Lexical Summary piqqeach: Open-eyed, clear-sighted, discerning Original Word: פִקֵּחַ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance seeing, wise From paqach; clear-sighted; figuratively, intelligent -- seeing, wise. see HEBREW paqach NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom paqach Definition seeing NASB Translation clear-sighted (1), seeing (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מִּקֵּחַ adjective seeing; — ׳פ Exodus 4:11 (opposed to עִוֵּר); plural מִּקְחִים, figurative, Exodus 23:8 clear-sighted ones (compare [עָוַר]). Topical Lexicon Semantic Range and Conceptual Nuance פִקֵּחַ denotes one whose eyes are open—both literally able to see and figuratively able to perceive, discern, and act wisely. Scripture binds the bodily faculty of sight to moral and spiritual clarity; thus the term embraces physical vision and ethical insight. Occurrences and Immediate Contexts 1. Exodus 4:11 These two settings—Moses’ call and Israel’s civil ordinances—link sight to divine sovereignty and to covenantal justice. Divine Sovereignty Over Human Faculties (Exodus 4:11) When Moses hesitates, the LORD replies, “Who makes him mute or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?” (Exodus 4:11). The verse grounds every human capacity in God’s creative will. By pairing פִקֵּחַ (“seeing”) with “blind,” the text makes vision emblematic of all faculties. The calling of Moses thus rests not on Moses’ natural adequacy but on Yahweh’s endowment. Sight is portrayed as a divine gift that can be granted or withheld at God’s pleasure, underscoring His absolute lordship over human ability. Justice and Ethical Sight (Exodus 23:8) “Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the righteous” (Exodus 23:8). Piqêaḥ here describes judges and leaders who ought to be clear-sighted in rendering verdicts. The warning reveals that moral vision can be clouded by sin just as physical sight can be clouded by darkness. Bribery turns the gift of discernment into partiality, threatening the covenant community’s integrity. The statute aligns with Deuteronomy 16:19, where bribes “blind the eyes of the wise,” reinforcing the principle that true justice demands uncorrupted perception. Physical Sight as Metaphor for Spiritual Discernment Across Scripture, sight functions as a metaphor for understanding (Psalm 119:18; Isaiah 6:9-10). The fate of the physically blind often mirrors the plight of the spiritually blind (Isaiah 42:18-20). The two Exodus passages provide an early Pentateuchal foundation for this theme: God alone bestows vision, and human sin can obscure it. Canonical Trajectory and Christological Fulfillment The prophets promise that Messiah will open blind eyes (Isaiah 42:7). In the Gospels, Jesus’ miracles—such as restoring Bartimaeus’ sight in Mark 10:46-52—embody that promise. John 9 develops the Exodus motif explicitly: the man born blind becomes a paradigm of one to whom God grants both physical and spiritual sight, while the Pharisees, though piqêaḥ in body, prove blind in soul. Paul echoes the same dynamic: “the god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers” (2 Corinthians 4:4). Thus the Old Testament word prepares the way for Christ, who alone removes the veil (2 Corinthians 3:14-16). Implications for Ministry and Discipleship 1. Dependence on God. As Moses learned, every ministry gift—including insight—is sovereignly bestowed. Prayerful reliance replaces self-confidence. Historical and Cultural Considerations Ancient Near Eastern law codes also cautioned judges against bribery, yet only Israel rooted the warning in divine character. Piqêaḥ carries covenantal weight: clear-sighted judges reflect Yahweh’s righteous rule. In rabbinic tradition, the term expands to describe intellectual acuity; however, the biblical text insists that such acuity is a moral, not merely mental, attribute. Summary פִקֵּחַ encapsulates the biblical theology of sight: a faculty granted by God for His purposes, vulnerable to corruption by sin, and ultimately restored in Christ. From the burning bush to the covenant code, the word calls God’s people to humble dependence, ethical purity, and gospel proclamation that opens the eyes of the blind. Forms and Transliterations פִּקְחִ֔ים פִקֵּ֖חַ פקח פקחים fikKeach pikChim piq·ḥîm p̄iq·qê·aḥ piqḥîm p̄iqqêaḥLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 4:11 HEB: חֵרֵ֔שׁ א֥וֹ פִקֵּ֖חַ א֣וֹ עִוֵּ֑ר NAS: deaf, or seeing or blind? KJV: or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? INT: deaf or seeing or blind men Exodus 23:8 2 Occurrences |
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