Dictionary of Bible Themes – 5149 eyes
Resources chevron-right Dictionary of Bible Themes chevron-right 5000 Humanity chevron-right 5125 Parts of the body and clothing chevron-right 5149 eyes
5149 eyes

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

1020God, all-knowing
1466vision
1670symbols
4811darkness, symbol of sin
5135blindness, spiritual
5865gestures
6248temptation
7781seer
8226discernment
8474seeing God
8490watchfulness
9410heaven

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