### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **eíkō**, represented by `{{G1503}}`, is a verb meaning **to resemble** or **be like**. It appears only **2 times** across **2 unique verses** in the Bible. Its function is to create a direct comparison, likening a person's spiritual state to a tangible, physical image.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical usage, `{{G1503}}` serves to illustrate two negative spiritual conditions. In James, a person who wavers in their faith is said to **be like** a wave of the sea that is driven by the wind and tossed [[James 1:6]]. The word is also used to describe a person who is merely a hearer of the word and not a doer; this individual is **like** a man who looks at his own face in a mirror and immediately forgets his appearance [[James 1:23]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words are used in conjunction with `{{G1503}}` to build these comparisons:
* `{{G1252}}` **diakrínō** (to... waver): This word describes the spiritual instability that prompts the comparison. The one who "wavereth" is the subject who is then likened to something else [[James 1:6]].
* `{{G2830}}` **klýdōn** (a surge of the sea... wave): This is the object of the comparison in the first use of `{{G1503}}`, providing a vivid image of instability [[James 1:6]].
* `{{G2657}}` **katanoéō** (to observe fully... behold, consider): This action of "beholding" is central to the second simile, where a forgetful hearer is compared to a man who only briefly considers his reflection [[James 1:23]].
* `{{G4383}}` **prósōpon** (the... countenance... face): This term for "face" is what the man in the second comparison beholds in a glass, representing the truth he observes but fails to retain [[James 1:23]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{G1503}}` comes from the powerful illustrations it creates for key principles of faith.
* **The Instability of Doubt:** The comparison in [[James 1:6]] is a warning against double-mindedness. By likening a wavering person to a tossed **wave** `{{G2830}}`, the text emphasizes that a lack of faith results in an unstable and unpredictable spiritual life.
* **The Ineffectiveness of Passive Hearing:** The simile in [[James 1:23]] critiques a faith that is not put into practice. A hearer who does not act is **like** someone who looks in a mirror; the knowledge is superficial and has no lasting effect on the person's character or actions.
### Summary
In summary, while rare, `{{G1503}}` is a significant word used to construct memorable and convicting similes. It bridges the gap between an abstract spiritual concept—such as doubt or inaction—and a concrete, easily understood image. Its use in scripture serves as a potent reminder that faith must be stable, active, and transformative, not merely observational or fleeting.
TRV