Lexical Definition

‎עַיִן‎ ʻayin (ah'-yin) eye ^H:N-F
probably a primitive word

affliction, outward appearance, [phrase] before, [phrase] think best, colour, conceit, [phrase] be content, countenance, [phrase] displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, [phrase] favour, fountain, furrow (from the margin), [idiom] him, [phrase] humble, knowledge, look, ([phrase] well), [idiom] me, open(-ly), [phrase] (not) please, presence, [phrase] regard, resemblance, sight, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them, [phrase] think, [idiom] us, well, [idiom] you(-rselves).

• an eye (literally or figuratively)
• by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)

1) eye
1a) eye
1a1) of physical eye
1a2) as showing mental qualities
1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)
2) spring, fountain

See Greek: Αἰνών · ἀνεξιχνίαστος · ἀπαίδευτος · ἀπέραντος · ἀσθενέω · ἄχρηστος · εἶδος · ὄμμα · ὁμοίωμα · ὅρασις · οὐκέτι · ὀφθαλμός · ὄψις · πηγή · πρόσωπον · φαίνω

Brown-Driver-Briggs

Aramaic form: עַיִן
‎עֹוֵן‎ Kt 1Sam 18:9 see ‎עין‎. ‎עִוְעִים‎ see below I. ‎עוה‎.

I. ‎עַ֫יִן‎₈₅₉ noun feminine^{Gen 3:7} and (Zech 3:9; Zech 4:10 Albr^{ZAW xvi (1896), 75}) masculine eye (ancient Semitic word; √ and relation to II. ‎׳‎‎ע‎ unknown; Late Hebrew id.; Phoenician ‎ען‎; ᵑ7 ‎עֵינָא‎, ‎עַיְינָא‎ Palmyrene ‎עינא‎ Zinjirli suffix ‎עיני‎, ‎עינך‎ Syriac ; Assyrian ênu, enu, Tel Amarna suffix inaya and (apparently Canaanite gloss —inaya; Arabic ; Ethiopic ); — absolute ‎׳‎‎ע‎ Exod 21:4 +, construct ‎עֵין‎ vExod 21:26 +; suffix ‎עֵינִי‎ Gen 44:21 + (2Sam 16:12 read ‎עָנְיִי‎ Vrss Comm.), ‎עֵינְךָ‎ Deut 7:16 +, ‎עֵינֵנוּ‎ Ps 35:21 (2Sam 20:6 see ‎נצל‎ Hiph`il); suffix 3 masculine plural ‎עֵינָם‎ Isa 13:18 (Zech 5:6 read ‎עֲוֺנָם‎ ᵐ5 We Gr Now), ‎עֵינֵמוֺ‎ Ps 73:7 (but read ‎עֲוֺנָמוֺ‎ see Commentaries); usually dual ‎עֵינַיִם‎ Gen 20:16 +, ‎עֵינָ֑יִם‎ Isa 3:16 +, especially construct ‎עֵינֵי‎ Gen 3:7 +, ‎עֵנֵי‎ Isa 3:8 suffix ‎עֵינַי‎ Gen 31:10 +, ‎עֵינֶיךָ‎ Judg 6:17 +, etc. (Hos 10:10 read ‎עֲוֺנֹתָם‎ compare ᵐ5 ᵑ9 Che We Gr Now); — eye:

1. literally as physical organ,
a. of man Exod 21:6 (3 t. in verse) (E), Gen 3:6 (J) +, Lev 21:20; Lev 24:20 (twice in verse); Lev 26:16 (H; very rarely P, e.g. Deut 34:4; Deut 34:7), 2Kgs 4:34 (twice in verse) +; once ‎שְׁתֵּי עֵינַי‎ Judg 16:28.
b. anthropomorph. of ‎׳‎‎י‎ Ps 33:18; Ps 34:16* +.
c. of idols Ps 115:5; Ps 135:16.
d. of beasts Gen 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; .
e. in wheels Ezek 1:18 compare Ezek 10:12 on stone Zech 3:9 (all in visions). feminine subject of ‎ראה‎ see Gen 45:12 (twice in verse) (E), + (often Deuteronomy), with ‎חזה‎ Ps 11:4 men see ‎׳‎‎בְּע‎ Deut 3:27; 2Kgs 7:12 +; especially ‎׳‎‎נָשָׂא ע‎ + ‎ראה‎ Gen 13:10; Gen 10:14 (J) +; compare ‎לְכָלמַֿרְאֵה עֵינֵי הַכֹּהֵן‎ Lev 13:12 = as far as the priest can see, ‎׳‎‎מַרְאֵה ע‎ Deut 28:34 what is seen by the eyes = vDeut 28:67; Eccl 6:9.
g. as affected by sleep, see ‎שֵׁנָה‎ below [‎יָשֵׁן‎].
h. as weeping, ‎מְקוֺר דִּמְעָה‎ ‎׳‎‎ע‎ Jer 8:23*, ‎נִגְּרָה‎ ‎׳‎‎ע‎ Lam 3:49, ‎׳‎‎דָּֽלְפָה ע‎ Job 16:20 see also Jer 31:16; Ps 116:8, and ‎ירד‎ Qal 3 c. i. as growing dim, see I. ‎כָּהָה‎, ‎חָשַׁךְ‎ 3; with ‎כָּבֵד‎ Gen 48:10 (E), ‎קוּם‎ 1Sam 4:15; 1Kgs 14:4, ‎שָׁעַע‎ Isa 32:3; Isa 6:10 (Hiph`il); with ‎כָּלָה‎ pine, languish, see ‎׳‎‎כ‎ Qal 2 b, Pi`el 2 b, with ‎דָּאַב‎ Ps 88:10*, ‎עָשַׁשׁ‎ Ps 6:8*; Ps 31:10*, ‎דָּלַל‎ Isa 38:14.
j. with ‎פָּקַח‎ open, after sleep Job 27:19, sleep of death 2Kgs 4:35 = keep awake Prov 20:13 (opposed to ‎שֵׁנָה‎); of new power of vision Gen 3:5; Gen 3:7 (J), given by God Gen 21:19 (E), 2Kgs 6:17 (twice in verse); so (with ‎וַיְגַל‎) Num 22:31 (JE); = give sight to blind 2Kgs 6:20 (twice in verse); Isa 35:5; Isa 42:7; Ps 146:8 of God (‎׳‎‎י‎) opening his eyes, ‎׳‎‎פָּקַח ע‎ 2Kgs 19:16 = Isa 37:17; Dan 9:18, + ‎עַלֿ‎ Jer 32:19; Zech 12:4; Job 14:3 ‎עַל‎ {abbrev}‎שִׂי֥֥ ע‎ Gen 44:21 (J) Jer 39:12; Jer 40:4, + ‎לטובה‎ Jer 24:6, + ‎לרעה‎ Amos 9:4 with ‎פָּתַח‎ + ‎אֶלֿ‎ 1Kgs 8:29 = 2Chr 6:20; 1Kgs 8:52; Neh 1:6, + ‎ל‎ 2Chr 6:40; 2Chr 7:15 + infinitive Neh 1:6. — Num 24:3; Num 24:15 see ‎שׁתם‎
k. ‎׳‎‎אוֺר ע‎ etc., = revive, see ‎אור‎

verb Qal, Hiph`il; noun, 10.

1. ‎׳‎‎קָרַץ ע‎ = wink Ps 35:19; Prov 10:10, ‎׳‎‎בְּע‎ ‎׳‎‎ק‎ Prov 6:13. masculine ‎׳‎‎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 Deut 16:12 compare Song 4:9; Song 7:5*, ‎יוֺנִים‎ ‎׳‎‎ע‎ Song 1:15; Song 4:1 and Song 5:12 (‎כְּיוֺנִים‎); on other hand, ‎לֵאָה רַכּוֺת‎ ‎׳‎‎ע‎ Gen 29:17 (E); ‎׳‎‎וַתָּשֶׂם בַּפּוּךְ ע‎ 2Kgs 9:30 (see ‎פּוּךְ‎), compare Jer 4:30, ‎׳‎‎כָּחַל ע‎ Ezek 23:40 paint the eyes .
q. apple of the eye, see ‎אִישׁוֺן‎, [‎בָּבָה‎], ‎בַּת‎

6. r. ‎׳‎‎גַּבֹּת ע‎ Lev 14:9 eyebrows.
s. ‎׳‎‎חַכְלִילִי ע‎ ‎מִָיּ֑יִן‎ Gen 49:12, ‎׳‎‎חַכְלִילוּת ע‎ Prov 23:29 (see ‎׳‎‎ח‎); ‎׳‎‎מְאוֺר ע‎ Prov 15:30, see Toy.

