Original Word: נָבַט
Part of Speech: verb
Transliteration: nabat
Pronunciation: naw-BAHT
Phonetic Spelling: (naw-bat')
KJV: (cause to) behold, consider, look (down), regard, have respect, see
NASB: look, looked, looks, see, beholds, consider, look down
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to scan, i.e. look intently at
2. (by implication) to regard with pleasure, favor or care

cause to behold, consider, look down, regard, have respect, see

A primitive root; to scan, i.e. Look intently at; by implication, to regard with pleasure, favor or care -- (cause to) behold, consider, look (down), regard, have respect, see.

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to look
NASB Translation
beheld (1), behold (1), beholds (2), consider (2), depend (1), depended (1), gaze (1), gazed (1), look (34), look down (2), looked (11), looks (4), observe (1), observed (1), pay attention (1), regard (2), see (3).

[נָבַט] verb Pi`el, Hiph`il look (Late Hebrew Pi`el id.; Arabic is well or issue forth (of water). Assyrian nabâ‰u is shine Dl^{HWB 443}; Sabean epithet נבט protector (?literally looking with consideration upon Mordt^{ZMG xxx. 1876, 37}); proper name נבטאל God has seen, i.e. considered Levy-Os^{ZMG xix. 1865, 231}); —

Pi`el Perfect consecutive וְנִבַּט Isaiah 5:30 look (literally), followed by לְ.

Hiph`il Perfect הִבִּיט Numbers 21:9 3t.; וְהִבַּטְתָּ֫ 1 Samuel 2:32, etc.; Imperfect יַבִּיט Numbers 12:8 4t.; וַיַּבֵּט 1 Samuel 17:42 4t., etc.; Imperative הַבֵּט 1 Kings 18:43 +; הַבֵּיט Psalm 142:5 (or Infinitive absolute), compare Lamentations 5:1 Kt; הַבִּ֫יטָה Psalm 13:4 +, etc.; Infinitive construct הַבִּיט Exodus 3:6 +, etc.; Participle מַבִּיט Psalm 104:32; — look: 1 literally,

a. human subject, followed by אֶלֿ Exodus 3:6 (E), Numbers 21:9 (JE), Isaiah 8:22 ("" מָּנָה לְמָ֑עְלָה Isaiah 8:21), compare Isaiah 51:6, Jonah 2:5; followed by עַלֿ Habakkuk 2:15; followed by אַחֲרֵי Genesis 19:17,26 (J), Exodus 33:8 (E), 1 Samuel 24:9; followed by ָ  ה locative, Genesis 15:5 (שָׁמַ֫יְמָה), compare Job 35:5 (שָׁמַיִם); followed by דֶּרֶחיָֿם 1 Kings 18:43; followed by accusative = look upon, behold Numbers 12:8 (E), Isaiah 38:11; absolute Job 6:19; 1 Samuel 17:42 ("" רָאָה), 1 Kings 18:43; 1 Kings 19:6 (followed by הִנֵּה), 1 Chronicles 21:21 ("" רָאָה), so Psalm 22:18.

b. subject eagle, absolute Job 39:29 (followed by adverb לְמֵרָחוֺק).

2 figurative: followed by אֶל regard, shew regard to 1 Samuel 16:7 (אֶלמַֿרְאֵהוּ), compare 2 Kings 3:14 ("" רָאָה); pay attention to, followed by אֶלֿ Isaiah 22:8; = consider Isaiah 51:1,2; look unto ׳י, followed by אֶלֿ Psalm 34:6 (read Imperative plural ᵐ5 ᵑ6 Che), Isaiah 22:11; Zechariah 12:10; compare Psalm 119:6 followed by אֶלכָּֿלמִֿצְוֺת; compare also Job 36:25 (absolute, followed by מֵרָחוֺק); followed by accusative אֹרְחֹתֶיךָ Psalm 119:15, compare Psalm 119:18, Isaiah 5:12; followed by accusative אָוֶן Numbers 23:21 ("" רָאָה); subject עֵינִי, ׳וַתַּבֵּט בְּשׁוּרַי בְּ Psalm 92:12 see its desire upon, gloat over (compare רָאָה בְּ), different 1 Samuel 2:32; followed by accusative adverb Psalm 142:5 (יָמִין to the right; "" רָאָה); absolute Isaiah 42:18 (followed by לִרְאוֺת of purpose); Isaiah 63:5; Habakkuk 1:5 ("" רָאָה), so Psalm 91:8 (בְּעֵינֶיךָ), compare Proverbs 4:25, followed by לְֹנכַח (subject עֵינֶיךָ; "" יַיְשִׁרוּ נֶגְדֶּ֑ךָ).

