Beholding
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Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Usage:
The term "beholding" in the biblical context generally refers to the act of seeing, observing, or gazing upon something with attention and contemplation. It is often used to describe a deeper, more intentional form of looking that involves understanding or perceiving spiritual truths.

Old Testament References:
In the Old Testament, the concept of beholding is frequently associated with witnessing the glory and majesty of God. For instance, in Exodus 33:18-23, Moses requests to see God's glory. Although the term "beholding" is not explicitly used in this passage, the act of seeing God's back while His face is hidden illustrates the profound nature of beholding divine presence.

Psalm 27:4 expresses a desire to behold the beauty of the Lord: "One thing I have asked of the LORD; this is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and seek Him in His temple." Here, beholding is linked with worship and the longing to experience God's presence.

New Testament References:
In the New Testament, beholding often relates to recognizing the truth and glory of Jesus Christ. John 1:14 states, "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." The act of beholding here is tied to witnessing the incarnation and the divine nature of Christ.

2 Corinthians 3:18 provides a significant theological insight: "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." This passage suggests that beholding the Lord's glory is transformative, leading believers to become more like Christ.

Theological Implications:
Beholding in the biblical sense is not merely a physical act but a spiritual one that involves the heart and mind. It is an invitation to perceive and understand God's nature, character, and works. The act of beholding can lead to spiritual transformation, as believers are called to fix their eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of their faith (Hebrews 12:2).

Practical Application:
For believers, beholding is an essential aspect of spiritual life. It involves setting aside time to meditate on Scripture, worship, and prayer, allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal deeper truths about God. By beholding the Lord, Christians are encouraged to grow in their faith and be conformed to the image of Christ.

Conclusion:
While the Bible does not always use the word "beholding," the concept is woven throughout Scripture, emphasizing the importance of seeing and understanding God's glory and truth. Through beholding, believers are invited into a deeper relationship with God, experiencing His presence and being transformed by His Spirit.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Behold.

2. (a.) Obliged; beholden.

3. (n.) The act of seeing; sight; also, that which is beheld.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
BEHOLDING

be-hold'-ing: Many Hebrew and Greek words are so rendered in English Versions of the Bible, but epopteusantes, "your good works, which they behold" (1 Peter 2:12); "beholding your chaste behavior" (1 Peter 3:2), and epoptai, "We were eyewitnesses of his majesty" (2 Peter 1:16) are peculiar to Peter. The fact that this word is used only by Peter and is used in both epistles is an argument for identity of authorship. The word epoptes denotes one who had been initiated into the innermost secrets of his faith and who enjoyed the highest religious privileges; but now in contradiction to the secrecy of all pagan "mysteries" (Eleusinian, etc.) the apostles would share with all the faithful every spiritual vision which they enjoyed ("we made known unto you").

In 2 Corinthians 3:18, for katoptrizomenoi, the English Revised Version gives "reflecting (as a mirror) the glory of the Lord," the American Standard Revised Version "beholding (as in mirror," etc.). Katoptron was a mirror of polished metal. We cannot clearly and fully behold the outshining of spiritual grandeur in Christ Jesus, but in the gospel God accommodates and adjusts the vision as we are able to bear it, and the glory beheld becomes glory imparted to (and reflected by) the beholder.

John's Gospel gives us theaomai ("to look closely at"), and theoreo ("to discern"). "We beheld (etheasametha) his glory" (John 1:14), "that they may behold (theorosin) my glory" (John 17:24). In classic literature, the former word is closely associated with theatrical spectacles, and the latter with athletic games, and they both convey the idea of unceasing interest, deepening in this connection into love and joy.

M. O. Evans

Greek
3705. horama -- that which is seen
... neuter noun derived from 3708 , "to see, spiritual and mentally") -- a vision
(spiritual seeing), focusing on the impact it has on the one beholding the vision ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3705.htm - 7k

2734. katoptrizo -- to reflect as a mirror
... Word Origin from katoptron (a mirror) Definition to reflect as a mirror NASB
Word Usage beholding as in a mirror (1). behold as in a mirror. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2734.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew
7212. reith -- a look
... Word Origin from raah Definition a look NASB Word Usage look* (1). beholding.
From ra'ah; sight -- beholding. see HEBREW ra'ah. 7211, 7212. ...
/hebrew/7212.htm - 6k
Library

Transformation by Beholding
... V) TRANSFORMATION BY BEHOLDING. 'We all, with open face beholding as in a glass
the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image.'"2 Corinthians 3:18. ...
/.../romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/transformation by beholding.htm

That in the Time of this Work a Soul Hath no Special Beholding to ...
... HERE BEGINNETH THE FORTIETH CHAPTER That in the time of this work a soul hath no
special beholding to any vice in itself nor to any virtue in itself. ...
/.../anonymous/the cloud of unknowing/here beginneth the fortieth chapter.htm

That in the Time of this Work a Perfect Soul Hath no Special ...
... HERE BEGINNETH THE FIVE AND TWENTIETH CHAPTER That in the time of this work a perfect
soul hath no special beholding to any one man in this life. ...
/.../anonymous/the cloud of unknowing/here beginneth the five and.htm

