καμμύω (kammuō)
kammuō
to close
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb kammūō means to shut or close the eyes. It is a rare term in the New Testament, appearing only twice, yet it carries significant theological weight by linking directly to Old Testament prophecy. The word describes the physical act of closing one’s eyes, but in its biblical context, it signifies a deeper spiritual blindness where truth is not perceived.
This specific usage appears in Matthew 13:15 and Acts 28:27, where both passages quote Isaiah 6:10. In these verses, Jesus and Paul explain that the people’s hearts have become dull, leading them to close their eyes so they do not see, hear, or understand. The action is not merely physical fatigue but a voluntary refusal to engage with divine revelation, illustrating how spiritual hardness can manifest as an inability to perceive truth even when it is plainly presented.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word kammūō describes a deliberate closing of the eyes to avoid seeing what is right in front of us. In Matthew 13:15 and Acts 28:27, this action reflects a heart that has grown callous. It is not simply physical tiredness, but a spiritual refusal to engage with divine truth. When we shut our eyes to God’s word, we also shut out the healing He offers.
This reality invites us to examine our own hearts. Are there truths we are choosing not to see because they challenge our comfort? The Bible suggests that openness to God leads to restoration, while hardness leads to separation. We can pray for clarity and courage to face what God is showing us, trusting that His light brings life rather than condemnation.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they have closed;2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐκάμμυσαν·2×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 13:15
for this people’s heart has grown callous, their ears are dull of hearing, and they have closed their eyes; or else perhaps they might perceive with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and would turn again, and I would heal them.’
Jesus uses this word to explain why many in his audience could not grasp the parables, attributing their lack of understanding to a voluntary spiritual hardness.
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Acts 28:27
For this people’s heart has grown callous. Their ears are dull of hearing. Their eyes they have closed. Lest they should see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and would turn again, then I would heal them.’
Paul quotes Isaiah to show that the rejection of the gospel by some Jews was a fulfillment of prophecy regarding their hardened hearts and closed eyes.