noun · masculine
ofthalmos
Strong’sG3788
the eye
stem ofthalm-100 times in the New Testamentin 14 of 27 books8 of 10 forms occur
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
Eye — the physical organ of sight 1234. It is used mostly in the plural 13, and can also stand pleonastically alongside verbs of seeing, as in phrases like "my eyes saw" 1. By extension it can refer to sight or vision itself 2.
The word is also used figuratively. It can describe a moral or emotional quality expressed through the eye, especially envy or covetousness — an "evil eye" meaning a grudging or jealous glance 12; conversely a "single" or "simple" eye describes a sound moral disposition 1. It can also stand for mental perception or understanding, as when someone's "eyes" are opened or darkened in reference to comprehension rather than physical sight 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
ὀφθαλμός, -οῦ, ὁ,
[in LXX chiefly for עַיִן;]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G3788 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidof-thal-mos'
the eye (literally or figuratively); by implication, vision; figuratively, envy (from the jealous side-glance)
Fromfrom G3700;
King Jameseye, sight.
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
(ὄπωπ-α, ὀφ-θῆναι, see at {ὄψ} B) eye, used by Refs 8th c.BC+ mostly in plural; ὀφθαλμοὶ δ᾽ ὡς εἰ κέρα ἕστασαν.. ἀτρέμας ἐν βλεφάροισι Refs 8th c.BC+: the plural continued most common, but the dual also occurs, as in Refs 5th c.BC+ before one's eyes, Refs 8th c.BC+; ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἰδεῖν, ὁρᾶσθαι, etc.,Refs 8th c.BC+; but ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ὁρᾶν, νοεῖν, to see before one's eyes,Refs 8th c.BC+; ἔχειν ἐν ὀ. to have before one's eyes, Refs 5th c.BC+; τὰ ἐν ὀ. what is before one's eyes, Refs 5th c.BC+; τὸ ἐν τοῖς ὀ. δὴ γελοῖον what was ridiculous to the eye, Refs; ἐπίπροσθε τῶν ὀ. Refs 4th c.BC+; γενέσθαι τινὶ ἐξ ὀφθαλμῶν to get out of any one's sight, Refs 5th c.BC+; κατ᾽ ὀφθαλμοὺς λέγειν τινί to tell one to one's face, opposed to εἰς οὖς, Refs 5th c.BC+; τυράννου κατ᾽ ὀ. κατηγορεῖν to accuse him to his face, Refs 5th c.BC+, by eye, Refs; eyes were painted on the bows of vessels, βλοσυροῖς κατὰ πρῷραν ὀφθαλμοῖς οἷον βλέπει Refs 2nd c.AD+; whence the joke in Refs 5th c.BC+
2 στέρησις ὀφθαλμῶν temporary loss of sight, Refs 2nd c.AD+
II in singular, the eye of a master or ruler, πάντα ἰδὼν Διὸς ὀ. Refs 8th c.BC+; ἀκοίμητος ὀ., of God, Refs 2nd c.AD+; so a king is called ὀ. οἴκων Refs 4th c.BC+; and in Persia ὀφθαλμὸς βασιλέως the king's eye was a confidential officer, through whom he beheld his kingdom and subjects, Refs 5th c.BC+; compare οὖς.
III the eye of heaven, ἑσπέρας ὀ., νυκτὸς ὀ., of the moon, Refs 5th c.BC+; also οὐράνιος ὀ., of the sun, Refs 2nd c.AD+
IV the dearest, best, as the eye is the most precious part of the body, hence of men, ὀ. Σικελίας, στρατιᾶς, Refs 5th c.BC+; also, light, cheer, comfort, μέγας [γ᾽] ὀ. οἱ πατρὸς τάφοι Refs 5th c.BC+
V eye or bud of a plant or tree, Refs 7th c.BC+
VI a surgical bandage covering one or both eyes, Refs 5th c.BC+
VII Architecture texts, in dual, the disks forming the centres of the volutes of an Ionic capital, Refs
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
Every form this word takes in Biblang, with the Greek it corresponds to and how often the New Testament uses it.
