Understanding διαβλέπω (diablepo) Strong’s G1227: See Clearly Through Spiritual Obstacles—How Jesus Transforms Our Spiritual Vision

Pronunciation Guide: dee-ah-BLEP-oh (διά-ΒΛΕΠ-ω)

Basic Definition

Strong’s G1227: Διαβλέπω (diablepo) means to look through obstacles to see clearly or thoroughly. This compound verb describes the act of penetrating vision that sees beyond surface obstructions. In the New Testament, it often carries a spiritual dimension of having one’s vision restored after a period of blindness or obstruction, both physically and metaphorically. It represents a transformative moment when clarity replaces confusion or limitation.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of Speech: Verb
• Compound Word: Formed from διά (dia, “through, thoroughly”) + βλέπω (blepo, “to see, look at”)
• Language Origin: Koine Greek
• Primary Usage: Found in narrative passages and teaching contexts related to spiritual perception
• Tense Forms: Appears in present, future, and aorist tenses
• Voice: Active and passive voices are attested
• Semantic Domain: Perception, spiritual insight, healing, discernment

Διαβλέπω Morphology:

• διαβλέπω (present active indicative, 1st person singular) – I see clearly through
• διαβλέψεις (future active indicative, 2nd person singular) – you will see clearly through
• διέβλεψεν (aorist active indicative, 3rd person singular) – he/she saw clearly through
• διαβλέψαι (aorist active infinitive) – to see clearly through
• διαβλέψας (aorist active participle, nominative masculine singular) – having seen clearly through

Origin & History

The compound verb διαβλέπω emerged from classical Greek, where διά (dia) often indicated movement through something or thoroughness of action when combined with other words. In classical literature, it generally referred to the physical act of seeing through objects or obstructions. Xenophon uses related forms to describe keen observation in his “Memorabilia,” while Aristotle employs similar constructions when discussing visual perception in “De Anima.”

In the Septuagint (LXX), the term appears rarely but significantly in contexts relating to divine discernment and the ability to perceive truth. The transition from purely physical vision to a more spiritualized understanding becomes evident in Hellenistic Jewish literature, where clear sight becomes associated with spiritual discernment. By the time of the New Testament, διαβλέπω had developed connotations of penetrating insight that goes beyond surface appearances to perceive deeper spiritual realities.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• Restored Vision: To recover one’s sight after blindness or visual impairment
• Penetrating Sight: To see through obstacles or distractions to what lies beyond
• Discerning Vision: To perceive with clarity and spiritual insight beyond physical appearances
• Thorough Examination: To look carefully and completely at something to understand it fully

Διαβλέπω Translation Options:

• “See clearly” – Emphasizes the resulting clarity after obstruction is removed; appropriate when διαβλέπω appears in contexts of healing
• “See through” – Highlights the penetrating quality of vision; useful when obstacles to perception are emphasized
• “Look carefully” – Captures the intentional, thorough examination aspect; suitable in contexts of deliberate observation
• “Perceive clearly” – Broadens the concept beyond physical sight to include mental and spiritual perception; fitting for metaphorical usages
• “Discern” – Focuses on the insight gained; appropriate when the emphasis is on understanding what is seen

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, διαβλέπω appears most prominently in contexts of healing and spiritual insight. Its first appearance in Matthew 7:5 relates to Jesus’ teaching about judging others, where He uses physical vision as a metaphor for spiritual discernment. The verb also appears in healing narratives where Jesus restores sight to the blind, symbolizing both physical restoration and spiritual enlightenment.

The limited occurrences of διαβλέπω in the New Testament make each instance particularly significant. In healing contexts, it marks the transformative moment when sight is fully restored—not merely the beginning of vision, but the complete clarity that follows. In teaching contexts, it represents the spiritual clarity that comes when impediments to understanding are removed.

• “First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly [διαβλέψεις] to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:5
• “First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly [διαβλέψεις] to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” Luke 6:42
• “He looked intently and was restored and saw everything clearly [διέβλεψεν].” Mark 8:25

Cultural Insights

In the ancient Mediterranean world, blindness carried profound social and theological implications. Those suffering from blindness were often marginalized and dependent on charity for survival. More significantly, blindness frequently served as a metaphor for spiritual ignorance or divine judgment in Jewish thought. The healing accounts involving διαβλέπω thus represent not only physical restoration but social reintegration and spiritual renewal.

The progressive healing described in Mark 8:25, where Jesus heals a blind man in two stages and διαβλέπω describes the final complete restoration, has particular cultural significance. In ancient Jewish thought, complete healing was often seen as a sign of divine intervention and messianic authority. By recording that the man eventually “saw everything clearly” (διέβλεψεν), Mark signals to his audience that Jesus brings comprehensive restoration—not partial improvement. This two-stage healing process also provides a powerful metaphor for spiritual enlightenment, suggesting that coming to full spiritual understanding may be a process rather than an instantaneous transformation.

