עַיִן
Transliteration
ʿayin
Pronunciation
ah'-yin
Part of Speech
masculine/feminine noun
Root Word (Etymology)
Probably a primitive word
Dictionary Aids

TWOT Reference: 1612a,1613

Variant Spellings

The following spelling is supported by Strongs and Gesenius: עין.

Strong’s Definitions

עַיִן ʻayin, ah'-yin; probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape):—affliction, outward appearance, before, think best, colour, conceit, be content, countenance, displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, favour, fountain, furrow (from the margin), × him, humble, knowledge, look, (+ well), × me, open(-ly), + (not) please, presence, regard, resemblance, sight, × thee, × them, + think, × us, well, × you(-rselves).


KJV Translation Count — Total: 887x

The KJV translates Strong's H5869 in the following manner: eye (495x), sight (216x), seem (19x), colour (12x), fountain (11x), well (11x), face (10x), pleased (with H3190) (10x), presence (8x), displeased (with H3415) (8x), before (8x), pleased (with H3474) (4x), conceit (4x), think (4x), miscellaneous (66x).

KJV Translation Count — Total: 887x
The KJV translates Strong's H5869 in the following manner: eye (495x), sight (216x), seem (19x), colour (12x), fountain (11x), well (11x), face (10x), pleased (with H3190) (10x), presence (8x), displeased (with H3415) (8x), before (8x), pleased (with H3474) (4x), conceit (4x), think (4x), miscellaneous (66x).
  1. eye