The Kingdom of God Revealed to Babes. --The Blessedness of the ...
... Section 206. The Kingdom of God revealed to Babes. "The Blessedness of
the Disciples in beholding it. (Luke, x., 21, 24.). Thus ...
/.../section 206 the kingdom of.htm

"In Falling and in Rising we are ever Preciously Kept in one Love ...
... He loveth us endlessly, and we sin customably, and He sheweth us full mildly, and
then we sorrow and mourn discreetly, turning us unto the beholding of His ...
/.../julian/revelations of divine love/chapter lxxii in falling and.htm

"God Willeth to be Seen and to be Sought: to be Abided and to be ...
... This Second Shewing was so low and so little and so simple, that my spirits were
in great travail in the beholding,"mourning, full of dread, and longing: for ...
/.../julian/revelations of divine love/chapter x god willeth to.htm

Of the Meditations of them that Continually Travail in the Work of ...
... feelings of their own wretchedness, or of the goodness of God; without any means
of reading or hearing coming before, and without any special beholding of any ...
/.../anonymous/the cloud of unknowing/here beginneth the six and 2.htm

"It is God's Will that we have Great Regard to all his Deeds that ...
... CHAPTER XXXIII "It is God's will that we have great regard to all His deeds that
He hath done, but evermore it needeth us to leave the beholding what the Deed ...
/.../julian/revelations of divine love/chapter xxxiii it is gods.htm

"The Place that Jesus Taketh in Our Soul He Shall Never Remove ...
... is His homliest home and His endless dwelling." "Our soul can never have rest in
things that are beneath itself"yet may it not abide in the beholding of its ...
/.../julian/revelations of divine love/chapter lxvii the place that.htm

The Unveiled Face
... For all that comes between your souls and God is a hindrance to beholding Him,
and therefore is it a hindrance to our being conformed to Him. ...
/.../bevan/three friends of god/chapter xxvii the unveiled face.htm

Thesaurus
Beholding (45 Occurrences)
... beheld. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. BEHOLDING. be ... joy. MO Evans.
Multi-Version Concordance Beholding (45 Occurrences). Matthew ...
/b/beholding.htm - 21k

Beholds (9 Occurrences)
... John 6:40 and this is the will of Him who sent me, that every one who is beholding
the Son, and is believing in him, may have life age-during, and I will raise ...
/b/beholds.htm - 8k

Wrought (186 Occurrences)
... John 2:23 And when he was in Jerusalem, at the passover, at the feast, many believed
on his name, beholding his signs which he wrought. (DBY). ...
/w/wrought.htm - 37k

Foreknowledge (2 Occurrences)
... This is the thought which underlies the anthropomorphic expressions where
God is represented as seeing, beholding and having eyes. ...
/f/foreknowledge.htm - 37k

Foreknow (1 Occurrence)
... This is the thought which underlies the anthropomorphic expressions where
God is represented as seeing, beholding and having eyes. ...
/f/foreknow.htm - 36k

Mag'dalene (11 Occurrences)
... Mark 15:40 And there were also women afar off beholding, among whom was also Mary
the Magdalene, and Mary of James the less, and of Joses, and Salome, (See RSV ...
/m/mag'dalene.htm - 9k

Astonished (92 Occurrences)
... Mark 9:15 Immediately the whole multitude on beholding Him were astonished and
awe-struck, and yet they ran forward and greeted Him. (WEY). ...
/a/astonished.htm - 34k

Beholdeth (25 Occurrences)

/b/beholdeth.htm - 12k

Glass (12 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory
of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by ...
/g/glass.htm - 21k

Quicken (16 Occurrences)
... (KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT). Psalms 119:37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity;
and quicken thou me in thy way. (KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT). ...
/q/quicken.htm - 13k

Resources
What is glorification? | GotQuestions.org

What is the meaning of “from glory to glory” in 2 Corinthians 3:18? | GotQuestions.org

What does quicken mean in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Beholding: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Beholding (45 Occurrences)

Matthew 13:14
and in them is filled up the prophecy of Esaias, which says, Hearing ye shall hear and shall not understand, and beholding ye shall behold and not see;
(DBY)

Matthew 27:55
And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:
(KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Mark 4:12
that beholding they may behold and not see, and hearing they may hear and not understand, lest it may be, they should be converted and they should be forgiven.
(DBY)

Mark 5:22
when there came one of the Wardens of the Synagogue--he was called Jair--who, on beholding Him, threw himself at His feet,
(WEY)

Mark 9:15
Immediately the whole multitude on beholding Him were astonished and awe-struck, and yet they ran forward and greeted Him.
(WEY)

Mark 10:21
Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
(KJV WBS)

Mark 12:41
And Jesus having sat down over-against the treasury, was beholding how the multitude do put brass into the treasury, and many rich were putting in much,
(YLT)

Mark 15:40
And there were also women beholding from afar: among whom 'were' both Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;
(ASV YLT)

