Understanding βλέμμα (blemma) Strong’s G990: The Visual Perception That Reveals Spiritual Sensitivity

Pronunciation Guide: BLEH-mah (β as in “bat,” λ as in “let,” έ as in “met,” μμ as in “hammer,” α as in “father”)

Basic Definition

Strong’s G990: βλέμμα (blemma) refers to a look, glance, or the act of seeing through the eyes. More than just physical sight, it often carries the connotation of perception that includes moral sensitivity and spiritual discernment. In its New Testament context, βλέμμα represents not merely passive observation but active perception that affects the inner person’s response to what is seen.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of speech: Noun (neuter)
• Root: Derived from the verb βλέπω (blepō, G991) meaning “to see, to look at”
• Language origin: Classical Greek
• Primary usage: Narrative passages describing perceptual experiences
• Found only once in the New Testament (2 Peter 2:8)
• Appears in contexts involving perception of wickedness or righteousness

βλέμμα Morphology:

• βλέμμα (nominative/accusative singular) – a look, glance
• βλέμματος (genitive singular) – of a look
• βλέμματι (dative singular) – with/by a look

Origin & History

The term βλέμμα has its roots in classical Greek literature where it predominantly referred to the physical act of looking or glancing. In works like Aristotle’s “On the Soul,” the concept of βλέμμα is connected to visual perception as one of the primary senses through which humans experience the world. The word evolved from the more common verb βλέπω (blepō), which appears throughout Greek literature from Homer onwards.

In the Septuagint (LXX), while βλέμμα itself is rare, its root verb βλέπω appears frequently, often in contexts where seeing carries spiritual or moral implications. By the time of the New Testament, this word family had developed strong connections to spiritual perception and discernment. The Church Fathers, particularly Origin in his “Commentary on John,” expanded on βλέμμα as representing not just physical sight but a deeper spiritual vision that could perceive divine realities behind physical appearances.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• The act of seeing or perceiving with the eyes
• The faculty of visual discernment with moral sensitivity
• The capacity to recognize righteousness or wickedness through observation
• The emotional or spiritual response triggered by what one sees

βλέμμα Translation Options:

• “Sight” – emphasizes the faculty of perception itself
• “Gaze” – emphasizes the intentional and sustained nature of the looking
• “Visual perception” – captures both the physical and cognitive aspects of seeing
• “Observing eyes” – conveys how the eyes function as instruments of moral discernment
• “Visual witness” – highlights how seeing makes one a participant in what is observed

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, βλέμμα appears only once, in 2 Peter 2:8, where it describes how righteous Lot was “tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard” while living in Sodom. Here, βλέμμα is not merely passive seeing but an active perception that caused spiritual anguish in Lot as he witnessed the wickedness around him. This specific usage reveals how visual perception connects directly to spiritual and moral sensitivity.

While the noun βλέμμα itself appears only once, its parent verb βλέπω occurs frequently throughout the New Testament, often in contexts where seeing goes beyond physical sight to include spiritual perception and understanding. This sparse usage of βλέμμα makes its single appearance all the more significant, suggesting a specialized meaning that emphasizes the impact of visual perception on the spiritual condition of the observer.

• “For that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw [βλέμματι].” 2 Peter 2:8

Cultural Insights

In ancient Near Eastern culture, the concept of seeing carried significant weight beyond mere visual perception. The eyes were considered windows to the soul and the primary means by which a person interacted with and interpreted the world. Jewish understanding particularly emphasized that what entered through the eyes affected the heart and soul. This explains why the Rabbis taught extensively about “guarding the eyes” (שמירת עיניים, shmirat einayim) as a spiritual discipline.

The story of Lot in Sodom, which provides the context for the only New Testament usage of βλέμμα, represents a powerful cultural illustration of this concept. Living in a wicked city, Lot couldn’t help but witness the depravity around him. Jewish tradition, expanded in the Midrash, suggests that Lot’s decision to sit at the city gate (Genesis 19:1) showed his conflicted position—part of the city yet trying to maintain his righteousness. His βλέμμα (sight/perception) became both his burden (causing torment) and the test of his righteous character, as he continued to recognize evil as evil despite being surrounded by it.

