βλέπω
blépō
G991 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To see, look at, or observe (with the physical eyes); with extended senses: to perceive, to be aware, to take notice of something, or to pay attention. In some contexts, it can imply being cautious or vigilant, especially with the sense 'take heed; beware.'
Semantic Range
to look, to see, to behold, to observe, to notice, to perceive, to pay attention, to be vigilant, to beware, to take heed
Root / Etymology
From the root βλεπ-, with no clear connection to other Indo-European roots outside Greek. The verb is a primary, non-compound Greek verb for visual perception or physical seeing.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, βλέπω refers primarily to the act of seeing with one's eyes or having the faculty of sight. During the Hellenistic and Koine periods (including the Septuagint and the New Testament), the verb retains its basic meaning of perceiving visually but acquires regular metaphorical extensions: to pay attention, to recognize, or to be wary (e.g., βλέπετε ἀπὸ, 'beware of ...'). The verb is frequently used for literal physical sight, but also in contexts that imply mental attention or spiritual perception without physical seeing, though this is less pronounced than for verbs like ὁράω or ὀπτάνομαι. Where standard English translations might use 'see,' 'look,' 'perceive,' or 'beware,' no single English term equivalently maps the range of βλέπω across all contexts. Compared with ὁράω ('to see,' sometimes of deeper or broader perception), βλέπω tends to remain more grounded in physical or immediate seeing. In New Testament warning contexts (e.g., 'take heed,' 'beware'), βλέπω is often imperative. LXX usage generally mirrors classical patterns, frequently rendering Hebrew verbs for seeing or looking (e.g., ראה). In sum, βλέπω denotes sensory perception with developed metaphorical uses, but its semantic core is immediate, physical seeing or attentiveness.
Translation Consistency
'See' best matches the primary sense in the SILEX range (to see, perceive, observe, notice) and is the most common natural English rendering in the P2 data. It covers both literal and extended senses (perceive, be aware, behold) while remaining simple and idiomatic for consistent inflection across all forms.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primary verb; to look at (literally or figuratively):--behold, beware, lie, look (on, to), perceive, regard, see, sight, take heed. Compare ὀπτάνομαι.
Root Family
βλέπω (blepō) — to see, to look, to perceive by sight
Word Forms
26 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G991-06 |
βλέπετε | blepete | V PRS ACT IND 2P PL |
see | you (plural) are seeing | you (plural) are seeing | 33 |
G991-16 |
βλέποντες | blepontes | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
seeing | seeing ones | seeing ones | 12 |
G991-13 |
βλέπων | blepon | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
seeing | seeing | seeing | 12 |
G991-02 |
βλέπει | blepei | V PRS ACT IND 3P SG |
he sees | he sees | he sees | 10 |
G991-03 |
βλέπειν | blepein | V PRS ACT INF |
to see | to see | to see | 10 |
G991-04 |
βλέπεις | blepeis | V PRS ACT IND 2P SG |
you see | you are seeing | you are seeing | 10 |
G991-19 |
βλέπωσιν | bleposin | V PRS ACT SUBJ 3P PL |
may see | that they may see | that they may see | 6 |
G991-08 |
βλέπω | blepo | V PRS ACT IND 1P SG |
I see | I am seeing | I am seeing | 5 |
G991-09 |
βλέπομεν | blepomen | V PRS ACT IND 1P PL |
we see | we see | we see | 5 |
G991-10 |
βλεπόμενα | blepomena | V PRS PASS PTCP ACC N PL |
things which are seen | the things being seen | the things being seen | 4 |
Occurrences in Scripture
133 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G991-13 |
Matthew 5:28 | βλέπων | blepon | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
looks | seeing | seeing |
G991-13 |
Matthew 6:4 | βλέπων | blepon | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
sees | seeing | seeing |
G991-13 |
Matthew 6:6 | βλέπων | blepon | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
sees | seeing | seeing |
G991-13 |
Matthew 6:18 | βλέπων | blepon | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
sees | seeing | seeing |
G991-04 |
Matthew 7:3 | βλέπεις | blepeis | V PRS ACT IND 2P SG |
you see | you are seeing | you are seeing |
G991-06 |
Matthew 11:4 | βλέπετε | blepete | V PRS ACT IND 2P PL |
you see | you (plural) are seeing | you (plural) are seeing |
G991-03 |
Matthew 12:22 | βλέπειν | blepein | V PRS ACT INF |
to see | to see | to see |
G991-16 |
Matthew 13:13 | βλέποντες | blepontes | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
seeing | seeing ones | seeing ones |
G991-21 |
Matthew 13:13 | βλέπουσιν | blepousin | V PRS ACT IND 3P PL |
they see | they see | they see |
G991-16 |
Matthew 13:14 | βλέποντες | blepontes | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
seeing | seeing ones | seeing ones |