    1. eye

      1. of physical eye

      2. as showing mental qualities

      3. of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

  2. spring, fountain

Strong’s Definitions [?](Strong’s Definitions Legend)
עַיִן ʻayin, ah'-yin; probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape):—affliction, outward appearance, before, think best, colour, conceit, be content, countenance, displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, favour, fountain, furrow (from the margin), × him, humble, knowledge, look, (+ well), × me, open(-ly), + (not) please, presence, regard, resemblance, sight, × thee, × them, + think, × us, well, × you(-rselves).
STRONGS H5869: Abbreviations
I. עַ֫יִן 859 noun feminineGenesis 3:7 and (Zechariah 3:9; 4:10 AlbrZAW xvi (1896), 75) masculine eye (ancient Semitic word; √ and relation to II. ע׳ unknown; Late Hebrew id.; Phoenician ען; עֵינָא, עַיְינָא Palmyrene עינא Zinjirli suffix עיני, עינך Syriac ; Assyrian ênu, enu, Tel Amarna suffix inaya and (apparently Canaanite gloss ḫinaya; Arabic ; Ethiopic ); — absolute ע׳ Exodus 21:4 +, construct עֵין Exodus 21:26 +; suffix עֵינִי Genesis 44:21 + (2 Samuel 16:12 read עָנְיִי Vrss Comm.), עֵינְךָ Deuteronomy 7:16 +, עֵינֵנוּ Psalm 35:21 (2 Samuel 20:6 see נצל Hiph.); suffix 3rd person masculine plural עֵינָם Isaiah 13:18 (Zechariah 5:6 read עֲוֺנָם We Gr Now), עֵינֵמוֺ Psalm 73:7 (but read עֲוֺנָמוֺ see Commentaries); usually dual עֵינַיִם Genesis 20:16 +, עֵינָ֑יִם Isaiah 3:16 +, especially construct עֵינֵי Genesis 3:7 +, עֵנֵי Isaiah 3:8; suffix עֵינַי Genesis 31:10 +, עֵינֶיךָ Judges 6:17 +, etc. (Hosea 10:10 read עֲוֺנֹתָם compare Che We Gr Now); — eye:
1. literally as physical organ,
a. of man Exodus 21:6 (3 times in verse) (E), Genesis 3:6 (J) +, Leviticus 21:20; Leviticus 24:20 (twice in verse); Leviticus 26:16 (H; very rarely P, e.g. Deuteronomy 34:4, 7), 2 Kings 4:34 (twice in verse) +; once שְׁתֵּי עֵינַי Judges 16:28.
b. anthropomorph. of י׳ Psalm 33:18; Psalm 34:16 +.
c. of idols Psalm 115:5; Psalm 135:16.
d. of beasts Genesis 30:41 (J), Job 40:24 (hippop., si vera lectio, but probably corrupt Di Siegf Bu Du where see conjectures), Job 41:10 (crocodile); bird Job 28:7; Job 39:29; Proverbs 1:17.
†e. in wheels Ezekiel 1:18; compare Ezekiel 10:12; on stone Zechariah 3:9 (all in visions).
f. subject of ראה see Genesis 45:12 (twice in verse) (E), + (often Deuteronomy), with חזה Psalm 11:4; men see בְּע׳ Deuteronomy 3:27; 2 Kings 7:12 +; especially נָשָׂא ע׳ + ראה Genesis 13:10; Genesis 10:14 (J) +; compare לְכָלמַֿרְאֵה עֵינֵי הַכֹּהֵן Leviticus 13:12 = as far as the priest can see, מַרְאֵה ע׳ Deuteronomy 28:34 what is seen by the eyes = Deuteronomy 28:67; Ecclesiastes 6:9.
g. as affected by sleep, see שֵׁנָה below [יָשֵׁן].