Theological Significance

The concept of βλέμμα carries profound theological implications regarding how believers perceive and respond to the world around them. Just as Lot was vexed by what he saw in Sodom, believers develop a spiritual sensitivity that causes them to see sin differently—not with attraction or indifference, but with grief. This reflects יהוה (Yahweh)’s own perception of sin, as described in Genesis 6:5-6 where God “saw” the wickedness of humanity and “was grieved in His heart.”

The Messiah Jesus emphasized the importance of how we see in His teaching: “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light” (Matthew 6:22). This suggests that βλέμμα—how we perceive the world—shapes our entire spiritual condition. The capacity to see wickedness as wickedness, despite cultural normalization, becomes a mark of spiritual health and alignment with God’s perspective. Furthermore, this concept connects to the prophetic tradition where true prophets “see” coming judgment while false prophets remain blind to it (Jeremiah 23:16-22), revealing how βλέμμα can represent either spiritual clarity or spiritual blindness.

Personal Application

Our βλέμμα—how we perceive the world—reveals much about our spiritual condition. Like Lot in Sodom, believers today live in a culture where sin is often normalized, celebrated, or redefined. Developing a holy βλέμμα means maintaining the ability to see things as God sees them, even when surrounded by contrary perspectives. This doesn’t mean becoming judgmental of others, but rather maintaining clarity about good and evil according to God’s standards.

The torment Lot experienced through his βλέμμα also reminds us that spiritual sensitivity comes with a cost. As we grow closer to God, we may find ourselves increasingly grieved by the things that grieve Him. Rather than becoming desensitized to sin or retreating into isolation, we are called to follow the Messiah’s example—seeing the world clearly while engaging it redemptively. Consider examining what your own βλέμμα reveals: Do you find yourself troubled by the things that trouble God? Or have you become desensitized to what should grieve a righteous soul?

Related Words

• ὀφθαλμός (ophthalmos, off-thal-MOSS) – the physical eye, often used metaphorically for spiritual perception or the “eye of the heart.” While βλέμμα focuses on the act of seeing, ὀφθαλμός refers to the organ of sight itself. See G3788
• ὅρασις (horasis, HOR-ah-sis) – vision, especially supernatural vision or appearance. Unlike βλέμμα which refers to ordinary seeing, ὅρασις typically describes prophetic visions or divine revelations. See G3706
• θεωρέω (theōreō, theh-oh-REH-oh) – to be a spectator, to contemplate, to observe carefully. This term emphasizes prolonged, careful observation, whereas βλέμμα can refer to even a momentary glance with moral perception. See G2334
• ἀναβλέπω (anablepō, an-ah-BLEP-oh) – to look up, to recover sight. This compound verb shares the same root as βλέμμα but specifically refers to upward vision or restored sight, often in miraculous contexts. See G308
• ὅραμα (horama, HOR-ah-mah) – something seen, a spectacle, vision. While βλέμμα describes the act of perception itself, ὅραμα refers to the content or object of vision, particularly in supernatural contexts. See G3705

Did you Know?

• The concept of βλέμμα in ancient Greek medical texts, particularly those of Hippocrates and Galen, was considered a diagnostic tool. Physicians would study a patient’s gaze or “look” to determine their internal condition, showing how even in medicine, visual perception was connected to deeper realities.
• Jewish mystical tradition developed the concept of “ayin tova” (עין טובה, good eye) versus “ayin ra’ah” (עין רעה, evil eye), suggesting that how one sees the world—one’s βλέμμα—shapes not only perception but reality itself. This concept parallels the New Testament usage where Lot’s “seeing” represented his spiritual alignment with God’s values despite living in a corrupt environment.
• Modern psychological research on “selective attention” confirms what the biblical concept of βλέμμα suggests—that what we choose to focus on shapes our internal experience. Studies show that training oneself to notice positive versus negative stimuli significantly impacts emotional well-being, providing scientific support for the spiritual discipline of guarding what enters through our eyes.

Remember This

βλέμμα represents not just what your eyes see, but how your soul responds to what you see—it is the bridge between external perception and internal transformation, revealing whether your vision aligns with God’s.