verb
theasomō
Strong’sG2300
I see, behold, contemplate, visit
stem theas-23 times in the New Testamentin 7 of 27 books14 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
θεάομαι means to look at, gaze upon, or behold something—a careful, deliberate act of seeing that takes in and interprets what is seen 124. In the New Testament it is used in this literal, physical sense of seeing, whether an object, a scene, or a person 1. In earlier Greek writing the word often carried a sense of wonder or amazement at what was seen 3.
By extension the word can also mean to visit 24.
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
θεάομαι, -ῶμαι,
[in LXX: II Ch 22:6 (ראה), To 2:2 13:6, 14, Jth 15:8, II Mac 2:4 3:36, III Mac 5:47*;]
SYN.: v.s. θεωρέω.
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G2300 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidtheh-ah'-om-ahee
to look closely at, i.e. (by implication) perceive (literally or figuratively); by extension to visit
Froma prolonged form of a primary verb;
King Jamesbehold, look (upon), 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
Epic dialect and Ionic dialect θηέομαι (see. below), Doric dialect θᾱέομαι, Θάομαι (which see), imperative θεῶ Refs 5th c.BC+; optative θηοῖο (for Attic dialect θεῷο) Refs 8th c.BC+; participle θηεύμενος Refs 5th c.BC+imperfect ἐθηεῖτο, ἐθηεῦντο, Refs; Epic dialect θηεῖτο Refs 8th c.BC+ poetical cited in Refs 1st c.BC+future θεάσομαι [ᾱ], Ionic dialect -ήσομαι: aorist ἐθεᾱσάμην, Epic dialect optative θηήσαιο, θηήσαιτο, Refs 8th c.BC+; 3rd.pers. plural ἐθηήσαντο Refs 3rd c.BC+; Ionic dialect infinitive θεήσασθαι (variant{θεάσ-}) Refs 5th c.BC+: Attic dialect perfect τεθέαμαι Refs 5th c.BC+ is found in θησαίατ᾽ Refs 8th c.BC+:—gaze at, behold, mostly with a sense of wonder, θηεῦντο μέγα ἔργον Refs 8th c.BC+; ἐθεᾶτο.. τὴν θέσιν τῆς πόλεως.., ὡς ἔχοι reconnoitred it, Refs 5th c.BC+; do you see? Refs 4th c.BC+
2 of the mind, contemplate, τὸ ἀληθές Refs 5th c.BC+
2.b see clearly, ἵν᾽ ἴδητε καὶ θεάσησθε ὅτι.. Refs 5th c.BC+
3 view as spectators, especially in the theatre, Refs 5th c.BC+; οἱ θεώμενοι the spectators, Refs 5th c.BC+ (but also, onlookers, bystanders, Refs 5th c.BC+ to be spectators of the war, Refs 5th c.BC+
4 θ. τὸ στράτευμα to review it, Refs 5th c.BC+
II active θεάω, late, Baillet Tombeaux des rois à Thèbes Refs 4th c.AD+aorist ἐθεάθην in passive sense, Ps. -Callisth.NT+1st c.AD+: present θεῶνται Refs 2nd c.AD+
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
What the New Testament actually uses, first — the whole system this verb is built from is one click further down.
| Form and the Greek behind it | What it is | Usually | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| theasetaἐθεάσατο | happened · he/she/itaorist middle indicative 3rd person singular | saw | 1× |
| theasenaἐθεασάμεθα | happened · weaorist middle indicative 1st person plural | seen | 2× |
| theasevaἐθεάσασθε | happened · yeaorist middle indicative 2nd person plural | saw | 1× |
| theaselaἐθεάσαντο | happened · theyaorist middle indicative 3rd person plural | saw | 2× |
| theasitaἐθεάθη | happened · he/she/itaorist passive indicative 3rd person singular | seen | 1× |
| theasomēΤεθέαμαι | has happened · Iperfect middle or passive indicative 1st person singular | saw | 1× |
| theasotēτεθέαται | has happened · he/she/itperfect middle or passive indicative 3rd person singular | seen | 1× |
| theasonēτεθεάμεθα | has happened · weperfect middle or passive indicative 1st person plural | seen | 1× |
| theasevarθεάσασθε | happened · yeaorist middle imperative 2nd person plural | look at | 1× |
| theaseraθεάσασθαι | happened · the “to …” formaorist middle infinitive | see | 4× |
| theasiraθεαθῆναι | happened · the “to …” formaorist passive infinitive | seen | 2× |
| theaserantosθεασάμενος | happened · subjectaorist middle participle nominative singular masculine | saw | 3× |
| theaserantoisθεασάμενοι | happened · subjectaorist middle participle nominative plural masculine | seen | 2× |
| theaserantoiθεασαμένοις | happened · to, foraorist middle participle dative plural masculine | seen | 1× |
Every form the New Testament uses, in paradigm order. What the system can build beyond them — the whole of this verb, whether the text happens to use it or not — is in the tables below.