h. as weeping, מְקוֺר דִּמְעָה ע׳ Jeremiah 8:23, נִגְּרָה ע׳ Lamentations 3:49, דָּֽלְפָה ע׳ Job 16:20; see also Jeremiah 31:16; Psalm 116:8, and ירד Qal 3 c.
i. as growing dim, see I. כָּהָה, חָשַׁךְ 3; with כָּבֵד Genesis 48:10 (E), קוּם 1 Samuel 4:15; 1 Kings 14:4, שָׁעַע Isaiah 32:3; Isaiah 6:10 (Hiph.); with כָּלָה pine, languish, see כ׳ Qal 2 b, Pi. 2 b, with דָּאַב Psalm 88:10, עָשַׁשׁ Psalm 6:8; Psalm 31:10, דָּלַל Isaiah 38:14.
j. with פָּקַח open, after sleep Job 27:19, sleep of death 2 Kings 4:35; = keep awake Proverbs 20:13 (opposed to שֵׁנָה); of new power of vision Genesis 3:5, 7 (J), given by God Genesis 21:19 (E), 2 Kings 6:17 (twice in verse); so (with וַיְגַל) Numbers 22:31 (JE); = give sight to blind 2 Kings 6:20 (twice in verse); Isaiah 35:5; Isaiah 42:7; Psalm 146:8; of God (י׳) opening his eyes, ע׳ פָּקַח 2 Kings 19:16 = Isaiah 37:17; Daniel 9:18, + עַלֿ Jeremiah 32:19; Zechariah 12:4; Job 14:3; with פָּתַח, + אֶל־ 1 Kings 8:29 2 Chronicles 6:20; 1 Kings 8:52; Nehemiah 1:6, + ל Nehemiah 1:40; Nehemiah 7:15; + infinitive Nehemiah 1:6. — Numbers 24:3, 15 see שׁתם
k. אוֺר ע׳ etc., = revive, see אור verb Qal, Hiph.; noun, 10.
†l. קָרַץ ע׳ = wink Psalm 35:19; Proverbs 10:10, בְּע׳ ק׳ Proverbs 6:13.
†m. יִרְזְמוּן ע׳ Job 15:12 i.e. roll (in anger).
n. ל׳ לָטַשׁ ע׳ Job 16:9 whet eyes against = 'look daggers at.'
o. put out eye, see עִוֵּר, נקר
p. as feature of beauty, יְפֵה ע׳ Deuteronomy 16:12; compare Songs 4:9; Songs 7:5, יוֺנִים ע׳ Songs 1:15; Songs 4:1; and Songs 5:12 (כְּיוֺנִים); on other hand, לֵאָה רַכּוֺת ע׳ Genesis 29:17 (E); ע׳ בַּפּוּךְ וַתָּשֶׂם2 Kings 9:30 (see פּוּךְ), compare Jeremiah 4:30, כָּחַל ע׳ Ezekiel 23:40 paint the eyes†.
q. apple of the eye, see אִישׁוֺן, [בָּבָה], בַּת 6.
r. גַּבֹּת ע׳ Leviticus 14:9 eyebrows.
s. חַכְלִילִי ע׳ מִָיּ֑יִן Genesis 49:12, חַכְלִילוּת ע׳ Proverbs 23:29 (see ח׳); מְאוֺר ע׳ Proverbs 15:30, see Toy.
2.
a. eyes as shewing mental qualities: arrogance גַבְהוּת ע׳ Isaiah 2:11, גְבֹהִים ע׳ Isaiah 5:15, גְּבַהּעֿ׳ Psalm 101:5, תִּפְאֶרֶת רוּם ע׳ Isaiah 10:12; with רוּם also Psalm 18:28 (so read also || 2 Samuel 22:28 Hup HPS), Psalm 131:1; Proverbs 6:17; Proverbs 21:4; humility, שַׁח ע׳ Job 22:29; mockery, תִּלְעַג לְ ע׳ Proverbs 30:17; compare בְּ רָעָה ע׳ Deuteronomy 15:9 (grudging), Deuteronomy 28:54, 56 (id.); especially (עַל) אַלתָּֿחֹס ע׳ not have pity on Deuteronomy 7:16 + 4 times Deuteronomy; Ezekiel 5:11 + 8 times Ezekiel; Isaiah 13:18, also Genesis 45:20 (E; = not regret); compare נֹחַם יִסָּתֵר מֵע׳ Hosea 13:14.
b. מַחְמַד ע׳ Ezekiel 24:16 desire of the eyes, so Ezekiel 24:21; Ezekiel 24:25; שִׁקּוּצֵי ע׳ Ezekiel 20:7 abominations of the eyes, so Ezekiel 20:8. — Psalm 73:7 see חֵלֶב.
3. Figurative of mental and spiritual faculties, acts and states:
a. ע׳ תִּפָּקַחְנָה Genesis 3:5, 7 (J) Isaiah 42:7, גְּלּוּי ע׳ Numbers 24:4, 16 (JE); also טַח מֵרְאוֺת ע׳ Isaiah 44:18; אֶליֿ׳ ע׳ Psalm 123:2 (see Psalm 123:2; Psalm 123:2 for origin of figurative), +; of י׳, Psalm 33:18 (i.e. his favour) Psalm 34:16 (id.) +.
b. הַזִּנוֺת ע׳ Ezekiel 6:9; תִּשְׂבַּע ע׳ Ecclesiastes 1:8; Ecclesiastes 4:8; שָֽׁאֲלוּ ע׳ Ecclesiastes 2:10; לְֹנכַח יַבִּיטוּ ע׳ Proverbs 4:25; טוֺבעֿ׳ Proverbs 22:9 = bountiful, רַע עָ֑יִן Proverbs 23:6 = niggardly one, so Proverbs 28:22; eye as avenue of temptation Job 31:1, 7; שִׁית ע׳ Psalm 17:11
c. especially בְּעֵינֵי, with adjective and intransitive verbs, in the view, opinion, of Genesis 16:4, 5 (J), Genesis 21:11, 12 (E), Genesis 34:18 (P), + often; with active verb 2 Samuel 10:3 = 1 Chronicles 19:3; Esther 1:17; Esther 3:6; הַטּוֺב בְּע׳ Genesis 16:6; Genesis 19:14 (J), +, i.e. what one pleases, Numbers 36:6 (P) whom they please; הַיָּשָׁר בְּע׳ Deuteronomy 12:8, 25 +, הַטּוֺב וְהַיָּשָׁר בְּע׳ Deuteronomy 12:28; Joshua 9:25 (D), הָרַע בְּע׳ Judges 2:11; Judges 3:7; Deuteronomy 4:25 + especially D and K (RD); so לְנֶגֶד עיניו 2 Samuel 22:25 = Psalm 18:25; אַחֲרֵי עֵינֵיכֶם Numbers 15:39 = according to your wish, fancy (+ לְבַבְכֶם).
d. נֶעְלָם מֵע׳ Leviticus 4:13 i.e. hid from knowledge of, so Numbers 5:13 (both P), Job 28:21; מֵע׳ Numbers 15:24 (P) without the knowledge of; מִן אַעְלִים ע׳ Isaiah 1:15 = disregard, pay no attention; compare Leviticus 20:4 (H) Ezekiel 22:26; without מִן, absolute, Proverbs 28:27; נִסְתְּרוּ מֵע׳ Isaiah 65:16, וַיַּסְתֵּר עָמָל מֵע׳ Job 3:10; בּוֺ אַעְלִים ע׳ (i.e. בַּכֹּפֶר) 1 Samuel 12:3 (נעלים sandals + ענו בי Th We Kit, compare Ecclusxlvi. 19; Bu HPS insert ענו בי); הַשֹּׁחַד יְעַוֵּר ע׳ Deuteronomy 16:19, compare כְּסוּת ע׳ Genesis 20:16 (E).
4. Transferred meanings:
a. visible surface of earth Exodus 10:5, 15 (J) Numbers 22:5, 11 (JE).
b. appearance Leviticus 13:5 (P; reading בְּעֵינוֺ Di Kau Dr-Wh), Leviticus 13:37 (P; reading id.), Leviticus 13:55 (P) Numbers 11:7 (twice in verse) (JE); so apparently dual 1 Samuel 16:7.
c. gleam, sparkle (of metal, jewels, etc.) Ezekiel 1:4, 7, 16, 22, 27; Ezekiel 8:2; Ezekiel 10:9; Daniel 10:6; of wine Proverbs 23:31.
5. Other phrases are: תַּחַת ע׳ ע׳ Exodus 21:24 (E) = Leviticus 24:20 (H), = בְּע׳ ע׳ Deuteronomy 19:21, all = an eye for an eye; בְּע׳ ע׳ = eye to eye, Numbers 14:14 (P) Isaiah 52:8 (figurative), compare תִּרְאֶינָה אֶתעֿ׳ וְע׳ Jeremiah 32:4; Jeremiah 34:3; especially לְעֵינֵי in the presence of, in full view of Genesis 42:24 (E) Genesis 47:19 (J) Exodus 4:30 (J) Numbers 19:5 (P), + oft; of business transaction Jeremiah 32:12 (twice in verse); Genesis 23:11, 18 (P); so נֶגֶד ע׳ Joel 1:16, לְנֶגֶד ע׳ Job 4:16, and even בְּע׳ 1 Samuel 21:14; Ezra 3:12; נִגְרַזְתּי מִנֶּגֶד ע׳ Psalm 31:23; בֵּין ע׳ = on the forehead Exodus 13:9, 16 (JE) Deuteronomy 6:8; Deuteronomy 11:18; Deuteronomy 14:1; Daniel 8:5, 21.

