ἐμβλέπω (emblepō)
emblepō
to look into/upon
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 12 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb emblepō describes a focused act of looking into or upon something, carrying more weight than a casual glance. Its core meaning involves directing one’s gaze with intent, often implying a close inspection or a steady observation of the object in view. In the New Testament, this word appears twelve times, primarily within the Synoptic Gospels, marking moments where sight plays a crucial role in narrative or teaching.
It is frequently used to describe physical actions, such as Jesus looking intently at a specific person (Mark 10:21) or Peter turning to look directly at his Master after denying him (Luke 22:61). However, the word also shifts toward mental consideration. In Matthew 6:26, Jesus uses it to urge listeners to look closely at the birds of the air, not merely to see them passively but to observe their existence carefully as evidence of God’s care.
This distinction between simple seeing and active observing gives emblepō its theological texture. It suggests that true understanding requires deliberate attention. When Jesus commands his followers to consider the lilies or look at the birds, he is inviting a deeper engagement with creation, moving beyond superficial sight to a recognition of divine provision embedded in the details of the natural world.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word emblepō invites us to move beyond a casual glance and engage in focused observation. In the Gospels, Jesus often uses this kind of looking to reveal deeper truths about God’s character and our own worth. When He looked at the birds or the lilies, He was not just noting their existence but pointing us toward the Father’s careful provision. This shifts our perspective from anxiety to trust, reminding us that the same God who attends to creation values us deeply.
There are moments when this intentional gaze brings conviction and restoration. Peter’s experience after his denial shows how a direct look from Jesus can pierce through shame and lead to repentance. It is not a look of condemnation but one that restores identity and purpose. We are invited to practice this same attentiveness in our spiritual lives, looking closely at Scripture and the people around us with intentionality.
Ultimately, emblepō teaches us that true understanding requires deliberate attention. It challenges us to slow down and see what God sees. Whether observing nature or encountering others, we are called to look with eyes of faith, recognizing divine presence in the details of our daily lives.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 12 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- having looked3×
- looking1×
- looked at1×
- he was seeing well1×
- having looked at1×
- do look1×
- I was seeing1×
- Having looked on [them]1×
- Having looked at1×
- Having looked1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐμβλέψας6×
- ἐνέβλεψεν1×
- ἐνέβλεπον1×
- ἐνέβλεπεν1×
- ἐμβλέψατε1×
- ἐμβλέψασα1×
- ἐμβλέποντες1×
Key Verses
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Matthew 6:26
See the birds of the sky, that they don’t sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you of much more value than they?
Jesus uses this focused observation to shift the disciples' attention from anxiety about needs to trust in God's faithful care for creation.
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Mark 10:21
Jesus looking at him loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack. Go, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me, taking up the cross.”
The intense gaze of Jesus reveals His personal love and the specific, challenging call to follow Him fully.
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Luke 22:61
The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the Lord’s word, how he said to him, “Before the rooster crows you will deny me three times.”
A single look from the Lord pierces Peter's denial, serving as the catalyst for his immediate repentance and restoration.
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Acts 1:11
who also said, “You men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who was received up from you into the sky, will come back in the same way as you saw him going into the sky.”
The disciples are described as looking into the sky, highlighting a moment of expectation that is redirected toward Christ's promised return.