τυφλόω (tuphloō)
tuphloō
to blind
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb tuphloō means to blind someone, whether in a physical sense or as a metaphor for spiritual confusion. In the New Testament, it appears only three times, primarily in the Gospel of John and the Pauline epistles. It describes an action that removes sight or understanding, often leaving the subject unable to perceive truth.
The sources highlight its use in John 12:40, where God is said to have blinded hearts so people would not see. This echoes Old Testament language where blindness represents divine judgment or hardening. In 2 Corinthians 4:4, it describes how the god of this age blinds minds, preventing people from seeing the light of the gospel. Similarly, 1 John 2:11 uses it to show that hatred keeps a person in darkness, unable to grasp spiritual reality.
This word carries significant theological weight. It is not merely about lack of knowledge but about active obstruction of perception. The sources note its connection to Isa.42:19 in the LXX, where blindness serves as punishment for rebellion. Translators usually render it "blind" or "blinded," preserving the stark imagery of lost sight and understanding.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word tuphloō reminds us that true sight goes far beyond physical vision. In Scripture, it describes a state where understanding is obscured, whether by divine judgment, spiritual opposition, or our own choices. When John records that God hardened hearts, he points to the serious consequences of persistent rebellion against truth. This is not a casual lack of information, but a deep obstruction that keeps people from seeing who Jesus really is.
Yet this word also highlights our need for grace. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians that the god of this age blinds minds, showing us that we cannot perceive spiritual light on our own. It is only when God opens our eyes that we truly see the glory of Christ. Similarly, John warns that hatred keeps us in darkness, unable to know where we are going. This word invites us to examine our hearts, asking for clarity and humility as we walk with Him.
Ultimately, tuphloō underscores the beauty of spiritual illumination. When we turn away from sin and toward Christ, the light of the gospel dawns on us. We are not left in confusion but given understanding through His Spirit. This hope encourages us to pray for open eyes, both for ourselves and for those around us who may be wandering in darkness.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- has blinded2×
- He has blinded1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐτύφλωσεν2×
- τετύφλωκεν1×
Key Verses
-
John 12:40
“He has blinded their eyes and he hardened their heart, lest they should see with their eyes, and perceive with their heart, and would turn, and I would heal them.”
This verse shows the word used in its strongest sense, describing divine hardening as a consequence of rejecting Christ's miracles.
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II Corinthians 4:4
in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the Good News of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn on them.
Here the term explains the spiritual barrier that prevents unbelievers from perceiving the gospel's truth about Christ's glory.
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I John 2:11
But he who hates his brother is in the darkness, and walks in the darkness, and doesn’t know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
John uses this word to illustrate how personal hatred creates a self-imposed darkness that obscures one's spiritual direction.