| Job in the sentence case | one singular | more than one plural |
|---|---|---|
| subject nominative | ofthalmos15×ὀφθαλμός | ofthalmois15×ὀφθαλμοὶ |
| object accusative | ofthalmon1×Ὀφθαλμὸν | ofthalmoin37×ὀφθαλμοὺς |
| direct address vocative | ofthalmor | ofthalmoir |
| of, belonging to genitive | ofthalmou6×ὀφθαλμοῦ | ofthalmoiu11×ὀφθαλμῶν |
| to, for dative | ofthalmo8×ὀφθαλμῷ | ofthalmoi7×ὀφθαλμοῖς |
Tinted cells are forms the New Testament never uses, so there is no Greek to show against them — but they are still correct Biblang, built from the slots below like any other.
Why these forms, and no others — the slots that make them
ofthalmo is this word in every one of its forms. The slots after it make all the rest.
same in every form varies — every value shown
Where it appears
Every verse the word appears in, filed under the form it takes there.
100 occurrences, every one of them listed
ofthalmos“eye”subjectnominative singular15×
Matthew 5:29ei de tos ofthalmos su tos dexos skandalizatō sin, exairasar …If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it …
Matthew 6:22Tos luchnos teu sōmeu atō tos ofthalmos. ean oun ateiō tos ofthalmos su …The eye is the lamp of the body …
Matthew 6:22“eye”… tos ofthalmos. ean oun ateiō tos ofthalmos su haplouos, holem tem sōmem su …The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be …
Matthew 6:23“eye”ean de tos ofthalmos su ponēros ateiō, holem tem sōmem …But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how …
Matthew 18:9kai ei tos ofthalmos su skandalizatō sin, exairasar auton kai …And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it …
Matthew 20:15“eye”… poiara en tei ēmei? ē tos ofthalmos su ponēros atō hoti mis agathos …… not have the right to do as I please with what is mine? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
Mark 7:22“eye”moicheiais, pleonexiais, ponēriais, dolos, aselgeias, ofthalmos ponēros, blasfēmias, huperēfanias, afrosunas;greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness.
Mark 9:47kai ean tos ofthalmos su skandalizateiō sin, ekbalasar auton; kalem …And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it …
Luke 11:34tos luchnos teu sōmeu atō tos ofthalmos su. hotan tos ofthalmos su haplouos …Your eye is the lamp of your body …
Luke 11:34“eye”… atō tos ofthalmos su. hotan tos ofthalmos su haplouos ateiō, kai holem tem …Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of …
1 Corinthians 2:9alla kathōs grafotē; Heim ofthalmos ouk horata kai ouem ouk akouata …Rather, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard …
1 Corinthians 12:16… legateia tem ouem; Hoti ouk amō ofthalmos, ouk amō ek teu sōmeu, ouk …… say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the …
1 Corinthians 12:17ei holem tem sōmem ofthalmos, pou tas akoas? ei holem akoas, …If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing …
1 Corinthians 12:21ouk dunotō de tos ofthalmos legara ta cheira; Chreian su ouk …The eye cannot say to the hand, “I …
Revelation 1:7… taiu nefelaiu, kai horeti auton pantos ofthalmos kai hotinois auton ekkentala, kai kopteli …… coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him — even those who …
ofthalmon“eye”objectaccusative singular1×
Matthew 5:38Akouava hoti legita; Ofthalmon anti ofthalmou kai odonton anti odontou.… have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’
ofthalmou“eye”of, belonging togenitive singular6×
Matthew 5:38Akouava hoti legita; Ofthalmon anti ofthalmou kai odonton anti odontou.… that it was said, ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’
Matthew 7:4… Afiēkasar ekbalameia tem karfem ek tou ofthalmou su, kai idou tas dokas en …… take the speck out of your eye,’ while there is still a beam …
Matthew 7:5hupokritor, ekbalasar prōtem ek tou ofthalmou su tan dokan, kai tote diablepasi …… the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly …
Matthew 7:5… diablepasi ekbalara tem karfem ek tou ofthalmou tou adelfou su.… remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Luke 6:42… ekbalasar prōtem tan dokan ek tou ofthalmou su, kai tote diablepasi tem karfem …… the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly …
1 Corinthians 15:52en atome, en ripa ofthalmou, en ta eschata salpinga; salpizati gar, …… instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the …
ofthalmo“eye”to, fordative singular8×
Matthew 7:3… blepasō tem karfem tem en to ofthalmo tou adelfou su, tan de en …… at the speck in your brother’s eye but fail to notice the beam …
Matthew 7:3… su, tan de en to so ofthalmo dokan ouk katanoasō?… notice the beam in your own eye?
