particle
idou
Strong’sG2400
See! Lo! Behold! Look!
stem idou-200 times in the New Testamentin 14 of 27 books
What it means
A plain-English reading of the word, with the lexicons it draws on — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, and Liddell-Scott-Jones — right below it, in full.
AI Summary
ἰδού is an interjection used to call attention to something, meaning behold, lo, see, look 124. It began as the imperative form of the verb "to see" 123, but functions as a fixed demonstrative particle rather than as a literal command 1. It occurs far more often in the Greek Old Testament and New Testament than in classical Greek 1. It can stand before a noun or pronoun to point something out directly, as in the phrase "here I am" 3, or accompany a verb in the indicative, including past tenses 3. In some New Testament sentences that lack a main verb, it can take the place of a verb such as "is," introducing what follows much as the equivalent word does in Hebrew 1.
Sources: 1 Abbott-Smith 2 Strong's 3 LSJ 4 Dodson. Condensed by anthropic/claude-sonnet-5 on 2026-09-23 — it may still misstate what these say; check them yourself if it matters to you.
The lexicons it was drawn from, in full:
Abbott-Smith — the 1922 lexicon entry, in full
ἰδού,
[in LXX chiefly for הִנֵּה,]
prop. imperat. 2 aor. mid. of ὁράω, used as a demonstrative particle, with frequency much greater in LXX and NT than in cl. (v. M, Pr., 11),G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G2400 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidid-oo'
used as imperative lo!;
Fromsecond person singular imperative middle voice of G1492;
King Jamesbehold, lo, see.
James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1890 — public domain. The numbers in it link to the entries here.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — the classical dictionary this word appears in
(ἴδου Hdn.Gr. cited in Refs 4th c.AD+aorist 2 imperative middle of ὁρά; but,
II ἰδού (on the accent see Hdn.Gr.Refs adverb, lo! behold! (even with words of hearing, ἰδοὺ δοῦπον αὖ κλύω τινά Refs 5th c.BC+
II.1 with Nouns and Prons., ἰ. χελιδών Klein Refs 6th c.BC+, etc.; ἰ. ἐγώ here am I, LXX+NT; οὐκ ἰ. Ἀαρώ; LXX
II.2 with Verbs,
II.2.a in the imperative, ἰ. θεᾶσθε Refs 5th c.BC+; especially in offering a thing, take it! ἰ. δέχου παῖ Refs 5th c.BC+
II.2.b in indicative of all tenses, ἰ. πείθομαι NT+5th c.BC+ with past tenses, LXX+NT; in the middle of a sentence, NT
II.3 with questions, ἰ., τί ἔστι; Refs 5th c.BC+
II.4 in repeating another's words quizzingly, as ἰδού γ᾽ ἄκρατον wine, quotha! Refs; ἰ. λέγεινRefs
H. G. Liddell, R. Scott, H. S. Jones, A Greek-English Lexicon (9th ed., 1925–1940) — digitised by the Perseus Digital Library and corrected and expanded by Tyndale House, Cambridge, via STEPBible-Data's TFLSJ table, CC BY 4.0. Covers all of Greek literature, not just the Bible.
Translated as
Every occurrence, sorted by the English it was actually given — the evidence for what the word means, not a gloss of it.
Berean Standard Bible (BSB), dedicated to the public domain — berean.bible.
Biblang forms
The full set of forms for this word is not on the site yet. Every occurrence below shows the form it takes there.
Where it appears
Every verse the word appears in, filed under the form it takes there.
200 occurrences, 100 of them printed here — the rest are in the reader
idou74×
Matthew 1:20“behold”houteim de autou enthumirantou idou angelos kuriou kata onarem fanita auto …But after he had pondered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said …
Matthew 2:1“behold”… Ioudaiau en hēmerai Hērōdou tou basilevou, idou magois apo anatolaiu paragenela eis Hierosolumeim… in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem,
Matthew 2:9“behold”… de akouarantois tou basilevou poreuila, kai idou tos asteros hon horala en ta …After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went …
Matthew 2:13“behold”Anachōrarantoiu de autoiu idou angelos kuriou fanotō kata onarem to …… Magi had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up …
Matthew 2:19“behold”Teleutarantou de tou Hērōdou idou angelos kuriou fanotō kata onarem to …After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph …
Matthew 3:16“behold”… euthuos anabainata apo teu hudeu; kai idou anoigila tois ouranois, kai horata pneumem …… baptized, He went up out of the water. Suddenly the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and resting on …
Matthew 3:17“behold”kai idou fōnas ek toiu ouranoiu legarōntas; Houtos …And a voice from heaven said, “This is My …
Matthew 4:11“behold”tote afiēkatō auton tos diabolos, kai idou angelois proserchala kai diakonale auto.Then the devil left Him, and angels came and ministered to Him.
