ἀντοφθαλμέω
antophthalméō
G503 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To look directly at, to face someone or something, often conveying the idea of confronting or meeting face-to-face. In some contexts, may suggest standing one's ground or enduring a confrontation.
Semantic Range
to look directly at, to face, to confront, to withstand or endure a gaze or presence
Root / Etymology
From the prefix ἀντί (anti, "opposite, against") and ὀφθαλμός (ophthalmos, "eye"), forming a compound meaning "to be eye-to-eye with" or "to meet face-to-face."
Historical & Contextual Notes
The verb ἀντοφθαλμέω is rare in extant Greek literature and appears only a few times in Koine sources, including the New Testament (Acts 6:15). Originally it denotes the act of meeting someone's gaze directly, implying composure or resolve when facing another. In Hellenistic and Koine usage, the term can extend metaphorically to mean confronting someone or enduring a challenge without flinching. It is not commonly found in classical Greek, and its usage in papyri or inscriptions is extremely limited. English translations such as "to face" or "to look intently at" partially capture the meaning, but often the nuance of standing firm or facing a situation unflinchingly is more present in context than in the translation phrase. In the New Testament, it is used to describe Stephen's calm facing of adversity before the Sanhedrin, implying both composure and courage. The sense of "bear up into" in traditional glosses does not reflect standard idiomatic English or the primary Greek sense.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from a compound of ἀντί and ὀφθαλμός; to face:--bear up into.
Root Family
ἀντοφθαλμέω (antophthalmeō) — to look at, to face, to confront
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G503-01 |
ἀντοφθαλμεῖν | antophthalmein | V PRS ACT INF |
to face | to confront face-to-face | to face | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G503-01 |
Acts 27:15 | ἀντοφθαλμεῖν | antophthalmein | V PRS ACT INF |
to face | to confront face-to-face | to face |