Matthew 7:4… kai idou tas dokas en to ofthalmo su?… still a beam in your own eye?
Luke 6:41… blepasō tem karfem tem en to ofthalmo tou adelfou su, tan de dokan …… at the speck in your brother’s eye but fail to notice the beam …
Luke 6:41… de dokan tan en to idio ofthalmo ouk katanoasō?… notice the beam in your own eye?
Luke 6:42… ekbalameia tem karfem tem en to ofthalmo su, autos tan en to ofthalmo …… take the speck out of your eye,’ while you yourself fail to see …
Luke 6:42… ofthalmo su, autos tan en to ofthalmo su dokan ouk bleparōntos? hupokritor, ekbalasar …… see the beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! First take the beam …
Luke 6:42… diablepasi tem karfem tem en to ofthalmo tou adelfou su ekbalara.… remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
ofthalmois“eyes”subjectnominative plural15×
Matthew 9:30kai anoigila autoiu tois ofthalmois. kai embrimita autoi tos Iēsus legarōntos; …And their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them sternly …
Matthew 13:16vu de makariois tois ofthalmois hoti blepalō, kai teim oueim vu …But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears …
Matthew 20:33legalō auto; Kurior, hina anoigileia tois ofthalmois nu.“Lord,” they answered, “let our eyes be opened.”
Matthew 26:43… autoin katheudarōntoin, ale gar autoiu tois ofthalmois barorēntois.… and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.
Mark 14:40… autoin katheudarōntoin, ale gar autoiu tois ofthalmois katabarunorōntois, kai ouk oidalelē tinem apokrinileia …… and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. And they did not …
Luke 2:30hoti horala tois ofthalmois mu tem sōtēriem suFor my eyes have seen Your salvation,
Luke 4:20… to hupēreto kathizata; kai pantoiu tois ofthalmois en ta sunagōga ale atenizarōntois auto.… the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were …
Luke 10:23… mathētoin kata idian legata; Makariois tois ofthalmois tois bleparōntois heim blepavō.… and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.
Luke 24:16tois de ofthalmois autoiu kratole teu mē epignōskara auton.But their eyes were kept from recognizing Him.
Luke 24:31autoiu de dianoigila tois ofthalmois kai epignōskala auton; kai autos afantos …Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus …
John 9:10… oun auto; Pōs anoigila su tois ofthalmois?“How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.
Romans 11:10skotizilar tois ofthalmois autoiu teu mē bleparō, kai ton …May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see …
1 Peter 3:12hoti ofthalmois kuriou epi dikaioin kai oueim autou …For the eyes of the Lord are on the …
Revelation 1:14… eriem leukem, hōs chiōnas, kai tois ofthalmois autou hōs flogas pureu,… as white as snow, and His eyes were like a blazing fire.