Mark 15:47
and Mary the Magdalene, and Mary of Joses, were beholding where he is laid.
(YLT)

Luke 6:42
or how art thou able to say to thy brother, Brother, suffer, I may take out the mote that 'is' in thine eye -- thyself the beam in thine own eye not beholding? Hypocrite, take first the beam out of thine own eye, and then thou shalt see clearly to take out the mote that 'is' in thy brother's eye.
(YLT)

Luke 10:18
and he said to them, 'I was beholding the Adversary, as lightning from the heaven having fallen;
(YLT)

Luke 14:29
lest that he having laid a foundation, and not being able to finish, all who are beholding may begin to mock him,
(YLT)

Luke 21:6
As to these things which ye are beholding, days are coming in which there shall not be left stone upon stone which shall not be thrown down.
(DBY)

Luke 23:35
And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS)

Luke 23:48
And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.
(KJV WBS YLT)

Luke 23:49
And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.
(KJV DBY WBS YLT)

John 2:23
Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, during the feast, many believed on his name, beholding his signs which he did.
(ASV DBY YLT)

John 6:40
and this is the will of Him who sent me, that every one who is beholding the Son, and is believing in him, may have life age-during, and I will raise him up in the last day.'
(YLT)

John 12:45
and he who is beholding me, doth behold Him who sent me;
(YLT)

Acts 1:9
And having said these things he was taken up, they beholding him, and a cloud received him out of their sight.
(DBY YLT)

Acts 4:13
And beholding the openness of Peter and John, and having perceived that they are men unlettered and plebeian, they were wondering -- they were taking knowledge also of them that with Jesus they had been --
(YLT)

Acts 4:14
And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
(KJV DBY WBS)

Acts 8:13
Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Acts 9:7
And the men that journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing the voice, but beholding no man.
(ASV DBY)

Acts 14:9
The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,
(KJV WBS)

Acts 17:16
and Paul waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, beholding the city wholly given to idolatry,
(YLT)

Acts 17:23
for, passing through and beholding your shrines, I found also an altar on which was inscribed, To the unknown God. Whom therefore ye reverence, not knowing him, him I announce to you.
(DBY)

Acts 23:1
And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.
(KJV WBS)

2 Corinthians 3:18
But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Colossians 2:5
For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
(KJV ASV WBS YLT)

James 1:23
For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
(KJV ASV WBS)

1 Peter 3:2
beholding your chaste behavior 'coupled' with fear.
(ASV)

Revelation 11:11
And after the three days and a half the spirit of life from God came into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon those beholding them.
(DBY YLT)

Revelation 17:8
The beast that thou didst see: it was, and it is not; and it is about to come up out of the abyss, and to go away to destruction, and wonder shall those dwelling upon the earth, whose names have not been written upon the scroll of the life from the foundation of the world, beholding the beast that was, and is not, although it is.
(YLT)

Genesis 31:5
and saith to them, 'I am beholding your father's face -- that it is not towards me as heretofore, and the God of my father hath been with me,
(YLT)

Job 10:15
If I were wicked, woe unto me! and righteous, I will not lift up my head, being so full of shame, and beholding mine affliction; --
(DBY)

Psalms 17:15
As for me, I shall behold thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with 'beholding' thy form. Psalm 18 For the Chief Musician. 'A Psalm' of David the servant of Jehovah, who spake unto Jehovah the words of this song in the day that Jehovah delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul: and he said,
(ASV RSV)

Psalms 22:7
All beholding me do mock at me, They make free with the lip -- shake the head,
(YLT)

Psalms 63:2
So in the sanctuary I have seen Thee, To behold Thy strength and Thine honour.
(See RSV)

Psalms 119:37
Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Proverbs 15:3
The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.
(KJV DBY WBS)

Ecclesiastes 5:11
When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Ecclesiastes 7:11
Wisdom 'is' good with an inheritance, And an advantage 'it is' to those beholding the sun.
(YLT)

Jeremiah 20:4
For thus said Jehovah: Lo, I am making thee for a fear to thyself, And to all loving thee, And they have fallen by the sword of their enemies, and thine eyes are beholding, And all Judah I give into the hand of the king of Babylon, And he hath removed them to Babylon, And he hath smitten them with the sword.
(YLT)

Ezekiel 28:18
From the abundance of thy iniquity, By the perversity of thy traffic, Thou hast polluted thy sanctuaries, And I bring forth fire from thy midst, It hath devoured thee, And I make thee become ashes on the earth, Before the eyes of all beholding thee.
(YLT)

Subtopics

Beholding

Related Terms

Beholding (45 Occurrences)

Witness (295 Occurrences)

Backward (39 Occurrences)

Behoove

Beholder (7 Occurrences)

Spectator (1 Occurrence)

Transfiguration

Garments (232 Occurrences)

Hazael (23 Occurrences)

Bound (175 Occurrences)

Glory (590 Occurrences)

Logos

Isaiah (64 Occurrences)

Israel (27466 Occurrences)

Religion (23 Occurrences)

Beholdeth
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