816. atenizó
Lexical Summary
atenizó: To gaze intently, to look steadfastly

Original Word: ἀτενίζω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: atenizó
Pronunciation: at-en-ID-zo
Phonetic Spelling: (at-en-id'-zo)
KJV: behold earnestly (stedfastly), fasten (eyes), look (earnestly, stedfastly, up stedfastly), set eyes
NASB: fixed gaze, fixing gaze, look intently, looking intently, fixed, gaze, gazed intently
Word Origin: [from a compound of G1 (α - Alpha) (as a particle of union) and teino "to stretch"]

1. to gaze intently

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
stare, fasten eyes, look stedfastly.

From a compound of a (as a particle of union) and teino (to stretch); to gaze intently -- behold earnestly (stedfastly), fasten (eyes), look (earnestly, stedfastly, up stedfastly), set eyes.

see GREEK a

HELPS Word-studies

816 atenízō (from teinō, "to stretch, strain," prefixed by "intensive alpha," 1 /A) – properly, completely fixed (fixated); to stare at because fully occupied with ("taken by"); to observe with great interest and a fastened (fixed) gaze; "to fix one’s eyes on some object continually and intensely – 'to look straight at, to stare at, to keep one's eyes fixed on' " (L & N, 1, 24.49).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from alpha (as a cop. prefix) and teinó (to stretch, extend)
Definition
to look fixedly, gaze
NASB Translation
fixed (1), fixed...gaze (4), fixing...gaze (2), gaze (1), gazed intently (1), gazing intently (1), look intently (2), looking intently (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 816: ἀτενίζω

ἀτενίζω; 1 aorist ἠτενισα; (from ἀτενής stretched, intent, and this from τείνω and intensive; (yet cf. Winers Grammar, § 16, 4; Buttmann, a. at the end, and under the word Alfa Α, , 3)); to fix the eyes on, gaze upon: with the dative of person, Luke 4:20; Luke 22:58; Acts 3:12; Acts 10:4; Acts 14:9; Acts 23:1; followed by εἰς with an accusative of person, Acts 3:4; Acts 6:15; Acts 13:9; metaphorically, to fix one's mind on one as an example, Clement of Rome, 1 Cor. 9, 2 [ET]; εἰς τί, Acts 1:10; Acts 7:55; 2 Corinthians 3:7, 13; εἰς τί, to look into anything, Acts 11:6. (3Macc. 2:26. (Aristotle), Polybius 6, 11, 5 (i. e. 6, 11a, 12 Dindorf); Diodorus 3, 39 (Dindorf ἐνατενίζω); Josephus, b. j. 5, 12, 3; Lucian, cont. 16, others.)

Topical Lexicon
Overview

Strong’s Greek 816 depicts a deliberate, unwavering gaze that engages both mind and heart. Throughout the New Testament the term marks critical moments when the Holy Spirit arrests a person’s attention, awakens perception, or empowers bold testimony. Whether directed toward Jesus, heavenly realities, or human faces, this steadfast look repeatedly signals revelation, conviction, and decisive action.

Occurrences in Luke–Acts

Luke employs the word thirteen times, and every use heightens a pivotal turning point.
Luke 4:20 – After Jesus reads Isaiah, “the eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on Him,” preparing for His messianic claim.
Luke 22:56 – The servant girl “looked closely at him” and identified Peter, triggering his denial and underscoring the cost of discipleship.
Acts 1:10 – The disciples “were looking intently into the sky as He was going,” portraying longing for the returning Lord and opening Luke’s second volume.
Acts 3:4, 12 – Peter and John fasten their eyes on the lame man, then refuse misplaced veneration: “Why do you stare at us?” The gaze first channels divine compassion, then redirects glory to God.
Acts 6:15 – The Sanhedrin “looked intently at Stephen” and saw an angelic radiance, previewing martyrdom’s glory.
Acts 7:55 – Stephen “looked intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,” the climactic vision that enables forgiving love.
Acts 10:4 – Cornelius “stared at him in fear,” showing a Gentile’s awed readiness for the gospel.
Acts 11:6 – Peter “looked closely” at the sheet in his rooftop vision; the focused examination supports the inclusion of the nations.
Acts 13:9; 14:9; 23:1 – Paul fixes his gaze on Elymas, a crippled man, and the Sanhedrin, coupling Spirit-filled perception with fearless speech.

Pauline Usage in 2 Corinthians

Only two other New Testament texts employ the verb, both in the same paragraph. Twice Paul contrasts Israel’s inability “to gaze at the face of Moses” (2 Corinthians 3:7, 13) with the unveiled, transformative sight granted in Christ. The steadfast look now belongs to the new-covenant community, culminating in beholding “the glory of the Lord” (3:18, where a cognate term occurs).

Spiritual Dynamics of a Steadfast Gaze

1. Revelation – The word often precedes disclosure: Stephen sees Jesus; Cornelius receives angelic instruction; Peter apprehends a healing opportunity.
2. Discernment – The apostles size up hostile councils and deceivers, demonstrating Spirit-empowered insight rather than human intimidation.
3. Worship – A fixed gaze on heaven (Acts 1:10; 7:55) enlarges the early church’s eschatological hope.
4. Witness – Unflinching eye contact embodies apostolic boldness before authorities and crowds alike.

Historical Background

In Hellenistic rhetoric, direct eye contact signified confidence and veracity, while in Greco-Roman religion a steady gaze often preceded epiphanies. Luke repurposes that cultural expectation, showing that genuine revelation arises from the risen Christ, not pagan mystery. The motif also resonates with Hebrew Scripture, where prophets “set their face” toward a task (for example, Isaiah 50:7), preparing readers for Jesus’ resolute journey to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51, narrative echo).

