps 101:5; Pr 21:4
Mk 3:5 anger; Mk 10:21 love Sorrow: Ps 88:9; Jn 11:33-35 Desire: 2Pe 2:14; 1Jn 2:16
God’s eyes are upon all his creation
God is aware of everything Job 34:21 See also 1Sa 16:7; Ps 94:9; Ps 139:16; Pr 15:3; Am 9:8; Hab 1:13; Zec 3:9; Zec 4:10; Heb 4:13
God watches over his people with care Ps 34:15 See also Dt 11:12; 1Ki 8:29; 1Ki 9:3; Ps 1:6; Ps 121:3-5; Pr 22:12; 1Pe 3:12
God’s eyes symbolise his assessment of human behaviour Ge 6:8 See also Ex 15:26; Jdg 2:11; 1Ki 15:5; 2Co 8:21
Human eyes may symbolise spiritual vision
God opens eyes in a spiritual sense Ps 119:18 The “opening of eyes” is an important biblical metaphor for revelation; Eph 1:18 See also Nu 24:3-4; 2Ki 6:17; Ezr 9:8; Isa 35:5; Isa 61:1; Mt 6:22-23 pp Lk 11:34-36; Ac 26:18; Heb 11:27
Human eyes should be directed towards God Ps 34:5; Ps 123:1-2 Lifting one’s eyes towards God is an important biblical image of prayer. See also 2Ch 20:12; Ps 25:15; Ps 27:4; Isa 40:26; Jn 17:1; Ac 7:55; 2Co 3:16; Heb 12:2
Human eyes will ultimately see God
Job 19:25-27 See also Isa 33:17; Jn 17:24; 1Co 13:12; 1Jn 3:2; Rev 22:4
Eyes are a channel of temptation
Mt 4:8-9 pp Lk 4:5-7 See also Ge 3:6; Nu 15:39; Jos 7:21; 2Sa 11:2; Ps 119:37; Ecc 2:10; Ecc 6:9; Mt 5:28-29; 1Jn 2:16
Eyes should be guarded against evil Job 31:1; Pr 4:25 See also Ps 101:3; Isa 33:15-16 The direction of human eyes is a matter of choice.
Closing one’s eyes may symbolise indifference to God and his will
Mt 13:15 See also Isa 6:10; Pr 28:27; Eze 22:26; Mt 23:16-17; Jn 9:41
See also
1020 | God, all-knowing |
1466 | vision |
1670 | symbols |
4811 | darkness, symbol of sin |
5135 | blindness, spiritual |
5865 | gestures |
6248 | temptation |
7781 | seer |
8226 | discernment |
8474 | seeing God |
8490 | watchfulness |
9410 | heaven |