Every form the system can build — all 118, by mood, including the ones the New Testament never uses
Statements — indicative mood, 10 occurrences
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | theasomō | theasome | theasomē1×Τεθέαμαι | theasomelē |
| you 2nd person singular | theasosō | theasose | theasosē | theasoselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | theasotō | theasote | theasotē1×τεθέαται | theasotelē |
| we 1st person plural | theasonō | theasone | theasonē1×τεθεάμεθα | theasonelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | theasovō | theasove | theasovē | theasovelē |
| they 3rd person plural | theasolō | theasole | theasolē | theasolelē |
acts on or for itself middle voice
| Who person | will happen future | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | theasemi | theasema |
| you 2nd person singular | theasesi | theasesa |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | theaseti | theaseta1×ἐθεάσατο |
| we 1st person plural | theaseni | theasena2×ἐθεασάμεθα |
| ye 2nd person plural | theasevi | theaseva1×ἐθεάσασθε |
| they 3rd person plural | theaseli | theasela2×ἐθεάσαντο |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | will happen future | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | theasimi | theasima |
| you 2nd person singular | theasisi | theasisa |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | theasiti | theasita1×ἐθεάθη |
| we 1st person plural | theasini | theasina |
| ye 2nd person plural | theasivi | theasiva |
| they 3rd person plural | theasili | theasila |
May, might — subjunctive mood, no occurrences
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | theasomeiō | theasomeiē |
| you 2nd person singular | theasoseiō | theasoseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | theasoteiō | theasoteiē |
| we 1st person plural | theasoneiō | theasoneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | theasoveiō | theasoveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | theasoleiō | theasoleiē |
acts on or for itself middle voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | theasemeia |
| you 2nd person singular | theaseseia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | theaseteia |
| we 1st person plural | theaseneia |
| ye 2nd person plural | theaseveia |
| they 3rd person plural | theaseleia |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | theasimeia |
| you 2nd person singular | theasiseia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | theasiteia |
| we 1st person plural | theasineia |
| ye 2nd person plural | theasiveia |
| they 3rd person plural | theasileia |
Commands — imperative mood, 1 occurrence
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | theasosōr | theasosēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | theasotōr | theasotēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | theasovōr | theasovēr |
| they 3rd person plural | theasolōr | theasolēr |
acts on or for itself middle voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | theasesar |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | theasetar |
| ye 2nd person plural | theasevar1×θεάσασθε |
| they 3rd person plural | theaselar |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | theasisar |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | theasitar |
| ye 2nd person plural | theasivar |
| they 3rd person plural | theasilar |
Wishes — optative mood, no occurrences
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | theasomoiō |
| you 2nd person singular | theasosoiō |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | theasotoiō |
| we 1st person plural | theasonoiō |
| ye 2nd person plural | theasovoiō |
| they 3rd person plural | theasoloiō |
acts on or for itself middle voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | theasemoia |
| you 2nd person singular | theasesoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | theasetoia |
| we 1st person plural | theasenoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | theasevoia |
| they 3rd person plural | theaseloia |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | theasimoia |
| you 2nd person singular | theasisoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | theasitoia |
| we 1st person plural | theasinoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | theasivoia |
| they 3rd person plural | theasiloia |
The “to …” form — infinitive, 6 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | theasorō | theasorē | ||
| acts on or for itself middle voice | theaseri | theasera4×θεάσασθαι | ||
| acted on passive voice | theasiri | theasira2×θεαθῆναι |
Used as an adjective — participle, 6 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | theasorōntos | theasorēntos | ||
| acts on or for itself middle voice | theaserintos | theaserantos6×θεασάμενος | ||
| acted on passive voice | theasirintos | theasirantos |
Each is given in the form it takes as a subject. From there a participle carries the ordinary noun endings, in every case, number and gender — so these four columns are the whole of what the verb contributes.
How every form is built — the slots that make them
theas 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.
