βλέμμα (blemma)
blemma
a look
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun blemma refers simply to a look or a glance. It is a neutral term for the physical act of seeing, distinct from the verb blepō which describes the ongoing action of looking. In the New Testament, it appears only once, in 2 Peter 2:8.
Here, Peter uses the phrase "sight and hearing" (blemmati kai akoē) to describe how Lot was distressed by the wickedness he witnessed. This pairing is notable because blemma is rarely paired with hearing in classical Greek literature, suggesting a vernacular usage that emphasizes the raw sensory impact of what Lot saw and heard. The word highlights the immediate, visual nature of his moral distress.
Its rarity makes this single occurrence stand out. By choosing blemma instead of a more common word for sight, Peter focuses on the specific act of witnessing. The term underscores how direct observation of evil can weigh heavily on a righteous person’s conscience.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word blemma, found in 2 Peter 2:8, refers simply to a look or glance. It captures the immediate visual impact of what Lot witnessed in Sodom. Peter uses this specific term to describe how the sight and sound of lawlessness tormented Lot’s righteous soul.
This rare word reminds us that our eyes carry weight. What we choose to observe affects our inner peace. When we see injustice or corruption, it is natural to feel distress. This reaction shows that our conscience is still alive and sensitive to God’s standards.
Lot’s experience invites us to examine what we allow into our minds. We are not called to ignore the world’s brokenness, but we are called to let our righteousness protect our hearts. May your gaze be fixed on what is true and good.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- through seeing1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- βλέμματι1×
Key Verses
-
II Peter 2:8
(for that righteous man dwelling among them was tormented in his righteous soul from day to day with seeing and hearing lawless deeds),
Peter uses blemma to highlight the raw sensory impact of witnessing wickedness, showing how direct observation of evil weighed heavily on Lot’s conscience.