Christological Observations

The first instance after His public reading (Luke 4:20) and the last recorded earthly moment before His ascension (Acts 1:10) are framed by this intent gaze. Together they bracket Luke’s portrait of the Lord’s mission: Scripture fulfilled, mission accomplished, eyes fixed on the returning Christ.

Implications for Ministry and Discipleship

• Compassionate Focus – Like Peter at the Beautiful Gate, believers meet felt needs when they truly see people.
• Holy Confidence – Paul’s steady eyes before magistrates encourage present-day proclamation unbowed by cultural pressure.
• Heavenly Orientation – Stephen’s upward gaze teaches endurance amid suffering by anchoring hope in the enthroned Savior.
• Redirected Glory – Peter’s protest in Acts 3:12 guards ministries from personality cults; any attention we receive must be instantly deflected to Christ.

Intertextual Echoes with the Old Testament

The Israelites’ inability to keep looking at Moses’ fading glory contrasts sharply with the church’s unveiled sight of Christ’s surpassing glory. Thus the verb underlines continuity and escalation in redemptive history: the God who once veiled His glory now invites an open, transforming gaze through the gospel.

Conclusion

Across narrative, epistolary, and theological contexts, Strong’s 816 consistently signals moments when God pierces ordinary vision, empowering His servants to perceive truth, proclaim Christ, and persevere in hope. To “look intently” is therefore more than a physical act; it is a Spirit-enabled posture that beholds divine glory and embodies bold witness until faith becomes sight.

Forms and Transliterations
ατενιζετε ατενίζετε ἀτενίζετε ατενιζοντες ατενίζοντες ἀτενίζοντες ατενισαι ατενίσαι ἀτενίσαι ατενισαντες ατενίσαντες ἀτενίσαντες ατενισας ατενίσας ἀτενίσας ατενισασα ατενίσασα ἀτενίσασα atenisai atenísai atenisantes atenísantes atenisas atenísas atenisasa atenísasa atenizete atenízete atenizontes atenízontes
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Luke 4:20 V-PPA-NMP
GRK: συναγωγῇ ἦσαν ἀτενίζοντες αὐτῷ
NAS: in the synagogue were fixed on Him.
KJV: in the synagogue were fastened on him.
INT: synagogue were fixed upon him

Luke 22:56 V-APA-NFS
GRK: φῶς καὶ ἀτενίσασα αὐτῷ εἶπεν
NAS: in the firelight and looking intently at him, said,
KJV: and earnestly looked upon him,
INT: light and having looked intently on him said

Acts 1:10 V-PPA-NMP
GRK: καὶ ὡς ἀτενίζοντες ἦσαν εἰς
NAS: And as they were gazing intently into the sky
INT: And as looking intently they were into

Acts 3:4 V-APA-NMS
GRK: ἀτενίσας δὲ Πέτρος
NAS: with John, fixed his gaze on him and said,
KJV: And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him
INT: having looked intently moreover Peter

Acts 3:12 V-PIA-2P
GRK: ἡμῖν τί ἀτενίζετε ὡς ἰδίᾳ
NAS: why do you gaze at us, as if
KJV: why look ye so earnestly on us,
INT: on us why you look intently as if by [our] own

Acts 6:15 V-APA-NMP
GRK: καὶ ἀτενίσαντες εἰς αὐτὸν
NAS: And fixing their gaze on him, all
KJV: the council, looking stedfastly on
INT: And having looked intently on him

Acts 7:55 V-APA-NMS
GRK: πνεύματος ἁγίου ἀτενίσας εἰς τὸν
NAS: Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven
KJV: Ghost, looked up stedfastly into
INT: of [the] Spirit Holy having looked intently into

Acts 10:4 V-APA-NMS
GRK: ὁ δὲ ἀτενίσας αὐτῷ καὶ
NAS: And fixing his gaze on him and being
KJV: And when he looked on him, he was
INT: moreover having looked intently on him and

Acts 11:6 V-APA-NMS
GRK: εἰς ἣν ἀτενίσας κατενόουν καὶ
NAS: and when I had fixed my gaze on it and was observing
KJV: the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered,
INT: on which having looked intently I considered and

Acts 13:9 V-APA-NMS
GRK: πνεύματος ἁγίου ἀτενίσας εἰς αὐτὸν
NAS: Spirit, fixed his gaze on him,
KJV: Ghost, set his eyes on him,
INT: [the] Spirit Holy having looked steadfastly upon him

Acts 14:9 V-APA-NMS
GRK: λαλοῦντος ὃς ἀτενίσας αὐτῷ καὶ
NAS: who, when he had fixed his gaze on him and had seen
KJV: who stedfastly beholding him,
INT: speaking who having looked intently to him and

Acts 23:1 V-APA-NMS
GRK: ἀτενίσας δὲ ὁ
NAS: Paul, looking intently at the Council,
KJV: Paul, earnestly beholding the council,
INT: having looked intently moreover

2 Corinthians 3:7 V-ANA
GRK: μὴ δύνασθαι ἀτενίσαι τοὺς υἱοὺς
NAS: could not look intently at the face
KJV: not stedfastly behold the face
INT: not to be able to look intently the children

2 Corinthians 3:13 V-ANA
GRK: τὸ μὴ ἀτενίσαι τοὺς υἱοὺς
NAS: of Israel would not look intently at the end
KJV: could not stedfastly look to the end
INT: not to look intently the sons

Strong's Greek 816
14 Occurrences


ἀτενίσαι — 2 Occ.
ἀτενίσαντες — 1 Occ.
ἀτενίσας — 7 Occ.
ἀτενίσασα — 1 Occ.
ἀτενίζετε — 1 Occ.
ἀτενίζοντες — 2 Occ.

815
Top of Page
Top of Page