2. a. eyes as shewing mental qualities: arrogance ‎גַבְהוּת‎ ‎׳‎‎ע‎ Isa 2:11, ‎גְבֹהִים‎ ‎׳‎‎ע‎ Isa 5:15, ‎׳‎‎גְּבַהּעֿ‎ Ps 101:5, ‎׳‎‎תִּפְאֶרֶת רוּם ע‎ Isa 10:12 with ‎רוּם‎ also Ps 18:28* (so read also || 2Sam 22:28 Hup HPS), 2Sam 131:1; Prov 6:17; Prov 21:4 humility, ‎׳‎‎שַׁח ע‎ Job 22:29 mockery, ‎תִּלְעַג לְ‎ ‎׳‎‎ע‎ Prov 30:17 compare ‎בְּ‎ ‎׳‎‎רָעָה ע‎ Deut 15:9 (grudging), Deut 28:54; Deut 28:56 (id.); especially (‎עַל‎) ‎אַלתָּֿחֹס‎ ‎׳‎‎ע‎ not have pity on Deut 7:16 + 4 t. Deuteronomy; Ezek 5:11 + 8 t. Ezekiel; Isa 13:18, also Gen 45:20 (E; = not regret); compare ‎׳‎‎נֹחַם יִסָּתֵר מֵע‎ Hos 13:14.
b. ‎׳‎‎מַחְמַד ע‎ Ezek 24:16 desire of the eyes, so vEzek 24:21 vEzek 24:25 ‎׳‎‎שִׁקּוּצֵי ע‎ Ezek 20:7 abominations of the eyes, so vEzek 20:8. — Ps 73:7 see ‎חֵלֶב‎.

3. Figurative of mental and spiritual faculties, acts and states:
a. ‎׳‎‎תִּפָּקַחְנָה ע‎ Gen 3:5; Gen 3:7 (J) Isa 42:7, ‎׳‎‎גְּלּוּי ע‎ Num 24:4; Num 24:16 (JE); also ‎׳‎‎טַח מֵרְאוֺת ע‎ Isa 44:18 ‎׳‎‎אֶליֿ‎ ‎׳‎‎ע‎ Ps 123:2 (see vPs 123:2 vPs 123:2 for origin of figurative), +; of ‎׳‎‎י‎, Ps 33:18 (i.e. his favour) Ps 34:16* (id. +.
b. ‎הַזִּנוֺת‎ ‎׳‎‎ע‎ Ezek 6:9 ‎׳‎‎תִּשְׂבַּע ע‎ Eccl 1:8; Eccl 4:8 ‎׳‎‎שָֽׁאֲלוּ ע‎ Eccl 2:10 ‎לְֹנכַח יַבִּיטוּ‎ ‎׳‎‎ע‎ Prov 4:25 ‎׳‎‎טוֺבעֿ‎ Prov 22:9 = bountiful, ‎רַע עָ֑יִן‎ Prov 23:6 = niggardly one, so Prov 28:22 eye as avenue of temptation Job 31:1; Job 31:7 ‎׳‎‎שִׁית ע‎ Ps 17:11 = designation
c. especially ‎בְּעֵינֵי‎, with adjective and intransitive verbs, in the view, opinion, of Gen 16:4; Gen 16:5 (J), Gen 21:11; Gen 21:12 (E), Gen 34:18 (P), + often; with active verb 2Sam 10:3 = 1Chr 19:3; Esth 1:17; Esth 3:6 ‎׳‎‎הַטּוֺב בְּע‎ Gen 16:6; Gen 19:14 (J), +, i.e. what one pleases, Num 36:6 (P) whom they please; ‎׳‎‎הַיָּשָׁר בְּע‎ Deut 12:8; Deut 12:25 +, ‎׳‎‎הַטּוֺב וְהַיָּשָׁר בְּע‎ vDeut 12:28; Josh 9:25 (D), ‎׳‎‎הָרַע בְּע‎ Judg 2:11; Judg 3:7; Deut 4:25 + especially D and Kings (R^D); so ‎לְנֶגֶד עיניו‎ 2Sam 22:25 = Ps 18:25* ‎אַחֲרֵי עֵינֵיכֶם‎ Num 15:39 = according to your wish, fancy (+ ‎לְבַבְכֶם‎).
d. ‎׳‎‎נֶעְלָם מֵע‎ Lev 4:13 i.e. hid from knowledge of, so Num 5:13 (both P), Job 28:21 ‎׳‎‎מֵע‎ Num 15:24 (P) without the knowledge of; ‎מִן‎ ‎׳‎‎אַעְלִים ע‎ Isa 1:15 = disregard, pay no attention; compare Lev 20:4 (H) Ezek 22:26 without ‎מִן‎, absolute, Prov 28:27 ‎׳‎‎נִסְתְּרוּ מֵע‎ Isa 65:16, ‎׳‎‎וַיַּסְתֵּר עָמָל מֵע‎ Job 3:10 ‎בּוֺ‎ ‎׳‎‎אַעְלִים ע‎ (i.e. ‎בַּכֹּפֶר‎) 1Sam 12:3 (‎נעלים‎ sandals + ‎ענו בי‎ ᵐ5 Th We Kit, compare Ecclus^{xlvi. 19}; Bu HPS insert ‎ענו בי‎); ‎׳‎‎הַשֹּׁחַד יְעַוֵּר ע‎ Deut 16:19, compare ‎׳‎‎כְּסוּת ע‎ Gen 20:16 (E).

