Bible Dictionary
SEE
In Scripture, “see” may mean physical sight, prophetic vision, attentive observation, understanding, or experiencing something. Its meaning depends on the Hebrew or Greek word and the context.
Definition
In Scripture, see may refer not only to physical sight but also to prophetic vision, attentive observation, mental recognition, or personal experience. Its precise sense depends on the context and on the underlying Hebrew or Greek term.
Biblical Usage
Prophets are said to see revelations with the inward eye. The word can also mean to take heed, to recognize or understand something mentally, or to experience something, as in seeing death. Thus biblical usage extends from bodily perception to spiritual and intellectual apprehension.
Historical Background
The entry distinguishes several Hebrew and Greek verbs, including terms meaning to see in vision, take heed, know or note with the mind, and view or experience.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>se: In addition to the ordinary sense of perceiving by the eye, we have</p><p>(1) chazah, "to see" (in vision): "Words of Amos .... which he saw concerning Israel" (Am 1:1). The revelation was made to his inward eye. "The word of Yahweh .... which he (Micah) saw concerning Samaria" (Mic 1:1), describing what he saw in prophetic vision (compare Hab 1:1); see REVELATION, III, 4;</p><p>(2) horao, "to take heed": "See thou say nothing" (Mr 1:44);</p><p>(3) eidon, "to know," "to note with the mind": "Jesus saw that he answered discreetly" (Mr 12:34);</p><p>(4) theoreo, "to view," "to have knowledge or experience of": "He shall never see death" (Joh 8:51).</p><p>M. O. Evans</p>