Matthew 7:4“look”… karfem ek tou ofthalmou su, kai idou tas dokas en to ofthalmo su?… take the speck out of your eye,’ while there is still a beam in your own eye?
Matthew 8:2“behold”kai idou lepros prosercharantos proskunate auto legarōntos; Kurior, …Suddenly a leper came and knelt before Him, saying, “Lord, if You …
Matthew 8:24“behold”kai idou seismos megos geneta en ta thalassa, …… a violent storm came up on the sea, so that …
Matthew 8:29“suddenly”kai idou krazala legarōntois; Tinem ni kai si, …“What do You want with us, Son of …
Matthew 8:32“suddenly”… exercharantois aperchala eis toin choiroin; kai idou hormata pantas tas agelas kata tou …… So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank …
Matthew 8:34“behold”kai idou pantas tas polas exerchata eis hupantēsian …Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And …
Matthew 9:2“behold”Kai idou prosferale auto paralutikon epi klinau balorēnton. …… some men brought to Him a paralytic lying on a mat …
Matthew 9:10“behold”… autou anakeiorōntou en ta oikia, kai idou pollois telōnois kai hamartōlois ercharantois sunanakeiole …… at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with …
Matthew 9:18“behold”Houteim autou lalarōntou autoi idou archontos henos ercharantos proskunate auto legarōntos …… Jesus was saying these things, a synagogue leader came and knelt before Him. “My daughter has just died,” he said. “But …
Matthew 9:20“behold”Kai idou gunaikas haimorroarōntas dōdeka eteim prosercharantas opisthen …Suddenly a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years came up behind Him and touched the …
Matthew 9:32“behold”Autoiu de exerchorōntoiu idou prosferala auto anthrōpon kōfon daimonizorōnton;As they were leaving, a demon-possessed man who was mute was brought to Jesus.
Matthew 11:8“behold”… exerchava horara? anthrōpon en malakei amfiennuorēnton? idou tois teim malakeim forarōntois en toi …… did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Look, those who wear fine clothing are found in kings’ palaces.
Matthew 12:10“behold”kai idou anthrōpos cheiran echarōntos xēran. kai eperōtala …and a man with a withered hand was there. In order to accuse Jesus, they asked Him, “Is …
Matthew 12:41“behold”… metanoala eis tem kērugmem Iōnou, kai idou polloterem Iōnou hōde.… for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now One greater than Jonah is here.
Matthew 12:42“behold”… gēau akouara tan sofian Solomōnou, kai idou polloterem Solomōnou hōde.… of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here.
Matthew 12:46“behold”Ēti de autou lalarōntou toi ochloi idou tas mētēras kai tois adelfois autou …… Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, His mother and brothers stood outside …
Matthew 15:22“behold”kai idou gunaikas Chananaias apo teiu horeiu ekeineiu …And a Canaanite woman from that region came to …
Matthew 17:3“behold”kai idou horita autoi Mōusos kai Ēliaos sullalarōntois …Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared before them, talking with Jesus.
Matthew 17:5“behold”ēti autou lalarōntou idou nefelas fōteinas episkiazata autoin, kai idou …… Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice …
Matthew 17:5“behold”… idou nefelas fōteinas episkiazata autoin, kai idou fōnas ek tau nefelau legarōntas; Houtos …… speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My …
Matthew 19:16“behold”Kai idou henos prosercharantos auto legata; Didaskalor, tinem …… a man came up to Jesus and inquired, “Teacher, what good thing …
Matthew 20:30“behold”kai idou duo tuflois kathorōntois para tan hodan, …And there were two blind men sitting beside the road. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried …
Matthew 23:34“behold”dia houtem idou mis apostelamō pros vin profētoin kai …Because of this, I am sending you prophets and wise men …
Matthew 23:38“see”idou afiēkotō vi tos oikos vu erēmos.Look, your house is left to you desolate.
Matthew 24:25idou prolegamē vi.See, I have told you in advance.
Matthew 26:45“see”… autoi; Katheudavō tem loipem kai anapauovō; idou engizatē tas hōras kai tos huios …… Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man …
Matthew 26:46egerovōr aganeiō; idou engizatē tos paradōarōntos min.Rise, let us go! See, My betrayer is approaching!”
Matthew 26:47“behold”Kai ēti autou lalarōntou idou Ioudos henos toiu dōdeka erchata kai …… Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and elders of …
Matthew 26:51“behold”kai idou henos toiu meta Iēsu ekteinarantos tan …At this, one of Jesus’ companions drew …
Matthew 27:51“behold”kai idou tem katapetasmem tou naou schizita apo …… that moment the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to …
Matthew 28:2“behold”kai idou seismos geneta megos; angelos gar kuriou …Suddenly there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from …
Matthew 28:7“indeed”… hoti Egerita apo toiu nekroiu, kai idou proagatō vin eis tan Galilaian, ekei …… He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will …
Matthew 28:7“behold”… eis tan Galilaian, ekei auton horevi; idou legama vi.… of you into Galilee. There you will see Him.’ See, I have told you.”