3 subject ׳י: followed by אֶל + מִשָּׁמַיִם Psalm 102:20; followed by אֶלֿ = look upon, i.e. endure to see Habakkuk 1:13 ("" רָאָה); so followed by accusative Habakkuk 1:13, compare Habakkuk 1:3 (or causative Ew; "" תַּרְאֵנִי); followed by לְ, Psalm 104:32; Job 28:24; Psalm 74:20 (לַבְּרִיתּ); followed by accusative Isaiah 64:8 ("" הֵן), Lamentations 3:63; Psalm 10:14 ("" רָאָה); = regard, shew regard to, Amos 5:22; Psalm 84:10; Lamentations 4:16, compare Psalm 13:4; followed by אֶלֿ id. Isaiah 66:2; absolute Psalm 94:9 i.e. have power of sight, Isaiah 18:4; followed by מִשָּׁמַיִם Psalm 33:13; Psalm 80:15; Isaiah 63:15 ( "" רָאָה), Lamentations 1:11 ("" רָאָה), so Lamentations 1:12; Lamentations 2:20; Lamentations 5:1.

Overview

Occurring about sixty-nine times, נָבַט portrays a deliberate, discerning gaze. Whether God looks toward His people or they direct their eyes toward Him, the verb carries covenantal weight, shaping the flow of redemptive history from Genesis to the Prophets.

Divine Regard

• Psalm 80:14 “Return, O God of Hosts, we pray; look down from heaven and see! Attend to this vine.”
• Numbers 12:8 “With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD.”

God’s look is never passive. When He turns His eyes, blessing, deliverance, or judgment follow. Petitioners therefore plead for that look, convinced it ushers in decisive action (compare Isaiah 63:15).

Prophetic Vision and Revelation

Exodus 3:6 records Moses hiding his face, “for he was afraid to look at God,” while Elijah’s servant is told, “Go and look toward the sea” (1 Kings 18:43). Prophets do not create revelation; they receive it through the opened eye. Holy fear and obedient sight characterize authentic ministry.

Faith’s Gaze Toward Salvation

• Genesis 15:5 “Look now toward the heavens and count the stars, if you are able.”
• Numbers 21:9 “Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.”
• Psalm 34:5 “Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.”

Salvation hinges on turning one’s attention to God’s provision: the patriarch believed, the wilderness wanderer lived, and every worshiper finds freedom from shame.

Warnings Against Misguided Regard

Isaiah 31:1 rebukes those who “do not look to the Holy One of Israel,” while Isaiah 5:12 laments that people “do not regard the deeds of the LORD.” Idolatry, political alliances, and self-reliance all begin with a wrong focus; repentance starts by redirecting the eyes.

Liturgical and Wisdom Contexts

Psalm 119:6 “Then I would not be ashamed when I regard all Your commandments.”

Job 35:5 “Look to the heavens and see; gaze at the clouds so high above you.”

Careful regard for God’s works and words molds character and fuels worship.

Messianic and Eschatological Echoes

Zechariah 12:10 “They will look on Me, the One they have pierced, and they will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only son.” The ultimate saving gaze centers on the crucified Messiah, echoed in John 19:37 and Revelation 1:7.

Practical Ministry Implications

1. Preaching directs congregations to fix their eyes on the Lord.
2. Intercession asks God to turn His gaze, confident He acts.
3. Pastoral care imitates divine regard, attentively watching over the flock.
4. Discipleship trains believers to guard their eyes from vanity and to consider God’s statutes.
5. Hope perseveres in the promise that “every eye will see Him” (Revelation 1:7).

Throughout Scripture, נָבַט teaches that where one looks determines destiny, and God’s decisive look secures redemption for all who set their eyes on Him.