Revelation 19:12tois de ofthalmois autou flogas pureu, kai epi tan …He has eyes like blazing fire, and many royal …
ofthalmoin“eyes”objectaccusative plural37×
Matthew 13:15… tei ouei bareōs akouala, kai toin ofthalmoin autoiu kammuala; mēpote horaleia toi ofthalmoi …… ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their …
Matthew 17:8“eyes”epararantois de toin ofthalmoin autoiu oudenon horala ei mē auton …And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
Matthew 18:9… eis tan zōan eiserchara, ē duo ofthalmoin echarōnton balira eis tan geennan teu …… one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire …
Mark 8:18ofthalmoin echarōntois ouk blepavō kai oueim echarōntois …‘Having eyes, do you not see? And having …
Mark 8:25… palin epitithata tain cheirain epi toin ofthalmoin autou, kai diablepata kai apokatastēata kai …… placed His hands on the man’s eyes, and when he opened them his …
Mark 9:47… tan basileian tou theou ē duo ofthalmoin echarōnton balira eis tan geennan,… one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,
Luke 6:20“eyes”Kai autos epararantos toin ofthalmoin autou eis toin mathētoin autou legate; …Looking up at His disciples, Jesus said: “Blessed are …
Luke 16:23“eyes”kai en to hado epararantos toin ofthalmoin autou, huparcharōntos en basanai, horatō Abraam …In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham from afar …
Luke 18:13… makrothen stēarēntos ouk thelate oude toin ofthalmoin eparara eis ton ouranon, alla tuptate …… unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his …
John 4:35… erchotō? idou legamō vi, eparavar toin ofthalmoin vu kai theasevar tain chōrain hoti …… I tell you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for …
John 6:5“eyes”epararantos oun toin ofthalmoin tos Iēsus kai theaserantos hoti pollos …When Jesus looked up and saw a large crowd coming …
John 9:6… epichriata autou ton pēlon epi toin ofthalmoin,… and applied it to the man’s eyes.
John 9:11… pēlon poiata kai epichriata mu toin ofthalmoin kai legata mi hoti Hupagasōr eis …… made some mud and anointed my eyes, and He told me to go …
John 9:14… tos Iēsus kai anoigata autou toin ofthalmoin.… made the mud and opened his eyes was a Sabbath.
John 9:15… autoi; Pēlon epitithata mu epi toin ofthalmoin, kai niptema, kai blepamō.… answered, “He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and now I …
John 9:17… peri autou, hoti anoigata su toin ofthalmoin? tos de legata hoti Profētos atō.… about Him, since it was your eyes He opened?” “He is a prophet …
John 9:21… oidanē, ē tinos anoigata autou toin ofthalmoin nis ouk oidanē; auton erōtavar, hēlikian …… now see or who opened his eyes, we do not know. Ask him …
John 9:26… poiata si? pōs anoigata su toin ofthalmoin?… asked. “How did He open your eyes?”
John 9:30… pothen atō, kai anoigata mu toin ofthalmoin.… from, and yet He opened my eyes.
John 9:32… aiōnou ouk akouita hoti anoigata tinos ofthalmoin tuflou gennorēntou;… has anyone heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind.
John 10:21… atō daimonizorōntou; mē daimonem dunotō tufloiu ofthalmoin anoigara?… demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
John 11:37… Ouk dunote houtos tos anoigarantos toin ofthalmoin tou tuflou poiara hina kai houtos …… not this man who opened the eyes of the blind also have kept …
John 11:41… lithon. tos de Iēsus airata toin ofthalmoin anō kai legata; Patror, eucharistamō si …… the stone. Then Jesus lifted His eyes upward and said, “Father, I thank …
John 12:40Tuflatē autoiu toin ofthalmoin kai pōrata autoiu tan kardian, hina …“He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so that …
John 17:1Houteim lalata Iēsus, kai epararantos toin ofthalmoin autou eis ton ouranon legata; Patror, …… these things, He lifted up His eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the …
Acts 9:40… Tabitha, anastēasar. tas de anoigata toin ofthalmoin autau, kai horarantas ton Petron anakathizata.… Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up.
Acts 26:18anoigara ofthalmoin autoiu, teu epistrefara apo skoteu eis …to open their eyes, so that they may turn from …
Acts 28:27… tei ouei bareōs akouala, kai toin ofthalmoin autoiu kammuala; mēpote horaleia toi ofthalmoi …… ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their …
Romans 11:8… Dōata autoi tos theos pneumem katanuxiau, ofthalmoin teu mē bleparō kai oueim teu …… gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see, and ears …
Galatians 3:1… Galatoir, tinos vin baskanata, hoi kata ofthalmoin Iēsus Christos prografita staurorēntos?… has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as …
Galatians 4:15… gar vi hoti ei dunatem toin ofthalmoin vu exorussarantois dōava mi.… you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.