Matthew 28:9“behold”kai idou Iēsus hupantata autai legarōntos; Chairavōr; tais …Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” They came to …
Matthew 28:20“lo”… tērarō panteim hoseim entelema vi; kai idou mis meta vu amō pantain tain …… to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of …
Mark 4:3“behold”Akouavōr. idou exerchata tos sperarōntos sperara.“Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed.
Mark 14:41“behold”… kai anapauovō; apechatō; erchata tas hōras, idou paradōotō tos huios tou anthrōpou eis …… still sleeping and resting? That is enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of …
Mark 14:42egerovōr aganeiō; idou tos paradōarōntos min engizatē.Rise, let us go. See, My betrayer is approaching!”
Luke 1:20“behold”kai idou esi siōparōntos kai mē dunorōntos lalara …And now you will be silent and unable to speak until the …
Luke 1:31kai idou sullabesi en gastra kai tiktesi huion, …Behold, you will conceive and give birth …
Luke 1:36“behold”kai idou Elisabet tas sungenias su kai autas …Look, even Elizabeth your relative has conceived a son in her old age, and she who was …
Luke 1:44“behold”idou gar hōs geneta tas fōnas tou …For as soon as the sound of your …
Luke 1:48“behold”… epi tan tapeinōsian tau doulau autou, idou gar apo tou nun makarizali min …… with favor on the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed.
Luke 2:10… legata autoi tos angelos; Mē fobovōr, idou gar euangelizomō vi charan megan hotinas …… them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of …
Luke 2:25“behold”Kai idou anthrōpos ate en Ierousalēm ho onomem …Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He …
Luke 2:48“look”… autou; Teknem, tinem poiasa ni houtōs? idou tos patros su kai mis odunorōntois …… astonished. “Child, why have You done this to us?” His mother asked. “Your father and I have been anxiously searching for …
Luke 5:12“behold”… auton en hena taiu polaiu kai idou andros plēros leprau; kai horarantos ton …… Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell facedown and begged Him …
Luke 5:18“behold”kai idou androis ferarōntois epi klinau anthrōpon hos …… then some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat …
Luke 6:23“behold”… en ekeina ta hēmera kai skirtavar, idou gar tos misthos vu pollos en …Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For their fathers treated the prophets in …
Luke 7:12“behold”… engizata ta pula tau polau, kai idou ekkomizote thnēskarēntos monogenos huios ta mētēra …As He approached the town gate, He saw a dead man being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she …
Luke 7:25“behold”… horara? anthrōpon en malakei himatiei amfiennuorēnton? idou tois en himatismo endoxo kai trufa …… out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Look, those who wear elegant clothing and live in luxury are found …
Luke 7:37“behold”kai idou gunaikas hotinas ate en ta pola …… a sinful woman from that town learned that Jesus was dining there …
Luke 8:41“behold”kai idou erchata andros ho onomem Iairos, kai …… synagogue leader named Jairus came and fell …
Luke 9:30“behold”kai idou androis duo sullalale auto, hotinois ale …Suddenly two men, Moses and Elijah, began talking with Jesus.
Luke 9:38“behold”kai idou andros apo tou ochlou boata legarōntos; …Suddenly a man in the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I …
Luke 9:39“behold”kai idou pneumem labatō auton, kai exaifnōs krazatō, …A spirit keeps seizing him, and he screams abruptly. It throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It keeps mauling him and rarely departs …
Luke 10:3“behold”hupagavōr; idou apostelamō vin hōs arnoin en mese …Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.
Luke 10:19idou dōamē vi tan exousian teu patarō …Behold, I have given you authority to …
Luke 10:25“behold”Kai idou nomikos tinos anastēata ekpeirazarōntos auton legarōntos; …… the law stood up to test Him. “Teacher,” he …
Luke 11:31“behold”… gēau akouara tan sofian Solomōnou, kai idou polloterem Solomōnou hōde.… of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here.
Luke 11:32“behold”… metanoala eis tem kērugmem Iōnou, kai idou polloterem Iōnou hōde.… for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now One greater than Jonah is here.
Luke 11:41plēn teim eneiarōnteim dōavar eleēmosunan, kai idou panteim kathareim vi atō.… things that are within you, and behold, everything will be clean for you.
