English · KJV
H5786

עָוַר

ʻâvar /aw-var'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root (rather denominatively from עוֹר through the idea of a film over the eyes)
Meaningto blind
KJV usageblind, put out. See also עַיִר.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʻâvar — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word ʻâvar, represented by H5786, is a primitive root that means to blind or put out. According to its base definition, it evokes the idea of a film covering the eyes. It appears 5 times across 5 unique verses, marking its use for specific and impactful situations.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H5786 is used in two key contexts: figuratively in legal warnings and literally in historical accounts of judgment. In the Law, it is used to forbid bribery, warning that a gift H7810 doth blind the eyes H5869 of the wise H2450 Deuteronomy 16:19 and blindeth the wise H6493 Exodus 23:8, thereby corrupting justice. The word is also used literally to describe the grim punishment of Zedekiah H6667, the king of Judah, whose eyes H5869 were put out after he witnessed the execution of his sons H1121, before being taken captive to Babylon H894 (2 Kings 25:7; Jeremiah 39:7).

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the theme of blinding, whether moral or physical:

  • H7810 shachad (gift): This word for a donation or bribe is identified as the direct cause of figurative blindness, as it can pervert H5557 the words H1697 of the righteous H6662 Exodus 23:8.
  • H5869 ʻayin (eye): As the physical or figurative organ of sight, the eye is the object that is blinded by a gift or physically put out as a punishment (Jeremiah 52:11; Deuteronomy 16:19).
  • H6667 Tsidqîyâh (Zedekiah): The king of Judah who suffered the literal fulfillment of this word when his eyes were put out by the king H4428 of Babylon H894 Jeremiah 39:7.
  • H5178 nᵉchôsheth (brass, chain): This word describes the fetters or chains used to bind H631 Zedekiah after he was blinded, linking the act to his subsequent captivity (2 Kings 25:7; Jeremiah 52:11).

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H5786 is centered on the concepts of justice and divine retribution.

  • The Corruption of Integrity: The prohibition against taking a gift H7810 that blinds the wise establishes a divine standard for justice. It shows that impartiality (clear vision) can be compromised, leading to the perversion H5557 of judgment H4941 Deuteronomy 16:19.
  • Judgment and Finality: The literal blinding of King Zedekiah H6667 is an act of ultimate judgment. His sight is taken away immediately after he sees his sons H1121 slain H7819, signifying the end of his royal line and his own hope 2 Kings 25:7.
  • Symbol of Utter Defeat: Being blinded was the final act before Zedekiah was bound H631 and carried H935 to Babylon H894, where he died H4194 in prison H1004{H6486} Jeremiah 52:11. The loss of sight symbolizes a complete loss of power, freedom, and future.

Summary

In summary, H5786 is a potent word that, though used sparingly, powerfully illustrates the concept of blinding. It functions both as a metaphor for the moral corruption that perverts justice and as a literal depiction of severe, irreversible judgment. Through its usage, ʻâvar draws a stark connection between compromised vision—whether of the mind or the body—and the dire consequences of injustice and rebellion.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 5 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • עִוֵּר
  • יְעַוֵּר

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H7810 שַׁחַד from שָׁחַד; a donation (venal or redemptive); bribe(-ry), gift, present, reward. H5869 עַיִן probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape); aff H2450 חָכָם from חָכַם; wise, (i.e. intelligent, skilful or artful); cunning (man), subtil, (un-), wise((hearted), man). H6493 פִּקֵּחַ from פָּקַח; clear-sighted; figuratively, intelligent; seeing, wise. H6667 צִדְקִיָּה or צִדְקִיָּהוּ; from צֶדֶק and יָהּ; right of Jah; Tsidkijah, the name of six Israelites; Zedekiah, Zidkijah. H1121 בֵּן from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, inclu

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 5 verses across 4 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Jeremiah (2 verses); never once in the other 35.

1
Exodus
1
Deuteronomy
1
2 Kings
2
Jeremiah

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.