OlivePress
Pressing the Word of God for Deeper Understanding.
Greek · G2334 · unreviewed

θεωρέω

To see/experience

These lexicon entries are being actively developed. If you notice missing content, incorrect definitions, or have suggestions, we'd love to hear from you. Share a note on our Connect page and include a screenshot if helpful.

θεωρέω G2334
Pronunciation theōréō

What does θεωρέω (theōréō) mean in the Bible?

θεωρέω (theōréō) is a Greek word meaning "to see/experience". θεωρέω, -ῶ (θεωρός, a spectator, θεάομαι) [in LXX chiefly for רָאָה, חָזָה ;] (present and imperfect only, exc.

Full entry for θεωρέω (G2334) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to see/experience
Extended definition

To gaze upon intently; in NT often implies experiential knowledge through sustained observation or witness.

(θεωρός, a spectator, θεάομαι) [in LXX chiefly for רָאָה, חָזָה ;] (present and imperfect only, exc. Jhn.7:3 (fut.), Mat.28:1, Luk.23:48, Jhn.8:51, Rev.11:12 (aor.); El., § 24);

1(cl.), to look at, gaze, behold: absol., Mat.27:55, Mrk.15:40, Luk.23:35; before πῶς, Mrk.12:41; ποῦ, Mrk.15:47; with accusative of person(s), Jhn.6:40, 62 12:45 16:10-19, Act.3:16 20:38 25:24, Rev.11:11-12; id. with ptcp., Mrk.5:15, Luk.10:18, Jhn.6:19 10:12 20:12, 14, 1Jn.3:17; with accusative of thing(s), Mat.28:1, Luk.14:29 21:6 23:48, Jhn.2:23 6:2 7:3, Act.4:13 8:13; id. with ptcp., Jhn.20:6, Act.7:56 10:11; before ὅτι, Act.19:26.
2In popular lang. (Kennedy, Sources, 155; EL, § 24, see word ὁρᾶν), in present and imperfect = ὁράω, to see, perceive, discern: before ὅτι, Mrk.16:4, Jhn.4:19 12:19, Act.19:26 27:10; πόσαι, Act.21:20; πηλίκος, Heb.7:4; with accusative of thing(s), Mrk.5:38; id. with ptcp., Act.17:16 28:6; with accusative of person(s), Mrk.3:11, Jhn.14:19, Act.9:7 17:22; πνεῦμα, Luk.24:37; τὸ π., Jhn.14:17; before ὅτι, Jhn.9:8; with ptcp., Luk.24:39.
3Hebraistically, to experience, partake of: τ. θάνατον, Jhn.8:51 (cf. Psa.89:49); τ. δόξαν, Jhn.17:24 (cf. ἀνα-, παρα-θερρέω).
Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith
Grammatical Forms

How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.

Tenses
Present Imperfect Aorist Future
Voices
Active
Indicative states a fact or reality 35×
Present Active Luke 21:6 · Luke 24:39 · John 12:19 · John 14:19 · John 16:10 · John 16:16 · John 16:17 · John 16:19 · Acts 3:16 · Acts 19:26 · Acts 25:24 · Mark 5:38 · John 10:12 · John 12:45 · John 14:17 · John 20:6 28×
Imperfect Active Mark 3:11 · Mark 15:47 · John 6:2 · Mark 12:41 · Luke 10:18 5×
Future Active John 7:3 1×
Aorist Active Rev 11:12 1×
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 15×
Present Active Luke 14:29 · John 2:23 · John 9:8 · Acts 4:13 · Acts 9:7 · Luke 23:35 · John 6:40 · John 12:45 · Acts 8:13 · Matt 27:55 · Mark 15:40 · Acts 17:16 · Acts 28:6 · Rev 11:11 14×
Aorist Active Luke 23:48 1×
Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract 3×
Present Active Luke 24:37 · Acts 20:38 2×
Aorist Active Matt 28:1 1×
Subjunctive possibility, probability, or purpose 4×
Present Active John 6:62 · John 17:24 · 1 John 3:17 3×
Aorist Active John 8:51 1×
Imperative command or strong request 1×
Present Active Heb 7:4 1×
58 total occurrences across all forms in the biblical text Morphology: MorphGNT SBLGNT — CC BY-SA 3.0
Discourse Aspect

How this verb appears across 56 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).

