### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **íde**, represented by `{{G2396}}`, functions as an interjection to draw attention or express surprise, often translated as **behold**, **lo**, or **see**. It appears 26 times across 26 unique verses in the Bible. Derived from the verb εἴδω (to see), it serves as a command or exclamation to look and perceive something significant.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{G2396}}` is used to direct someone's attention to a critical person, object, or event. John the Baptist exclaims, "**Behold** the Lamb of God," to identify Jesus [[John 1:29]]. It is used to point to a significant location, as when the young man at the tomb says, "**behold** the place where they laid him" [[Mark 16:6]]. Pilate repeatedly uses it to present Jesus to the crowd, saying, "**Behold** the man!" [[John 19:5]] and "**Behold** your King!" [[John 19:14]]. The term also introduces pointed questions or declarations, such as the Pharisees challenging Jesus's disciples [[Mark 2:24]] or Paul making a solemn statement to the Galatians [[Galatians 5:2]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words expand upon the concept of seeing and perceiving:
* `{{G1492}}` **eídō** (to see, know): As the root verb for **íde**, it denotes seeing literally or figuratively and, by implication, to know. Jesus **saw** Nathanael coming to him and identified him as an Israelite [[John 1:47]]. It also refers to spiritual perception, as one cannot **see** the kingdom of God without being born again [[John 3:3]].
* `{{G1689}}` **emblépō** (behold, gaze up, look upon, see): This word suggests a fixed and discerning look. It is used when John the Baptist was **looking upon** Jesus as he walked [[John 1:36]], and when Jesus **beheld** the rich young ruler and loved him [[Mark 10:21]].
* `{{G991}}` **blépō** (behold, beware, look, perceive, see): This primary verb means to look at. It is used in the narrative leading up to an exclamation of **íde**, as when John the Baptist **seeth** Jesus coming [[John 1:29]]. It also carries the idea of "to beware" or "take heed" [[Colossians 2:8]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{G2396}}` lies in its function as an immediate and urgent call to witness a divine truth.
* **Revelation of Identity:** The word is frequently used to introduce a definitive statement about the nature of Christ. John the Baptist’s cry, "**Behold** the Lamb of God" [[John 1:29]], is a command to see Jesus's redemptive role. Similarly, Pilate’s declarations, "**Behold** the man!" [[John 19:5]] and "**Behold** your King!" [[John 19:14]], force a confrontation with Jesus’s identity.
* **Presentation of Evidence:** **Íde** serves to present undeniable proof or testimony. Pilate presents Jesus to the crowd, stating, "**Behold**, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him" [[John 19:4]]. In the parables of the talents, servants present their work by saying, "**behold**, I have gained..." ([[Matthew 25:20]], [[Matthew 25:22]]).
* **A Call to Perceive Divine Action:** The term highlights God's work in the world, demanding recognition. After Jesus heals a man, He says, "**Behold**, thou art made whole: sin no more" [[John 5:14]]. At the empty tomb, the angel commands the women to "**behold** the place where they laid him," pointing to the reality of the resurrection [[Mark 16:6]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{G2396}}` is more than a simple command to look; it is an emphatic interjection that signals a moment of critical importance. It functions to direct attention, present evidence, and declare profound truths, often at pivotal moments in the narrative. From identifying the Lamb of God to revealing the empty tomb, **íde** serves as a biblical signpost, urging the observer to see and understand the significance of the person or event being presented.
TRV