עִוֵּר (iv.ver)
iv.ver
blind
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 23 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew adjective ivver describes a state of being blind, whether in a literal physical sense or as a metaphor for spiritual and intellectual blindness. In the Old Testament, it appears in contexts ranging from legal codes to prophetic poetry, consistently pointing to an inability to see or perceive. Its intensive form emphasizes the depth or completeness of this lack of sight.
While the word is used straightforwardly in passages like Leviticus 19:14 and Deuteronomy 27:18 regarding physical disability, it carries significant weight in Isaiah. There, it describes people who are spiritually blind, walking in darkness or unable to understand God’s message (Isaiah 29:18; 42:18-19). This figurative usage connects physical limitation with a deeper condition of the heart and mind.
Translators typically render ivver as "blind," capturing both the tangible reality of visual impairment and the abstract notion of ignorance or confusion. The term serves as a powerful image throughout Scripture, highlighting human vulnerability and the need for divine intervention to restore true sight.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ivver describes a state of blindness, whether physical or spiritual. In the Old Testament, it highlights human vulnerability and the need for divine intervention. God is portrayed as the one who opens eyes and guides those in darkness.
This term reminds us that true sight comes from God. Whether facing literal challenges or spiritual confusion, we can trust in His ability to restore clarity and hope.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 23 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- blind [people]5×
- blind5×
- a blind [person]3×
- the/ blind [people]2×
- like <the>/ blind [people]2×
- [is] blind2×
- to the/ blind1×
- and/ blind1×
- and/ O/ blind [people]1×
- a blind [animal]1×
- [the] blind1×
- [are] blind1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עִוֵּר֙3×
- עִוֵּ֣ר2×
- עִוֵּ֖ר2×
- עִוֵּ֔ר2×
- עִוְרִ֗ים2×
- עִוֵּ֤ר1×
- עִוֵּ֑ר1×
- עִוְרִים֙1×
- עִוְרִ֤ים1×
- עִוְרִ֖ים1×
- עִוְרִ֑ים1×
- עִוְר֑וֹת1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 146:8
Yahweh opens the eyes of the blind. Yahweh raises up those who are bowed down. Yahweh loves the righteous.
This verse directly attributes the opening of blind eyes to Yahweh, emphasizing God's power to restore sight.
-
Isaiah 35:5
Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped.
Here, the opening of blind eyes is a sign of future restoration and divine healing.
-
Isaiah 42:7
to open the blind eyes, to bring the prisoners out of the dungeon, and those who sit in darkness out of the prison.
The servant's mission includes opening blind eyes, linking spiritual insight to God's redemptive work.