See related Aramaic BDB entry H5870.

† II. עַ֫יִן noun feminine spring (of water) (connection with I. ע׳ dubious; Late Hebrew id., Phoenician ען; Assyrian ênu, înu; Arabic ; Ethiopic ; Palmyrene עינא, עֵינָא, עַיְינָא; Syriac ); — absolute ע׳ 1 Samuel 29:1 +, עָ֑יִן Genesis 49:22 +, הָעַ֫יְנָה Genesis 24:16, 45; construct עֵין Genesis 24:13 +; plural עֲיָנֹת Deuteronomy 8:7, ־וֹת 2 Chronicles 32:3; construct עֵינוֺת Exodus 15:27 = Numbers 33:9, עִינוֺת Proverbs 8:28 (Ges§ 93 v); — spring Genesis 16:7; Genesis 24:16, 29, 30, 42, 45 (all J) Genesis 49:22 (poem in J), 1 Samuel 29:1; עֵין חַמַּיִם Genesis 16:7; Genesis 24:13, 43 (J), compare Exodus 15:27 (J) Numbers 33:9 (P); נַחֲלֵי מַיִם ע׳ וּתְחֹמֹת Deuteronomy 8:7; מֵימֵי הָעֲיָנוֺת 2 Chronicles 32:3; תְּהוֺם ְ׳ Proverbs 8:28 (i.e. of the sea); figurative עֵין יַעֲקֹב Deuteronomy 33:28 (poem), i.e. Jacob's descendants. Particular springs are:
a. חֲרֹד ע׳ [H5878 Judges 7:1] (on location compare GFM).
b. הַקּוֺרֵא ע׳ (partridge-spring) [H5875 Judges 15:19] (compare id.).
c. רֹגֵּל ע׳ near Jerusalem (early sanctuary RSSem i. 157, 2nd ed. 172)
[H5883 2 Samuel 17:17 compare 1 Kings 1:9, on border of Judah Joshua 15:7, and Benjamin Joshua 18:16].
d. הַתַּנִּין ע׳ (dragon-spring) [H5886 Nehemiah 2:13] (= c ? so RSl.c.).—
On שַׁעַר הָעַיִן Nehemiah 2:14; Nehemiah 3:15; Nehemiah 12:37 see H8179 שַׁעַר
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BLB Scripture Index of Brown-Driver-Briggs

Genesis

Genesis 3:5; Genesis 3:5; Genesis 3:6; Genesis 3:7; Genesis 3:7; Genesis 3:7; Genesis 3:7; Genesis 10:14; Genesis 13:10; Genesis 16:4; Genesis 16:5; Genesis 16:6; Genesis 16:7; Genesis 16:7; Genesis 19:14; Genesis 20:16; Genesis 20:16; Genesis 21:11; Genesis 21:12; Genesis 21:19; Genesis 23:11; Genesis 23:18; Genesis 24:13; Genesis 24:13; Genesis 24:16; Genesis 24:16; Genesis 24:29; Genesis 24:30; Genesis 24:42; Genesis 24:43; Genesis 24:45; Genesis 24:45; Genesis 29:17; Genesis 30:41; Genesis 31:10; Genesis 34:18; Genesis 42:24; Genesis 44:21; Genesis 45:12; Genesis 45:20; Genesis 47:19; Genesis 48:10; Genesis 49:12; Genesis 49:22; Genesis 49:22

Exodus

Exodus 4:30; Exodus 10:5; Exodus 10:15; Exodus 13:9; Exodus 13:16; Exodus 15:27; Exodus 15:27; Exodus 21:4; Exodus 21:6; Exodus 21:24; Exodus 21:26

Leviticus

Leviticus 4:13; Leviticus 13:5; Leviticus 13:12; Leviticus 13:37; Leviticus 13:55; Leviticus 14:9; Leviticus 20:4; Leviticus 21:20; Leviticus 24:20; Leviticus 24:20; Leviticus 26:16

Numbers

Numbers 5:13; Numbers 11:7; Numbers 14:14; Numbers 15:24; Numbers 15:39; Numbers 19:5; Numbers 22:5; Numbers 22:11; Numbers 22:31; Numbers 24:3; Numbers 24:4; Numbers 24:15; Numbers 24:16; Numbers 33:9; Numbers 33:9; Numbers 36:6

Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 3:27; Deuteronomy 4:25; Deuteronomy 6:8; Deuteronomy 7:16; Deuteronomy 7:16; Deuteronomy 8:7; Deuteronomy 8:7; Deuteronomy 11:18; Deuteronomy 12:8; Deuteronomy 12:25; Deuteronomy 12:28; Deuteronomy 14:1; Deuteronomy 15:9; Deuteronomy 16:12; Deuteronomy 16:19; Deuteronomy 19:21; Deuteronomy 28:34; Deuteronomy 28:54; Deuteronomy 28:56; Deuteronomy 28:67; Deuteronomy 33:28; Deuteronomy 34:4; Deuteronomy 34:7

