adjective
tuflos
Strong’sG5185
blind
stem tufl-50 times in the New Testamentin 8 of 27 books10 of 26 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
Blind, unable to see, describing a person without physical sight 1234. This is the ordinary use of the word, both as an adjective and as a noun for "the blind" 1. Strong's traces the underlying idea to something opaque, "as if smoky," from which the sense of physical blindness develops by analogy 2.
The word is also used metaphorically, of blindness in a mental or spiritual sense — lacking understanding, insight, or perception rather than physical sight 13.
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
Strong’s G5185 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidtoof-los'
opaque (as if smoky), i.e. (by analogy) blind (physically or mentally)
Fromfrom, G5187;
King Jamesblind.
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
blind, once in Refs 8th c.BC+, frequently in other writers; τυφλὸς ἐκ δεδορκότος Refs 5th c.BC+; τ. Ἄρης, Πλοῦτος, Refs 3rd c.BC+; τ. ὄψις, ὀφθαλμοί, Refs 5th c.BC+ blind to.., Refs 5th c.BC+; but τ. τῆς προνοίας lacking vision of the future, Refs; τὰ τ. τοῦ σώματος, i. e. one's back, Refs 5th c.BC+; καὶ τυφλῷ γε δῆλον even a blind man can see that, Refs 5th c.BC+
2 of the limbs of the blind, τ. πούς Refs 5th c.BC+; [βάκτρον], τοξεύματα, Refs
3 metaphorically of the other senses and the mind, τ. ἦτορ Refs 5th c.BC+
4 metaphorically, τ. ὄλβος Refs 5th c.BC+
II of things, dark, dim, obscure, ἐλπίδες Refs 5th c.BC+; τ. σπιλάδες blind rocks, Refs 5th c.BC+hidden, Refs 1st c.AD+; τ. κίνημα, of revolution, Refs
II.2 of passages or apertures, blind, closed, with no outlet, τοῦ ἐντέρου τυφλόν τι, of the intestinum caecum (τὸ τυφλόν in Refs 4th c.BC+; τ. τρῆμα the foramen caecum (stylo-mastoid), Refs 1st c.BC+; τ. ῥύμη a blind alley, Refs 1st c.AD+; of rivers and harbours, choked with mud, Refs 1st c.AD+; of the halcyon's nest, closed, tight, Refs; τυφλοὶ ὄζοι branches without buds or eyes, Refs 4th c.BC+dark, trackless, Refs; τ. μώλωψ a wound without an outlet, Refs 1st c.AD+; τὸ τ. ἅμμα καλούμενον the so-called unescapable knot, Refs 2nd c.AD+; of a hook (compare τυφλάγκιστρον), blunt, Refs 4th c.AD+
III adverb, πρὸς τὸ ὠφέλιμον τυφλῶς ἔχειν to be blind to it, Refs 5th c.BC+. [ῠ by nature, Refs 5th c.BC+: perhaps cf. Gothic daufs, ORefs 5th c.BC+ déaf 'stupid', Olr. dub 'black'.]
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 | masculine singular | feminine singular | neuter singular | masculine plural | feminine plural | neuter plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| subject nominative | tuflos15×τυφλὸς | tuflas | tuflem | tuflois10×τυφλοὶ | tuflais | tufleim |
| object accusative | tuflon6×τυφλὸν | tuflan | tufloin4×τυφλούς | tuflain | ||
| direct address vocative | tuflor1×τυφλέ | tuflar | tufloir4×τυφλοί | tuflair | ||
| of, belonging to genitive | tuflou3×τυφλοῦ | tuflau | tufleu | tufloiu4×τυφλῶν | tuflaiu | tufleiu |
| to, for dative | tuflo1×τυφλῷ | tufla | tufle | tufloi2×τυφλοῖς | tuflai | tuflei |
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
tufl 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
Words built on the same stem
Other words sharing the exact same stem — not merely related in meaning.
Where it appears
Every verse the word appears in, filed under the form it takes there.
