Greek word · G1227

διαβλέπω

diablepō

to see clearly

To see through or see clearly; to look steadily or with eyes wide open. The prefix dia- ('through') stresses that nothing is in the way.

Appears 3 times in 3 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

δια-βλέπω

1. to took straight before one.

2. to see clearly: Matthew 7:5, Mark 8:25, Luke 6:42 (cf. διάβλεψις, Aq., Isaiah 61:1, for LXX ἀνάβ-).†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Matthew 7:5

Range of meaning

To see through or see clearly; to look steadily or with eyes wide open. The prefix dia- ('through') stresses that nothing is in the way.

Against the English

KJV, BSB, ESV, NIV and NASB 'you will see clearly' is accurate. WEB 'you can see clearly' turns a stated future into a possibility. NLT's 'see well enough' makes it sound like the bare minimum.

Used elsewhere in the period

Rare in the NT: here, in the parallel Luke 6:42, and in Mark 8:25, where the blind man after Jesus' second touch 'saw clearly' and was fully restored. In classical Greek, Plato (Phaedo 86d) uses it for Socrates' characteristic intent, wide-eyed look.

From the study of Luke 6:42

Range of meaning

To look through, to see clearly or distinctly. In classical Greek it also means to look hard or stare (Plato, Phaedo 86d, of Socrates looking keenly at his questioner). The prefix δια- ('through') gives the sense of sight with nothing in the way.

Against the English

All the major versions say 'see clearly.' That is accurate. What English loses is the 'through' picture: once the beam is gone, you can actually see through to what you are doing.

Used elsewhere in the period

Matthew 7:5, the parallel saying. Mark 8:25 (in many manuscripts): the blind man whom Jesus heals in two stages 'saw clearly.' Plato, Phaedo 86d.

Where it appears

Matthew · 1

  1. Matthew 7:5 διαβλέψεις you will see clearly

    You hypocrite! First take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

    Here: A future tense stated as fact: 'you will see clearly.' It is a promise of what follows, not just a possibility. The prefix dia- ('through') gives the sense of unobstructed sight. Mark uses the same verb for the blind man whose sight is fully restored (Mark 8:25).

Mark · 1

  1. Mark 8:25 διέβλεψεν look

    Once again Jesus placed His hands on the man’s eyes, and when he opened them his sight was restored, and he could see everything clearly.

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 6:42 διαβλέψεις you will see clearly

    How can you say, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while you yourself fail to see the beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! First take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

    Here: 'You will see clearly.' The future tense works as a promise. The verb means seeing sharply, with nothing in the way, the kind of sight that delicate work needs.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.