### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **rŏʼîy**, represented by `{{H7210}}`, is derived from the root for "to see" and generally refers to sight. It can be understood abstractly as a vision or concretely as a spectacle. Appearing **6 times** across **5 unique verses**, its applications range from a physical appearance to the act of being seen or becoming a "gazingstock".
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In scripture, `{{H7210}}` is used to convey several distinct ideas about sight and appearance. Its most personal use is by Hagar, who calls the Lord "Thou God **seest me**" after He met her in the wilderness, acknowledging His direct, caring observation [[Genesis 16:13]]. In a completely different context, it signifies public shame, as God warns Nineveh He will "set thee as a **gazingstock**" [[Nahum 3:6]]. It can also describe physical attractiveness, as David is presented as "goodly **to look to**" [[1 Samuel 16:12]]. Conversely, it illustrates physical decay in Job's suffering, where his flesh is so consumed "that it cannot be **seen**" [[Job 33:21]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words clarify the contexts in which **rŏʼîy** is used:
* `{{H7200}}` **râʼâh** (to see): As the primitive root of `{{H7210}}`, this word is fundamental. It often appears alongside `{{H7210}}` to distinguish between the act of looking and the state of being seen. For example, Hagar questions if she has "looked after him that seeth me," using both words to express the interaction [[Genesis 16:13]].
* `{{H5869}}` **ʻayin** (an eye): This word for the physical organ of sight is directly linked to the experience of being seen. In [[Job 7:8]], the "**eye** of him that hath seen me" connects the physical eye to the perception described by `{{H7210}}`. It is also used to describe David's "beautiful countenance" [[1 Samuel 16:12]].
* `{{H2896}}` **ṭôwb** (good, beautiful): This term is used to qualify an appearance. It describes David as "**goodly** to look to," working with `{{H7210}}` to paint a picture of a pleasing sight [[1 Samuel 16:12]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H7210}}` is demonstrated in its varied applications:
* **The Omniscient God:** The word's use in [[Genesis 16:13]] establishes God as the one who sees the afflicted. Hagar's declaration, "Thou God seest me," is a foundational statement of God's personal awareness and intervention.
* **Divine Judgment as Spectacle:** In [[Nahum 3:6]], being made a "gazingstock" is an act of divine judgment. Sight becomes a tool for public disgrace, where God makes wickedness a visible spectacle for all to see.
* **Physical Appearance and Divine Choice:** When Samuel is told to anoint David, the description includes being "goodly to look to" [[1 Samuel 16:12]]. This connects a pleasing physical sight with God's sovereign selection, highlighting that what is seen can be an element in God's narrative.
* **Mortality and Visibility:** Job's use of `{{H7210}}` contrasts the permanence of God's sight with human frailty. His flesh wastes away until it "cannot be seen" [[Job 33:21]], and he laments that he will soon be seen no more [[Job 7:8]], linking visibility with life itself.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H7210}}` is a multifaceted term that moves beyond simple vision. It encapsulates the profound experience of being seen—by God in a moment of personal care, by the public in an act of judgment, or by others as a measure of physical appearance. From the comfort of being seen by God to the horror of being made a spectacle, **rŏʼîy** illustrates that sight in the biblical context is a powerful force that defines relationships, delivers judgment, and signifies both divine favor and human frailty.
TRV