50 occurrences, every one of them listed
tuflos“blind”subjectnominative singular15×
Matthew 12:22Tote prosferita auto daimonizorōntos tuflos kai kōfos; kai therapeuata auton, hōste …Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus …
Matthew 15:14afiēkavar autoin; tuflois alō hodēgois tufloiu; tuflos de tuflon ean hodēgateiō, amfoterois eis …… If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a …
Mark 10:46… ochlou hikanou tos huios Timaiou Bartimaios tuflos prosaitos kathote para tan hodan.… Jericho with a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of …
Mark 10:51… Tinem si thelasō poiameia? tos de tuflos legata auto; Rabbouni, hina anablepameia.… you?” Jesus asked. “Rabboni,” said the blind man, “let me see again.”
Luke 6:39… de kai parabolan autoi; Mēti dunotō tuflos tuflon hodēgarō? ouchi amfoterois eis bothunon …… told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will …
Luke 18:35… en te engizarō auton eis Ierichō tuflos tinos kathote para tan hodan epaitarōntos.… Jesus drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting beside the road …
John 9:2… houtos ē tois gonevois autou, hina tuflos genniteia?… his parents, that he was born blind?”
John 9:18… tois Ioudaiois peri autou hoti ate tuflos kai anablepata, heōs hotinou fōnala toin …… believe that the man had been blind and had received his sight until …
John 9:19… huios vu, hon vis legavō hoti tuflos gennita? pōs oun blepatō arti?… the one you say was born blind? So how is it that he …
John 9:20… atō tos huios nu kai hoti tuflos gennita;… and we know he was born blind.
John 9:24… ton anthrōpon ek deutereu hos ate tuflos kai legala auto; Dōasar doxan to …… for the man who had been blind and said, “Give glory to God …
John 9:25… atō ouk oidamē; henem oidamē hoti tuflos arōntos arti blepamō.… thing I do know: I was blind, but now I see!”
Acts 13:11… cheiras kuriou epi sin, kai esi tuflos mē bleparōntos ton hēlion achri kairou. …… for a time you will be blind and unable to see the light …
2 Peter 1:9“blind”ho gar mē pareiatō houteim, tuflos atō muōpazarōntos, lēthan labarantos tou katharismou …… whoever lacks these traits is nearsighted to the point of blindness, having forgotten that he …
Revelation 3:17… talaipōros kai eleeinos kai ptōchos kai tuflos kai gumnos,… that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.
tuflon“blind”objectaccusative singular6×
Matthew 15:14“blind”… tuflois alō hodēgois tufloiu; tuflos de tuflon ean hodēgateiō, amfoterois eis bothunon pipteli.… them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”
Mark 8:22… ercholō eis Bēthsaidan. kai feralō auto tuflon kai parakalalō auton hina autou hapteteia.… at Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch …
Mark 10:49… legata; Fōnavar auton. kai fōnalō ton tuflon legarōntois auto; Tharsasōr, egerasōr, fōnatō sin.… Call him.” So they called the blind man. “Take courage!” they said. “Get …
Luke 6:39… kai parabolan autoi; Mēti dunotō tuflos tuflon hodēgarō? ouchi amfoterois eis bothunon empipteli?… Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall …
John 9:1Kai paragarōntos horata anthrōpon tuflon ek genetau.… passing by, He saw a man blind from birth,
John 9:13… auton pros toin Farisaioin ton pote tuflon.… Pharisees the man who had been blind.
tuflor“blind”direct addressvocative singular1×
Matthew 23:26Farisaior tuflor, katharizasar prōtem tem entos teu potērieu …Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of …
tuflou“blind”of, belonging togenitive singular3×
Mark 8:23kai epilaberantos tau cheirau tou tuflou ekferata auton exō tau kōmau, kai …So He took the blind man by the hand and led …
John 9:32… ouk akouita hoti anoigata tinos ofthalmoin tuflou gennorēntou;… the eyes of a man born blind.