Ephesians 1:18fōtizorēntoin toin ofthalmoin tau kardiau vu eis tem oidarē …I ask that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened …
2 Peter 2:14ofthalmoin echarōntois mestoin moichalidau kai akatapaustoin hamartau, …Their eyes are full of adultery; their desire …
1 John 2:11… hupagatō, hoti tas skotias tuflata toin ofthalmoin autou.… because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
Revelation 2:18… huios tou theou, tos echarōntos toin ofthalmoin autou hōs flogan pureu, kai tois …… of the Son of God, whose eyes are like a blazing fire and …
Revelation 3:18… gumnotau su, kai kollouriem enchriara toin ofthalmoin su hina blepaseiō.… exposed, and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.
Revelation 5:6… hōs sfazorēntem, echarōntos kerateim hepta kai ofthalmoin hepta, hois alō teim hepta pneumeim …… Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the seven spirits of …
ofthalmoiu“eyes”of, belonging togenitive plural11×
Matthew 9:29tote hapteta toiu ofthalmoiu autoiu legarōntos; Kata tan pistian vu …Then He touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith …
Luke 19:42… pros eirēnan nun de kruptita apo ofthalmoiu su.… now it is hidden from your eyes.
Acts 1:9… kai nefelas hupolabata auton apo toiu ofthalmoiu autoiu.… a cloud hid Him from their sight.
Acts 9:8… apo tau gēau, anoigorēntoiu de toiu ofthalmoiu autou oudenem blepate; cheiragōgarōntois de auton …… ground, but when he opened his eyes he could not see a thing …
Acts 9:18kai eutheōs apopiptala autou apo toiu ofthalmoiu hōs lepidais, anablepata tē kai anastēarantos …… something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and his sight was restored. He …
Romans 3:18ouk atō fobos theou apenanti toiu ofthalmoiu autoiu.… no fear of God before their eyes.”
1 John 2:16… tau sarkau kai tas epithumias toiu ofthalmoiu kai tas alazoneias tou biou, ouk …… the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life — is …
Revelation 4:6… kuklō tou thronou tessares zōeim gemarōnteim ofthalmoiu emprosthen kai opisthen;… were four living creatures, covered with eyes in front and back.
Revelation 4:8… pterugain hex, kuklothen kai esōthen gemalō ofthalmoiu; kai anapausian ouk echalō hēmerau kai …… six wings and was covered with eyes all around and within. Day and …
Revelation 7:17… tos theos pantem dakruem ek toiu ofthalmoiu autoiu.… wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”
Revelation 21:4kai exaleifati pantem dakruem ek toiu ofthalmoiu autoiu, kai tos thanatos ouk eti …… wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more …
ofthalmoi“eyes”to, fordative plural7×
Matthew 13:15… ofthalmoin autoiu kammuala; mēpote horaleia toi ofthalmoi kai tei ouei akoualeia kai ta …… Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with …
Matthew 21:42… geneta houtas, kai atō thaumastas en ofthalmoi nu?… and it is marvelous in our eyes’?
Mark 12:11… geneta houtas, kai atō thaumastas en ofthalmoi nu?… and it is marvelous in our eyes’?”
John 12:40… tan kardian, hina mē horaleia toi ofthalmoi kai noaleia ta kardia kai strefileia, …… that they cannot see with their eyes, and understand with their hearts, and …
Acts 28:27… ofthalmoin autoiu kammuala; mēpote horaleia toi ofthalmoi kai tei ouei akoualeia kai ta …… Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with …
Hebrews 4:13… panteim de gumneim kai trachēlizorēnteim toi ofthalmoi autou, pros hon ni tos logos.… is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must …
1 John 1:1… archau, hem akouanē, hem horanē toi ofthalmoi nu, hem theasena kai tais cheirais …… we have seen with our own eyes, which we have gazed upon and …