Theological Significance

The theological implications of διαβλέπω extend far beyond physical sight to encompass spiritual perception and transformative understanding. When Jesus uses this word in His teaching about judging others (Matthew 7:5), He establishes a profound connection between self-awareness and the ability to help others. True spiritual vision begins with examining one’s own heart before attempting to address others’ failings.

In healing narratives, διαβλέπω represents the culmination of divine restoration—the moment when full clarity replaces confusion or darkness. This echoes the prophetic vision of Isaiah, who foretold that the Messiah would “open the eyes of the blind” (Isaiah 42:7). The use of διαβλέπω in these contexts reveals God’s desire not merely to improve our condition partially but to bring complete transformation. When Yahweh heals, He restores fully—enabling us to see with clarity what was previously obscured.

The rare usage of διαβλέπω in Scripture highlights its significance when it does appear. In each instance, it marks a definitive transition from blindness to sight, from confusion to clarity, emphasizing that God does not leave His work of transformation incomplete. This reflects His character as the perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2), who completes the good work He begins in us (Philippians 1:6).

Personal Application

The concept of διαβλέπω challenges us to examine what obstructs our spiritual vision. Just as Jesus instructed His disciples to remove the logs from their own eyes before addressing the specks in others’, we must confront our own biases, assumptions, and sins that prevent us from seeing clearly. This process requires humility and courage—acknowledging our limitations while actively seeking transformation.

In our daily walk with the Messiah, we can pray for the ability to “see clearly” in multiple dimensions: to perceive His presence in our circumstances, to recognize truth amidst conflicting voices, and to discern His will for our lives. Like the blind man in Mark’s Gospel who needed Jesus’ second touch to see with perfect clarity, we may find that spiritual perception develops progressively as we continue to seek Him. The journey from partial sight to διαβλέπω—complete, unobstructed vision—invites us to persist in prayer and keep returning to the One who opens eyes.

Related Words

• βλέπω (blepo, “to see”) – The root verb from which διαβλέπω derives, referring to the basic act of seeing or looking, without necessarily implying penetrating vision or special clarity. While διαβλέπω emphasizes seeing through obstacles, βλέπω simply denotes the act of visual perception. See G991
• ἀναβλέπω (anablepo, “to look up, regain sight”) – Another compound form of βλέπω that emphasizes looking upward or regaining sight after blindness. While διαβλέπω focuses on clarity and seeing through obstacles, ἀναβλέπω emphasizes the directional aspect of sight or its restoration. See G308
• διορύσσω (diorusso, “to dig through”) – Though not directly related to vision, this verb shares the διά prefix indicating movement through something. In Matthew 6:19-20, Jesus uses it to describe thieves breaking through barriers, creating an interesting parallel to how διαβλέπω involves seeing through barriers. See G1358
• ὀφθαλμός (ophthalmos, “eye”) – The physical organ of sight, frequently used in contexts involving διαβλέπω. While διαβλέπω describes the action of clear vision, ὀφθαλμός represents the instrument through which such vision occurs. See G3788
• τυφλός (typhlos, “blind”) – The antithesis of διαβλέπω, representing the condition of blindness that Jesus heals. When persons described as τυφλός encounter Jesus, the result is often expressed with διαβλέπω, highlighting the complete transformation from blindness to clear sight. See G5185

Did You Know?

• The Progressive Miracle – The healing in Mark 8:25 where διαβλέπω appears is the only recorded miracle in the Gospels that Jesus performs in stages. This unique two-step healing process—where the man first sees people “like trees walking” before gaining full clarity—has been interpreted by Church Fathers like Augustine as a metaphor for the progressive nature of spiritual understanding. The final state, described with διαβλέπω, represents complete spiritual illumination.
• Medical Precision – Luke, the physician-author of the third Gospel, uses διαβλέπω with particular precision in his account of Jesus’ teaching. Some scholars suggest that his medical background may have influenced his appreciation for the distinction between partial and complete restoration of vision. In ancient medical texts, similar terminology distinguished between different states of visual acuity and the process of regaining clear sight after eye diseases.
• Contemporary Legacy – The concept behind διαβλέπω lives on in modern ophthalmology, where “diablepsis” has been used in medical literature to describe penetrating vision tests and thorough visual examination. The prefix “dia-” continues to appear in medical terminology related to vision, including “diagnosis” (seeing through to knowledge) and “diaphanous” (allowing light to show through).

Remember This

Διαβλέπω reminds us that true spiritual vision doesn’t merely glimpse truth—it penetrates obstacles, overcomes distractions, and perceives with the transformative clarity that only the Messiah can provide.