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

primary "see" 108 occurrences

'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.

Alternatives (25 occurrences):
"watch out" (4x) "take heed" (4x) "looking" (3x) "beware" (2x) "him take heed" (2x) "careful" (2x) "vigilant" (1x) "watch" (1x) "(plural) take heed" (1x) "paying attention" (1x) "look" (1x) "facing" (1x) "consider" (1x) "look out" (1x)

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

Root βλεπ- 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