βλέμμα
blémma
G990 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A look, glance, or gaze; the act or result of seeing or observing with the eye. While rooted in the act of seeing, it can refer to the physical direction or expression of an individual's gaze, often carrying implications of intention or emotion in the context where it is used. Sometimes denotes 'a look' as a communicative or meaningful glance, not simply the act of perceiving visually.
Semantic Range
look, glance, gaze, sight (as perceived), act of seeing, manner of looking, implication of intent or emotion in a look
Root / Etymology
Derived from the verb βλέπω ('to see, look at, observe'). Formed with the neuter nominal ending -μα, indicating the result or manifestation of the action (i.e., the 'thing seen' or the act of looking).
Historical & Contextual Notes
βλέμμα is a rare noun in Koine Greek, attested only a handful of times in extant literature. In the New Testament, it is found once (Mark 8:23), where it refers specifically to what someone sees or how their eyes perceive. Ancient Greek more commonly used related nouns (e.g., ὄψις or ὅρασις) for 'sight' or 'vision.' βλέμμα focuses on the concrete act or result of seeing rather than broader abstract notions of vision. In the Septuagint and wider Hellenistic literature, it appears infrequently, usually in personal or direct contexts (e.g., a significant glance or expression of the eyes). Standard English translations render it as 'sight,' 'look,' or occasionally 'vision,' but these may not fully communicate the potential nuance of intentionality or emotional content carried by the Greek term. The word has little to no religious or theological connotation in itself, functioning as a descriptive term for physical vision or meaningful glance.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from βλέπω; vision (properly concrete; by implication, abstract):--seeing.
Root Family
βλέμμα (blémma) — look, glance, gaze, act of seeing
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G990-01 |
βλέμματι | blemmati | N DAT N SG |
by what he saw | with a gaze | by a gaze | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G990-01 |
2 Peter 2:8 | βλέμματι | blemmati | N DAT N SG |
by what he saw | with a gaze | by a gaze |