Aspect
completed 1 ongoing 26 prospective 1 imperative 1 background 5 subjunctive 4 infinitive 3 participle 15
Tense
present 46 imperfect 5 aorist 4 future 1
Voice
active 56
Mood
indicative 33 participle 15 subjunctive 4 infinitive 3 imperative 1
NT Occurrences
Matthew 27:55 θεωροῦσαι present active participle participle Matthew 28:1 θεωρῆσαι aorist active infinitive infinitive Mark 3:11 ἐθεώρουν imperfect active indicative background Mark 5:15 θεωροῦσιν present active indicative ongoing Mark 5:38 θεωρεῖ present active indicative ongoing Mark 12:41 ἐθεώρει imperfect active indicative background Mark 15:40 θεωροῦσαι present active participle participle Mark 15:47 ἐθεώρουν imperfect active indicative background Mark 16:4 θεωροῦσιν present active indicative ongoing Luke 10:18 Ἐθεώρουν imperfect active indicative background Luke 14:29 θεωροῦντες present active participle participle Luke 21:6 θεωρεῖτε present active indicative ongoing Luke 23:35 θεωρῶν present active participle participle Luke 23:48 θεωρήσαντες aorist active participle participle Luke 24:37 θεωρεῖν present active infinitive infinitive Luke 24:39 θεωρεῖτε present active indicative ongoing John 2:23 θεωροῦντες present active participle participle John 4:19 θεωρῶ present active indicative ongoing John 6:19 θεωροῦσιν present active indicative ongoing John 6:2 ἐθεώρουν imperfect active indicative background John 6:40 θεωρῶν present active participle participle John 6:62 θεωρῆτε present active subjunctive subjunctive John 7:3 θεωρήσουσιν future active indicative prospective John 8:51 θεωρήσῃ aorist active subjunctive subjunctive John 9:8 θεωροῦντες present active participle participle John 10:12 θεωρεῖ present active indicative ongoing John 12:19 Θεωρεῖτε present active indicative ongoing John 12:45 θεωρῶν present active participle participle John 12:45 θεωρεῖ present active indicative ongoing John 14:17 θεωρεῖ present active indicative ongoing John 14:19 θεωρεῖ present active indicative ongoing John 14:19 θεωρεῖτέ present active indicative ongoing John 16:10 θεωρεῖτέ present active indicative ongoing John 16:16 θεωρεῖτέ present active indicative ongoing John 16:17 θεωρεῖτέ present active indicative ongoing John 16:19 θεωρεῖτέ present active indicative ongoing John 17:24 θεωρῶσιν present active subjunctive subjunctive John 20:12 θεωρεῖ present active indicative ongoing John 20:14 θεωρεῖ present active indicative ongoing John 20:6 θεωρεῖ present active indicative ongoing +16 more occurrences

Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.

Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)

Appears In

Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.

θεωρέω · ὁράω G2334, G3708
see, behold, perceive
βλέπω · θεωρέω · ὁράω G991, G2334, G3708
see, observe, perceive
Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

John 16 — The Spirit’s Convicting Witness, the Disciples’ Sorrow Turned to Joy, and Christ’s Victory over the World John 17 — The Son’s High Priestly Prayer: Glory, Preservation, Sanctification, Unity, Mission, and Love John 20 — The Risen Lord: Empty Tomb, Eyewitness Faith, Peace, Mission, Spirit, Thomas, and the Purpose of the Gospel

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

Full license details