אַבִּ֔יט אַבִּ֥יט אַבִּֽיט׃ אביט אביט׃ בְּ֝הַבִּיטִ֗י בהביטי הִ֭בִּיטוּ הִבִּ֣יט הִבִּ֣יטוּ הִבִּ֥יט הִבִּֽיט׃ הִבַּטְתֶּם֙ הַבִּ֔יטָה הַבִּ֖יט הַבִּ֙יטוּ֙ הַבִּ֣יטָֽה הַבִּ֣יטוּ הַבִּ֥יטוּ הַבֵּ֣ט הַבֵּ֤ט הַבֵּ֤יט הַבֵּ֥ט הַבֶּט־ הַבִּ֖יטָה הַמַּבִּ֣יט הבט הבט־ הבטתם הביט הביט׃ הביטה הביטו המביט וְ֝אַבִּ֗יטָה וְ֝הַבֵּ֗ט וְֽהַבִּ֔יטָה וְֽהַבִּ֔יטוּ וְֽהַבִּ֧יטוּ וְאַבִּ֑יטָה וְאַבִּ֣יטָה וְאַבִּיט֙ וְהִבִּ֙יטוּ֙ וְהִבִּ֛יט וְהִבִּ֥יטוּ וְהִבַּטְתָּ֙ וְהַבִּ֥יט וְנִבַּ֤ט וַיַּבֵּ֔ט וַיַּבֵּ֕ט וַיַּבֵּ֤ט וַיַּבֵּ֧ט וַתַּבֵּ֥ט וַתַּבֵּט֙ ואביט ואביטה והבט והבטת והביט והביטה והביטו ויבט ונבט ותבט יַ֝בִּ֗יטוּ יַבִּ֑יט יַבִּ֑יטוּ יַבִּ֔יטוּ יַבִּ֥יט יַבִּֽיט׃ יַבִּֽיטוּ׃ יביט יביט׃ יביטו יביטו׃ לְהַבִּ֔יט לְהַבִּיטָ֑ם להביט להביטם מֵהַבִּ֖יט מהביט תַּבִּ֔יט תַּבִּ֣יט תַּבִּיט֮ תַּבֵּ֧ט תַבִּ֑יט תַבִּיט֙ תבט תביט ’ab·bîṭ ’abbîṭ abBit bə·hab·bî·ṭî behabbiTi bəhabbîṭî hab·bêṭ hab·beṭ- hab·bî·ṭāh hab·bî·ṭū hab·bîṭ habBeit habbet habbêṭ habbeṭ- habBit habbîṭ habBitah habbîṭāh habBitu habbîṭū ham·mab·bîṭ hammabBit hammabbîṭ hib·baṭ·tem hib·bî·ṭū hib·bîṭ hibbatTem hibbaṭtem hibBit hibbîṭ Hibbitu hibbîṭū lə·hab·bî·ṭām lə·hab·bîṭ lehabBit ləhabbîṭ lehabbiTam ləhabbîṭām mê·hab·bîṭ mehabBit mêhabbîṭ tab·bêṭ tab·bîṭ ṯab·bîṭ tabBet tabbêṭ tabBit tabbîṭ ṯabbîṭ vaiyabBet vattabBet veabBit veabBitah vehabBet vehabBit vehabBitah vehabBitu vehibbatTa vehibBit vehibBitu venibBat wat·tab·bêṭ wattabbêṭ way·yab·bêṭ wayyabbêṭ wə’abbîṭ wə’abbîṭāh wə·’ab·bî·ṭāh wə·’ab·bîṭ wə·hab·bêṭ wə·hab·bî·ṭāh wə·hab·bî·ṭū wə·hab·bîṭ wə·hib·baṭ·tā wə·hib·bî·ṭū wə·hib·bîṭ wə·nib·baṭ wəhabbêṭ wəhabbîṭ wəhabbîṭāh wəhabbîṭū wəhibbaṭtā wəhibbîṭ wəhibbîṭū wənibbaṭ yab·bî·ṭū yab·bîṭ yabBit yabbîṭ yabBitu yabbîṭūInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts