※The Biblical Concept of the Eyes
The Bible is full of eyes. In many instances, the Hebrew word ayin עין meaning “eye” refers to the physical organ on our faces. But just as frequently, the word “eye” stands for a deeper feature of one’s character. This is because in the world of ancient Israel the eyes were regarded as a sign of one’s genuine character.
從一個人的眼睛表現,可看出這人內心想的是甚麼。
※What is behind the eyes?
Let’s see a few examples:
• The Bible warns against displaying an ayin ra’ah “evil eye” towards the needy – resentfully withholding assistance. (Deut. 28:54)
聖經警告不要向有需要的人以惡眼相向,氣憤地不給援助。
士28:54 你們中間,柔弱嬌嫩的人必惡眼看他弟兄和他懷中的妻,並他餘剩的兒女;
Deut. 28:54 So that the man that is tender among you, and very delicate, his eye shall be evil toward his brother, and toward the wife of his bosom, and toward the remnant of his children which he shall leave:
54 הָאִישׁ֙ הָרַ֣ךְ בְּךָ֔ וְהֶעָנֹ֖ג מְאֹ֑ד תֵּרַ֨ע עֵינ֤וֹ בְאָחִיו֙ וּבְאֵ֣שֶׁת חֵיק֔וֹ וּבְיֶ֥תֶר בָּנָ֖יו אֲשֶׁ֥ר יוֹתִֽיר׃
(7489) תֵּרַ֨ע
רָעַע
רעע râ‛a‛ raw-ah
A primitive root; properly to spoil (literally by breaking to pieces); figuratively to make (or be) good for nothing, that is, bad (physically, socially or morally).
1-to be bad, be evil
a)-(Qal)
i)-to be displeasing
ii)-to be sad
iii)-to be injurious, be evil
iv)-to be wicked, be evil (ethically)
b)-(Hiphil)
i)-to do an injury or hurt
ii)-to do evil or wickedly
iii)-mischief (participle)
c)-to break, shatter
i)-(Qal)
(1)-to break
(2)-broken (participle)
(3)-to be broken
ii)-(Hithpolel) to be broken, be broken in pieces, be broken asunder
~
(5869) עֵינ֤וֹ his eye
עַיִן
עין ‛ayin ah-yin
Probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
1-eye
a)-eye
i)-of physical eye
ii)-as showing mental qualities
iii)-of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)
b)-spring, fountain
~~
• Behaving mercifully or having pity is having a “sparing eye” חס עין ḥas ayin (Deut. 7:16)
行為仁慈或憐憫,就是有吝惜的眼睛。
申 7:16 耶和華你神所要交給你的一切人民,你要將他們除滅;你眼不可顧惜他們。你也不可事奉他們的神,因這必成為你的網羅。
16 And thou shalt consume all the people which the Lord thy God shall deliver thee; thine eye shall have no pity תָחֹ֥ס upon them: neither shalt thou serve their gods; for that will be a snare unto thee.
16 וְאָכַלְתָּ֣ אֶת־כָּל־הָֽעַמִּ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ נֹתֵ֣ן לָ֔ךְ לֹא־תָחֹ֥ס עֵֽינְךָ֖ עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם וְלֹ֤א תַעֲבֹד֙ אֶת־אֱלֹ֣הֵיהֶ֔ם כִּֽי־מוֹקֵ֥שׁ ה֖וּא לָֽךְ׃ ס
תָחֹ֥ס :shall have no pity
חוּס (2347)
חוּס chûs khoos
A primitive root; properly to cover, that is, (figuratively) to compassionate
1- (Qal) to pity, have compassion, spare, look upon with compassion
~~
כָּעֵת תּוּכַל לוֹמַר לָנוּ מַדּוּעַ אַתָּה חָס עָלֶיהָ?
kaett tukhal lomar lanu madua atah khas aleyha?
Now will you tell us why you spared her?
~
אֲנִי חָס עַל מִשְׁפָּחוֹת מִסַּבָּל שֶׁיֵּשׁ לִי.
ani khas al mishepakhott missabal sheyesh li.
I spare families from suffering as I have.
~~
申13:8你不可依從他,也不可聽從他,眼不可顧惜他。你不可憐恤他,也不可遮庇他,
Deut.13:8 Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye(5869) pity(2347) him, neither shalt thou spare(2550), neither shalt thou conceal him:
~
חָמַל ((2550
חמל châmal khaw-mal
A primitive root; to commiserate; by implication to spare
undefined
1- (Qal) to spare, pity, have compassion on
~~
• Eyes can be an indication of lofty arrogance – room einav רוּם עֵינָיו meaning “raised eyes” (Isa. 10:12).
眼睛會表現出自視崇高傲慢。
12 主在錫安山和耶路撒冷成就他一切工作的時候,主說:「我必罰亞述王自大的心和他高傲眼目的榮耀。」
12 Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high(7312) looks(5869 eye).
12 וְהָיָ֗ה כִּֽי־יְבַצַּ֤ע אֲדֹנָי֙ אֶת־כָּל־מַֽעֲשֵׂ֔הוּ בְּהַ֥ר צִיּ֖וֹן וּבִירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם אֶפְקֹ֗ד עַל־פְּרִי־גֹ֙דֶל֙ לְבַ֣ב מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁ֔וּר וְעַל־תִּפְאֶ֖רֶת ר֥וּם עֵינָֽיו׃
ר֥וּם (7312)
רוּם( (7312 רם רוּם rûm rûm room, room
From H7311; (literally) elevation or (figuratively) elation
1-haughtiness, height, elevation
a)-height, loftiness
b)-haughtiness
~
עֵינָיו מִתְמַלְּאוֹת סוּג שׁוֹנֶה שֶׁל וַדָּאוּת.
eynayv mitemaleott sug shoneh shel vadautt.
His eyes are filled with a different kind of certainty.
~~
• The opposite is “low eyes” shaḥ einaim שַׁח עֵינַיִם – It is the trait of the humble, whom God will save according to Job 22:29.
約伯22:29 人使你降卑,你仍可說:必得高陞;謙卑的人,神必然拯救。
29 When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person. the humble…: Heb. him that hath low eyes
29 כִּֽי־הִ֭שְׁפִּילוּ וַתֹּ֣אמֶר גֵּוָ֑ה וְשַׁ֖ח עֵינַ֣יִם יוֹשִֽׁעַ׃
the humble וְשַׁ֖ח
(7807) שַׁח
שׁח shach shakh
From H7817; sunk, that is, downcast
1-low, lowly
~
לְהַנְמִיךְ עֵינַיִם, לְהַגְבִּיהַּ כְּתֵפָיִם!
lehanemikhe eynayim, lehagebiha ketefayim!
Eyes low (to keep it down), shoulders high!
※Learn Hebrew, see the real Bible.
希伯來文「眼睛」,有多種意義「特點」,經翻譯後看不到原文的「眼睛」。