23 occurrences, every one of them listed
theaseta“saw”happened · he/she/itaorist middle indicative 3rd person singular1×
Luke 5:27Kai meta houteim exerchata kai theaseta telōnon onome Levion kathorōnton epi tem …After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting …
theasena“seen”happened · weaorist middle indicative 1st person plural2×
John 1:14… geneta kai skēnata en ni, kai theasena tan doxan autou, doxan hōs monogenou …… His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the …
1 John 1:1“looked at”… hem horanē toi ofthalmoi nu, hem theasena kai tais cheirais nu psēlafala, peri …… we have seen with our own eyes, which we have gazed upon and touched with our own hands — this is the Word of …
theaseva“saw”happened · yeaorist middle indicative 2nd person plural1×
Acts 1:11“saw”… ton ouranon houtōs ercheti hon tropon theaseva auton poreuorōnton eis ton ouranon.… heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.”
theasela“saw”happened · theyaorist middle indicative 3rd person plural2×
Luke 23:55… ale sunercharēntais ek tau Galilaiau auto, theasela tem mnēmeiem kai hōs tithita tem …… Jesus from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how His body …
Acts 22:9… sun mi arōntois tem men fōtem theasela tan de fōnan ouk akouala tou …My companions saw the light, but they could not …
theasita“seen”happened · he/she/itaorist passive indicative 3rd person singular1×
Mark 16:11kakeinois akouarantois hoti zōatō kai theasita hupo autau apistala.… Jesus was alive and she had seen Him, they did not believe it.
theasomē“saw”has happened · Iperfect middle or passive indicative 1st person singular1×
John 1:32kai marturata Iōannos legarōntos hoti Theasomē tem pneumem katabainarōntem hōs peristeran ek …Then John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like …
theasotē“seen”has happened · he/she/itperfect middle or passive indicative 3rd person singular1×
1 John 4:12theon oudenos pōpote theasotē; ean agapaneiō allēloin, tos theos en …No one has ever seen God; but if we love one …
theasonē“seen”has happened · weperfect middle or passive indicative 1st person plural1×
1 John 4:14kai nis theasonē kai marturanō hoti tos patros apostelatē …And we have seen and testify that the Father has …
theasevar“look at”happened · yeaorist middle imperative 2nd person plural1×
John 4:35… vi, eparavar toin ofthalmoin vu kai theasevar tain chōrain hoti leukais alō pros …… you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are ripe …
theasera“see”happened · the “to …” formaorist middle infinitive4×
Matthew 11:7… Iōannou; Tinem exerchava eis tan erēman theasera? kalamon hupo anemou saleuorōnton?… go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind?
Matthew 22:11eisercharantos de tos basilevos theasera toin anakeiorōntoin horata ekei anthrōpon ouk …… when the king came in to see the guests, he spotted a man …
Luke 7:24… Iōannou; Tinem exerchava eis tan erēman theasera? kalamon hupo anemou saleuorōnton?… go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind?
Romans 15:24… eis tan Spanian, elpizamō gar diaporeuorōntos theasera vin kai hupo vu propempira ekei …I hope to see you on my way to Spain …
theasira“seen”happened · the “to …” formaorist passive infinitive2×
Matthew 6:1… poiarō emprosthen toiu anthrōpoiu pros tem theasira autoi; ei de mē ge, misthon …… righteous acts before men to be seen by them. If you do, you …
Matthew 23:5“seen”… teim ergeim autoiu poialō pros tem theasira toi anthrōpoi; platunalō gar teim fulaktērieim …All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen …
theaserantos“saw”happened · subjectaorist middle participle nominative singular masculine3×
John 1:38strefirantos de tos Iēsus kai theaserantos autoin akoloutharōntoin legatō autoi; Tinem zētavō? …Jesus turned and saw them following. “What do you want …
John 6:5“seeing”… oun toin ofthalmoin tos Iēsus kai theaserantos hoti pollos ochlos erchotō pros auton …When Jesus looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward Him, He said …
John 8:10anakuptarantos de tos Iēsus kai mēdenon theaserantos plēn tau gunaikau legata auta, pou …… Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are your accusers? Has no …
theaserantois“seen”happened · subjectaorist middle participle nominative plural masculine2×
John 11:45… tois ercharantois pros tan Mariam kai theaserantois heim poiata, pisteuala eis auton;… had come to Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in Him.
Acts 21:27“seeing”… suntelorō, tois apo tau Asiau Ioudaiois theaserantois auton en te hiere sunchale panton …… over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and …
theaserantoi“seen”happened · to, foraorist middle participle dative plural masculine1×
Mark 16:14… apistian autoiu kai sklērokardian hoti toi theaserantoi auton egerorēnton ouk pisteuala.… did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.