Luke 13:11“behold”kai idou gunaikas pneumem echarōntas astheniau eteim dekaoktō, …and a woman there had been disabled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was …
Luke 13:16“behold”… Abraam arōntan, han data tos Satanos idou deka kai oktō eteim, ouk date …Then should not this daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be released …
Matthew 9:3“behold”kai idou tinois toiu grammatevoiu legala en heautoi; …… seeing this, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man …
Matthew 28:11“behold”Poreuorōntoiu de autaiu idou tinois tau koustōdiau ercharantois eis tan …… their way, some of the guards went into the city and …
Idou26×
Matthew 1:23Idou tas parthenas en gastra echati kai …“Behold, the virgin will be with child …
Matthew 10:16Idou mis apostelamō vin hōs probateim en …Behold, I am sending you out like …
Matthew 11:10houtos atō peri hou grafotē; Idou mis apostelamō ton angelon mu pro …… one about whom it is written: ‘Behold, I will send My messenger ahead …
Matthew 11:19… anthrōpou esthiarōntos kai pinarōntos, kai legalō; Idou anthrōpos fagos kai oinopotos, telōnoiu filos …… eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a …
Matthew 12:2tois de Farisaiois horarantois legala auto; Idou tois mathētois su poialō hem ouk …… saw this, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is …
Matthew 12:18“behold”Idou tos paidos mu hon hairetizama, tos …“Here is My Servant, whom I have chosen, My beloved …
Matthew 12:47legata de tinos auto; Idou tas mētēras su kai tois adelfois …Someone told Him, “Look, Your mother and brothers are standing …
Matthew 12:49“behold”… autou epi toin mathētoin autou legata; Idou tas mētēras mu kai tois adelfois …Pointing to His disciples, He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers.
Matthew 13:3“behold”… lalata autoi polleim en parabolai legarōntos; Idou exerchata tos sperarōntos teu sperarō.And He told them many things in parables, saying, “A farmer went out to sow his seed.
Matthew 19:27“see”Tote apokrinirantos tos Petros legata auto; Idou nis afiēkana panteim kai akolouthana si; …“Look,” Peter replied, “we have left everything to follow You. What then …
Matthew 20:18“behold”Idou anabainanō eis Hierosolumeim, kai tos huios …… we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man …
Matthew 21:5“behold”Legavar ta thugatra Siōn; Idou tos basilevos su erchotō si prauos …“Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your King comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of …
Matthew 22:4“see”… allosoin douloin legarōntos; Legavar toi kalorēntoi; Idou tem aristem mu hetoimazamē, tois taurois …… he sent other servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner. My oxen and fattened …
Matthew 24:23tote ean tinos vi legateia; Idou hōde tos christos, ē; Hōde, mē …… time, if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There …
Matthew 24:26“look”ean oun legaleia vi; Idou en ta erēma atō, mē exerchaveia; …So if they tell you, ‘There He is, in the wilderness,’ do not go out, or, ‘Here …
Matthew 24:26“look”… en ta erēma atō, mē exerchaveia; Idou en tei tameiei, mē pisteuaveia;… There He is, in the wilderness,’ do not go out, or, ‘Here He is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it.
Matthew 25:6“behold”mesau de nuktau kraugas genatē; Idou tos numfios, exerchovōr eis apantēsian autou.… Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
Mark 1:2… grafotē en to Ēsaio to profēto; Idou apostelamō ton angelon mu pro prosōpeu …… is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I will send My messenger ahead …
Mark 3:32… peri auton ochlos, kai legalō auto; Idou tas mētēras su kai tois adelfois …… a crowd was sitting around Him. “Look,” He was told, “Your mother and …
Mark 10:28Archeta legarō tos Petros auto; Idou nis afiēkana panteim kai akolouthanē si.Peter began to say to Him, “Look, we have left everything and followed …
Mark 10:33“behold”hoti Idou anabainanō eis Hierosolumeim, kai tos huios …… we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man …
Luke 1:38“behold”legata de Mariam; Idou tas doulas kuriou; genetoia mi kata …“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it happen to me according to your word …
Luke 2:34… legata pros Mariam tan mētēran autou; Idou houtos keiotō eis ptōsian kai anastasian …… and said to His mother Mary: “Behold, this Child is appointed to cause …
Luke 7:27houtos atō peri hou grafotē; Idou apostelamō ton angelon mu pro prosōpeu …… one about whom it is written: ‘Behold, I will send My messenger ahead …
Luke 7:34… anthrōpou esthiarōntos kai pinarōntos, kai legavō; Idou anthrōpos fagos kai oinopotos, filos telōnoiu …… eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a …
Luke 13:7“behold”legata de pros ton ampelourgon; Idou treis eteim apo hou erchomō zētarōntos …So he said to the keeper of the vineyard, ‘Look, for the past three years I have come to search …