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עַיִן

𐤏𐤉𐤍

Ayin

H5869 noun

SILEX Entry

Root עין to eye, to look, to notice, to see

Definition

Primarily, the anatomical 'eye,' the organ of seeing; by extension, anything resembling or functioning as an 'eye' (such as a spring or well, seen as the 'eye' of the landscape); also metaphorically used for perception, attitude, viewpoint, or favor; occasionally denotes appearance, surface, or countenance; can indicate presence or the act of watching/observing; serves idiomatically in expressions of personal pronouns or points of view.

Semantic Range

eye (organ), sight, look, observation, attention, appearance, favor, countenance, viewpoint, attitude, envy, arrogance, compassion, presence, fountain, spring, well, surface, resemblance, personal pronoun in idioms

Root / Etymology

From the root עין, meaning 'to eye, to look at, to notice' (though as a noun, עַיִן is considered a primitive or primary form, not derived from a verbal root). The noun's use for a spring/well likely arises from the resemblance of a bubbling spring to the human eye, both visually and metaphorically.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, עַיִן first and foremost means the physical eye, but it is also used widely for springs or wells (e.g., עֵין גֶּדִי, Ein Gedi, 'spring of the kid'). Metaphorically, 'eye' denotes perception, intent, or assessment (e.g., to find favor in someone's eyes), and can refer to various human qualities or states (such as envy, arrogance, or compassion). The use of עַיִן for a spring is common in toponyms and narratives, especially in arid regions where a water source is as precious as sight. Idiomatic uses, such as 'before the eyes of' (לִפְנֵי עֵינֵי), indicate presence, observation, or judgment. In later Hebrew and Jewish tradition, the semantic extensions of עַיִן broadened further, but in the Hebrew Bible, its metaphorical range is substantial within perceptual, evaluative, and topographical contexts. English translations often reduce the metaphorical or idiomatic complexity by rendering עַיִן simply as 'eye' or 'spring,' and may obscure more nuanced senses such as favor, appearance, or intention.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape); affliction, outward appearance, [phrase] before, [phrase] think best, colour, conceit, [phrase] be content, countenance, [phrase] displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, [phrase] favour, fountain, furrow (from the margin), [idiom] him, [phrase] humble, knowledge, look, ([phrase] well), [idiom] me, open(-ly), [phrase] (not) please, presence, [phrase] regard, resemblance, sight, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them, [phrase] think, [idiom] us, well, [idiom] you(-rselves).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עין (ʿ-y-n) — eye, seeing, looking, noticing, perception

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2704 חֲצַר עֵינָן Spring-Eyed One
H3282 יַעַן because
H4599 מַעְיָן the springs
H5770 עָוַן the hostile-watching one
H5870 עַיִן my eye

Word Forms

85 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5869-09 בְּ/עֵינֵ֥י beeyney HR/Ncbdc in the eyes of in the eyes of 139
H5869-13 בְּ/עֵינֶ֔י/ךָ beeyneykha HR/Ncbdc/Sp2ms in your eyes in your two eyes 60
H5869-53 לְ/עֵינֵ֧י leeyney HR/Ncbdc in the sight of to the eyes of 52
H5869-25 עֵינָ֗י/ו eynayv HNcbdc/Sp3ms his eyes his two eyes 51
H5869-34 עֵינֶ֨י/ךָ֙ eyneykha HNcbdc/Sp2ms your eyes your two eyes 51
H5869-22 עֵינַ֛/י eynay HNcbdc/Sp1cs my eyes my eyes 50
H5869-08 בְּ/עֵינָ֖י/ו beeynayv HR/Ncbdc/Sp3ms in his eyes in his eyes 41
H5869-37 עֵינִ֖/י eyni HNcbsc/Sp1cs my eye my eye 29
H5869-24 עֵינַ֔יִם eynayim HNcbda eyes eyes 27
H5869-31 עֵינֵ֣י eyney HNcbdc eyes of eyes of 24

Occurrences in Scripture

897 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5869-35 Genesis 3:5 עֵֽינֵי/כֶ֑ם eyneykhem HNcbdc/Sp2mp your eyes your eyes
H5869-49 Genesis 3:6 לָ/עֵינַ֗יִם laeynayim HRd/Ncbda to the eyes to the eyes
H5869-31 Genesis 3:7 עֵינֵ֣י eyney HNcbdc the eyes of eyes of
H5869-09 Genesis 6:8 בְּ/עֵינֵ֥י beeyney HR/Ncbdc in the eyes of in the eyes of
H5869-25 Genesis 13:10 עֵינָ֗י/ו eynayv HNcbdc/Sp3ms his eyes his two eyes
H5869-34 Genesis 13:14 עֵינֶ֨י/ךָ֙ eyneykha HNcbdc/Sp2ms your eyes your two eyes
H5869-10 Genesis 16:4 בְּ/עֵינֶֽי/הָ beeyneyha HR/Ncbdc/Sp3fs in her eyes in her eyes
H5869-10 Genesis 16:5 בְּ/עֵינֶ֑י/הָ beeyneyha HR/Ncbdc/Sp3fs in her eyes in her eyes
H5869-07 Genesis 16:6 בְּ/עֵינָ֑יִ/ךְ beeynayikhe HR/Ncbdc/Sp2fs in your eyes in your eyes
H5869-19 Genesis 16:7 עֵ֥ין eyn HNcbsc a spring there is not
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