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Bible Dictionaries
Eye

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

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EYE . The eye was supposed to be the organ or window by which light had access to the whole body ( Matthew 6:22 ). For beauty of eyes cf. 1 Samuel 16:12 [RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] ], Song of Solomon 1:15; Song of Solomon 5:12 , and the name Dorcas in Acts 9:36; in Genesis 29:17 the reference seems to be to Leah’s weak eyes (so Driver, ad loc .). The wanton or alluring eyes of women are referred to in Proverbs 6:25 , Isaiah 3:16 . Their beauty was intensified by painting, antimony being used for darkening the eyelashes ( 2 Kings 9:30 , Jeremiah 4:30 , Ezekiel 23:40 [all RV [Note: Revised Version.] ]). Keren-happuch ( Job 42:14 ) means ‘horn of eyepaint.’ Proverbs 23:29 speaks of the drunkard’s redness of eye. In Deuteronomy 6:8; Deuteronomy 14:1 ‘between the eyes’ means ‘on the forehead.’ Shaving the eyebrows was part of the purification of the leper ( Leviticus 14:9 ).

‘Eye’ is used in many figurative phrases: as the avenue of temptation ( Genesis 3:6 , Job 31:1 ); of spiritual knowledge and blindness, as indicating feelings pride ( 2 Kings 19:22 ), favour [especially God’s providence ( Psalms 33:18 )], hostility ( Psalms 10:8 ). An evil eye implies envy ( Mark 7:22; cf. 1 Samuel 18:9 , the only use of the verb in this sense in English) or niggardliness ( Deuteronomy 15:9 , Proverbs 28:22 , and probably Matthew 6:22 , where the ‘single eye’ may mean ‘liberality’; cf. Proverbs 22:9 ). In Genesis 20:16 ‘covering of the eyes’ means ‘forgetfulness of what has happened.’ In Revelation 3:18 eye-salve or collyrium is a Phrygian powder mentioned by Galen, for which the medical school at Laodicea seems to have been famous. (See Ramsay, Seven Churches .) The reference is to the restoring of spiritual vision.

C. W. Emmet.

Bibliography Information
Hastings, James. Entry for 'Eye'. Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible. https://www.studylight.org/​dictionaries/​eng/​hdb/​e/eye.html. 1909.
 
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