4. Transferred meanings:
a. visible surface of earth Exod 10:5; Exod 10:15 (J) Num 22:5; Num 22:11 (JE).
b. appearance Lev 13:5 (P; reading ‎בְּעֵינוֺ‎ Di Kau Dr-Wh), vLev 13:37 (P; reading id.), vLev 13:55 (P) Num 11:7 (twice in verse) (JE); so apparently dual 1Sam 16:7.
c. gleam, sparkle (of metal, jewels, etc.) Ezek 1:4; Ezek 1:7; Ezek 1:16; Ezek 1:22; Ezek 1:27; Ezek 8:2; Ezek 10:9; Dan 10:6 of wine Prov 23:31.

5. Other phrases are: ‎׳‎‎תַּחַת ע‎ ‎׳‎‎ע‎ Exod 21:24 (E) = Lev 24:20 (H), = ‎׳‎‎בְּע‎ ‎׳‎‎ע‎ Deut 19:21, all = an eye for an eye; ‎׳‎‎בְּע‎ ‎׳‎‎ע‎ = eye to eye, Num 14:14 (P) Isa 52:8 (figurative), compare ‎תִּרְאֶינָה‎ ‎׳‎‎אֶתעֿ‎ ‎׳‎‎וְע‎ Jer 32:4; Jer 34:3 especially ‎לְעֵינֵי‎ in the presence of, in full view of Gen 42:24 (E) Gen 47:19 (J) Exod 4:30 (J) Num 19:5 (P), + oft; of business transaction Jer 32:12 (twice in verse); Gen 23:11; Gen 23:18 (P); so ‎׳‎‎נֶגֶד ע‎ Joel 1:16, ‎׳‎‎לְנֶגֶד ע‎ Job 4:16, and even ‎׳‎‎בְּע‎ 1Sam 21:14*; Ezra 3:12 ‎׳‎‎נִגְרַזְתּי מִנֶּגֶד ע‎ Ps 31:23* ‎׳‎‎בֵּין ע‎ = on the forehead Exod 13:9; Exod 13:16 (JE) Deut 6:8; Deut 11:18; Deut 14:1; Dan 8:5; Dan 8:21.

Also see: עַיִן | עֵין חֲרֹד | שַׁעַר

II. ‎עַ֫יִן‎ noun feminine spring (of water) (connection with I. ‎׳‎‎ע‎ dubious; Late Hebrew id., Phoenician ‎ען‎; Assyrian ênu, înu; Arabic ; Ethiopic ; Palmyrene ‎עינא‎, ᵑ7 ‎עֵינָא‎, ‎עַיְינָא‎; Syriac ); — absolute ‎׳‎‎ע‎ 1Sam 29:1 +, ‎עָ֑יִן‎ Gen 49:22 +, ‎הָעַ֫יְנָה‎ Gen 24:16; Gen 24:45 construct ‎עֵין‎ vGen 24:13 +; plural ‎עֲיָנֹת‎ Deut 8:7, ‎וֺת‎- 2Chr 32:3 construct ‎עֵינוֺת‎ Exod 15:27 = Num 33:9, ‎עִינוֺת‎ Prov 8:28 (Ges^{«GKC:93v»§ 93v}); — spring Gen 16:7; Gen 24:16; Gen 24:29; Gen 24:30; Gen 24:42; Gen 24:45 (all J) Gen 49:22 (poem in J), 1Sam 29:1 ‎עֵין חַמַּיִם‎ Gen 16:7; Gen 24:13; Gen 24:43 (J), compare Exod 15:27 (J) Num 33:9 (P); ‎׳‎‎נַחֲלֵי מַיִם ע‎ ‎וּתְחֹמֹת‎ Deut 8:7 ‎מֵימֵי הָעֲיָנוֺת‎ 2Chr 32:3 ‎תְּהוֺם‎ ‎׳‎‎ְ‎ Prov 8:28 (i.e. of the sea); figurative ‎עֵין יַעֲקֹב‎ Deut 33:28 (poem), i.e. Jacob's descendants. Particular springs are:
a. ‎חֲרֹד‎ ‎׳‎‎ע‎ Judg 7:1 (on location compare GFM).
b. ‎הַקּוֺרֵא‎ ‎׳‎‎ע‎ (partridge-spring) Judg 15:19 (compare id.).
c. ‎רֹגֵּל‎ ‎׳‎‎ע‎ near Jerusalem (early sanctuary RS^{Sem i. 157, 2nd ed. 172}) 2Sam 17:17 compare 1Kgs 1:2, on border of Judah Josh 15:7, and Benjamin Josh 18:16.
d. ‎הַתַּנִּין‎ ‎׳‎‎ע‎ (dragon-spring) Neh 2:13 (= c ? so RS^l.c.). — On ‎שַׁעַר הָעַיִן‎ Neh 2:14; Neh 3:15; Neh 12:37 see ‎שַׁעַר‎

Brown-Driver-Briggs References