John 11:37… houtos tos anoigarantos toin ofthalmoin tou tuflou poiara hina kai houtos mē apothnēskateia?… who opened the eyes of the blind also have kept Lazarus from dying?”
tuflo“blind”to, fordative singular1×
John 9:17legalō oun to tuflo palin; Tinem sis legasō peri autou, …… asked the man who had been blind, “What do you say about Him …
tuflois“blind”subjectnominative plural10×
Matthew 9:27… ekeithen to Iēso akolouthala auto duo tuflois krazarōntois kai legarōntois; Elēasar nin, huior …… Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out, “Have …
Matthew 9:28… eis tan oikian proserchala auto tois tuflois, kai legatō autoi tos Iēsus; Pisteuavō …… Jesus had entered the house, the blind men came to Him. “Do you …
Matthew 11:5tuflois anablepalō kai chōlois peripatalō, leprois katharizolō …The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the …
Matthew 15:14afiēkavar autoin; tuflois alō hodēgois tufloiu; tuflos de tuflon …Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads …
Matthew 20:30kai idou duo tuflois kathorōntois para tan hodan, akouarantois hoti …And there were two blind men sitting beside the road. When …
Matthew 21:14Kai proserchala auto tuflois kai chōlois en te hiere, kai …The blind and the lame came to Him …
Luke 7:22… apangelavar Iōanno heim horava kai akouava; tuflois anablepalō, chōlois peripatalō, leprois katharizolō, kōfois …… you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the …
John 9:39… mē bleparōntois blepaleiō kai tois bleparōntois tuflois geneleia.… and those who see may become blind.”
John 9:40… kai legala auto; Mē kai nis tuflois anō?… and they asked Him, “Are we blind too?”
John 9:41legata autoi tos Iēsus; Ei tuflois ave, ouk an echave hamartan; nun …“If you were blind,” Jesus replied, “you would not be …
tufloin“blind”objectaccusative plural4×
Matthew 15:30… ochlois pollois echarōntois meta heautoiu kōfoin, tufloin, chōloin, kulloin, kai heteroin polloin, kai …… to Him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many …
Matthew 15:31… kulloin hugioin kai chōloin peripatarōntoin kai tufloin bleparōntoin; kai doxazala ton theon Israēl.… restored, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God …
Luke 14:13… dochan poiaseiō, kalasōr ptōchoin, anapēroin, chōloin, tufloin;… the crippled, the lame, and the blind,
Luke 14:21… kai toin ptōchoin kai anapēroin kai tufloin kai chōloin eisagasar hōde.… in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’
tufloir“blind”direct addressvocative plural4×
Matthew 23:16Ouai vi, hodēgoir tufloir tois legarōntoir; Hos an omnuateia en …Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears …
Matthew 23:17mōroir kai tufloir, tinos gar megoteros atō, tos chrusos …You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold …
Matthew 23:19tufloir, tinem gar megoterem, tem dōrem ē …You blind men! Which is greater: the gift …
Matthew 23:24hodēgoir tufloir, tois diulizarōntoir ton kōnōpson tan de …You blind guides! You strain out a gnat …
tufloiu“blind”of, belonging togenitive plural4×
Matthew 15:14afiēkavar autoin; tuflois alō hodēgois tufloiu; tuflos de tuflon ean hodēgateiō, amfoterois …… They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both …
John 5:3en houtai katakeiote plēthem toiu asthenarōntoiu, tufloiu, chōloiu, xēroiu.… great number of the sick, the blind, the lame, and the paralyzed.
John 10:21… ouk atō daimonizorōntou; mē daimonem dunotō tufloiu ofthalmoin anoigara?… demon open the eyes of the blind?”
Romans 2:19peithasē tē siauton hodēgon arō tufloiu, fōtem toiu en skote,… you are a guide for the blind, a light for those in darkness,
tufloi“blind”to, fordative plural2×
Luke 4:18… apostelatē min kērussara aichmalōtoi afesian kai tufloi anablepsian, apostelara thrauorēntoin en afesia,… and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed,
Luke 7:21… kai mastigaiu kai pneumeiu ponēreiu, kai tufloi polloi charizeta bleparō.… gave sight to many who were blind.