Joshua

Joshua 9:25

Judges

Judges 2:11; Judges 3:7; Judges 6:17; Judges 16:28

1 Samuel

1 Samuel 4:15; 1 Samuel 12:3; 1 Samuel 16:7; 1 Samuel 21:14; 1 Samuel 29:1; 1 Samuel 29:1

2 Samuel

2 Samuel 10:3; 2 Samuel 16:12; 2 Samuel 20:6; 2 Samuel 22:25; 2 Samuel 22:28

1 Kings

1 Kings 8:29; 1 Kings 8:52; 1 Kings 14:4

2 Kings

2 Kings 4:34; 2 Kings 4:35; 2 Kings 6:17; 2 Kings 6:20; 2 Kings 7:12; 2 Kings 9:30; 2 Kings 19:16

1 Chronicles

1 Chronicles 19:3

2 Chronicles

2 Chronicles 6:20; 2 Chronicles 32:3; 2 Chronicles 32:3

Ezra

Ezra 3:12

Nehemiah

Nehemiah 1:6; Nehemiah 1:6; Nehemiah 2:14; Nehemiah 3:15; Nehemiah 7:15; Nehemiah 12:37

Esther

Esther 1:17; Esther 3:6

Job

Job 3:10; Job 4:16; Job 14:3; Job 15:12; Job 16:9; Job 16:20; Job 22:29; Job 27:19; Job 28:7; Job 28:21; Job 31:1; Job 31:7; Job 39:29; Job 40:24; Job 41:10

Psalms

Psalms 6:8; Psalms 11:4; Psalms 17:11; Psalms 18:25; Psalms 18:28; Psalms 31:10; Psalms 31:23; Psalms 33:18; Psalms 33:18; Psalms 34:16; Psalms 34:16; Psalms 35:19; Psalms 35:21; Psalms 73:7; Psalms 73:7; Psalms 88:10; Psalms 101:5; Psalms 115:5; Psalms 116:8; Psalms 123:2; Psalms 123:2; Psalms 123:2; Psalms 131:1; Psalms 135:16; Psalms 146:8

Proverbs

Proverbs 1:17; Proverbs 4:25; Proverbs 6:13; Proverbs 6:17; Proverbs 8:28; Proverbs 8:28; Proverbs 10:10; Proverbs 15:30; Proverbs 20:13; Proverbs 21:4; Proverbs 22:9; Proverbs 23:6; Proverbs 23:29; Proverbs 23:31; Proverbs 28:22; Proverbs 28:27; Proverbs 30:17

Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 1:8; Ecclesiastes 2:10; Ecclesiastes 4:8; Ecclesiastes 6:9

Song of Songs

Song of Songs 1:15; Song of Songs 4:1; Song of Songs 4:9; Song of Songs 5:12; Song of Songs 7:5

Isaiah

Isaiah 1:15; Isaiah 2:11; Isaiah 3:8; Isaiah 3:16; Isaiah 5:15; Isaiah 6:10; Isaiah 10:12; Isaiah 13:18; Isaiah 13:18; Isaiah 32:3; Isaiah 35:5; Isaiah 37:17; Isaiah 38:14; Isaiah 42:7; Isaiah 42:7; Isaiah 44:18; Isaiah 52:8; Isaiah 65:16

Jeremiah

Jeremiah 4:30; Jeremiah 31:16; Jeremiah 32:4; Jeremiah 32:12; Jeremiah 32:19; Jeremiah 34:3

Lamentations

Lamentations 3:49

Ezekiel

Ezekiel 1:4; Ezekiel 1:7; Ezekiel 1:16; Ezekiel 1:18; Ezekiel 1:22; Ezekiel 1:27; Ezekiel 5:11; Ezekiel 6:9; Ezekiel 8:2; Ezekiel 10:9; Ezekiel 10:12; Ezekiel 20:7; Ezekiel 20:8; Ezekiel 22:26; Ezekiel 23:40; Ezekiel 24:16; Ezekiel 24:21; Ezekiel 24:25

Daniel

Daniel 8:5; Daniel 8:21; Daniel 9:18; Daniel 10:6

Hosea

Hosea 10:10; Hosea 13:14

Joel

Joel 1:16

Zechariah

Zechariah 3:9; Zechariah 3:9; Zechariah 4:10; Zechariah 5:6; Zechariah 12:4