Bible Lexicons

ἰδού, a demonstrative particle (in Greek writings from Sophocles down), found in the N. T. especially in the Gospels of Matthew and of Luke, used very often in imitation of the Hebrew הִנֵּה, and giving a peculiar vivacity to the style by bidding the reader or hearer to attend to what is said: "Behold! See! Lo!" It is inserted in the discourse after a genitive absolutely, Matthew 1:20; Matthew 2:1, 13; Matthew 9:18; Matthew 12:46; Matthew 17:5; Matthew 26:47; Matthew 28:11. καί ἰδού is used, when at the close of a narrative something new is introduced, Matthew 2:9; Matthew 3:16; Matthew 4:11; Matthew 8:2, 24, 29, 32, 34; Matthew 9:2f, 20; Matthew 12:10; Matthew 15:22; Matthew 17:3; Matthew 19:16; Matthew 26:51; Matthew 27:51; Matthew 28:2, 7; Luke 1:20, 31, 36; Luke 2:9 (R G L Tr brackets),; ; Acts 12:7; Acts 16:1; when a thing is specified which is unexpected yet sure, 2 Corinthians 6:9 (καί ἰδίου ζῶμεν, and nevertheless we live), cf. Matthew 7:4; when a thing is specified which seems impossible and yet occurs, Luke 11:41; Acts 27:24. The simple ἰδού is the exclamation of one pointing out something, Matthew 12:2, 47 (WH here in marginal reading only); Matthew 13:3; Matthew 24:26; Mark 3:32; Luke 2:34; and calling attention, Mark 15:35 (T Tr WH ἴδε); Luke 22:10; John 4:35; 1 Corinthians 15:51; 2 Corinthians 5:17; James 5:9; Jude 1:14; Revelation 1:7; Revelation 9:12; Revelation 11:14; Revelation 16:15; Revelation 22:7 (Rec.); in other places it is equivalent to observe or consider: Matthew 10:16; Matthew 11:8; Matthew 19:27; Matthew 20:18; Matthew 22:4; Mark 10:28, 33; Mark 14:41; Luke 2:48; Luke 7:25; Luke 18:28, 31, etc.; also καί ἰδού, Matthew 28:20; Luke 13:30; ἰδού γάρ, Luke 1:44, 48; Luke 2:10; Luke 6:23; Luke 17:21; Acts 9:11; 2 Corinthians 7:11; ἰδού where examples are adduced: James 3:4ff; 5:4,7,11; for the Hebrew הִנְנִי, so that it includes the copula: Luke 1:38; equivalent to here I am: Acts 9:10; Hebrews 2:13. ἰδού is inserted in the midst of a speech, Matthew 23:34 (here WH marginal reading Ἰδού (see the commentaries)); Luke 13:16; Acts 2:7; Acts 13:11; Acts 20:22, 25. The passages of the O. T. containing the particle which are quoted in the New are these: Matthew 1:23; Matthew 11:10; Matthew 12:18; Matthew 21:5; Mark 1:2; Luke 7:27; John 13:15; Romans 9:33; Hebrews 2:13; Hebrews 8:8; Hebrews 10:7, 9; 1 Peter 2:6. Like the Hebrew הִנֵּה, ἰδού and καί ἰδού stand before a nominative which is not followed by a finite verb, in such a way as to include the copula or predicate (cf. Buttmann, 139 (121f)): e. g., was heard, Matthew 3:17; is, is or was here, exists, etc., Matthew 12:10 L T Tr WH, 41; Mark 13:21 R G L; Luke 5:12, 18; Luke 7:37; Luke 11:31; Luke 13:11 (R G add ἦν); ; John 19:26 (Rec., 27 R G); Acts 8:27, 36; 2 Corinthians 6:2; Revelation 6:2, 5, 8; Revelation 7:9 (not L); ; is approaching, Matthew 25:6 G L T Tr WH (Rec. adds ἔρχεται); but also in such a way as to have simply a demonstrative force: Matthew 11:19; Luke 7:34.