English · KJV
H5787

עִוֵּר

ʻivvêr /iv-vare'/ Ask about this word
Rootintensive from עָוַר
Meaningblind (literally or figuratively)
KJV usageblind (men, people).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʻivvêr — 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 ʻivvêr, represented by H5787, refers to being blind. It appears 26 times across 23 unique verses, used to describe a state that is both literal and figurative. The term encompasses not only physical blindness but also a spiritual or moral inability to perceive truth.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H5787 is used in several key contexts. It appears in legal codes that protect the vulnerable, stating, "nor put a stumblingblock before the blind" Leviticus 19:14, and pronouncing a curse on anyone who makes the blind wander from the way Deuteronomy 27:18. It is also used in a ritual context, where a blind animal is considered to have a blemish H3971 and is unacceptable for sacrifice Malachi 1:8. Figuratively, it describes spiritual failure, as when Israel's leaders are called blind watchmen who are ignorant Isaiah 56:10, or when the nation itself is described as God's blind servant Isaiah 42:19.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words expand upon the concept of blindness and perception:

  • H6491 pâqach (to open): This verb provides the direct antidote to blindness. It is used in messianic prophecies where God promises that "the eyes of the blind shall be opened" Isaiah 35:5, signifying divine healing and restoration.
  • H2822 chôshek (darkness): This word describes the environment of the blind, both literally and figuratively. God promises to bring his people out of darkness Isaiah 42:7 and to lead the blind by making darkness light before them Isaiah 42:16.
  • H3782 kâshal (to stumble): This word denotes a direct consequence of being blind. As a result of their sin, the people "grope for the wall like the blind" and stumble at noonday Isaiah 59:10.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H5787 is significant, highlighting key divine truths.

  • Divine Sovereignty: God's ultimate authority over human conditions is asserted in Exodus, where He asks, "who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?" Exodus 4:11.
  • Symbol of Sin and Judgment: Spiritual blindness is a frequent metaphor for a state of sin. As a judgment, God declares that people will "walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD" Zephaniah 1:17. Disobedience leads to a curse of groping at noonday "as the blind gropeth in darkness" Deuteronomy 28:29.
  • Promise of Restoration: The healing of the blind is a powerful sign of God's redemptive work. In Psalms, "The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind" Psalms 146:8, and Isaiah prophesies a time when the "eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness" Isaiah 29:18.

Summary

In summary, H5787 is more than a simple description of a physical disability. It is a deeply meaningful term in scripture, woven into law, prophecy, and symbolic language. It serves as a powerful illustration of the contrast between physical sight and spiritual perception, human weakness and God's sovereign power to bring light out of darkness.

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 an adjective across 26 occurrences, inflected in 3 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
  • עִוְרִים
  • עִוְרוֹת

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.

H3971 מאוּם usually מוּם; as if passive participle from an unused root probably meaning; to stain; a blemish (physically or morally) H6491 פָּקַח a primitive root; to open (the senses, especially the eyes); figuratively, to be observant; open. H2822 חֹשֶׁךְ from חָשַׁךְ; the dark; hence (literally) darkness; figuratively, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedn H3782 כָּשַׁל a primitive root; to totter or waver (through weakness of the legs, especially the ankle); by implication, to falter, st

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 23 verses across 11 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Isaiah (9 verses); never once in the other 28.

1
Exodus
2
Leviticus
3
Deuteronomy
2
2 Samuel
1
Job
1
Psalms
9
Isaiah
1
Jeremiah
1
Lamentations
1
Zephaniah
1
Malachi

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.