καμμύω

I close

Definition

The verb καμμύω means 'to close,' specifically referring to the closing of the eyes. In its two New Testament occurrences, it is used metaphorically to describe a willful spiritual blindness or refusal to perceive truth. In Matthew 13:15 and Acts 28:27, it is part of a quotation from Isaiah 6:10, describing people who have deliberately shut their eyes to avoid seeing and understanding God's revelation, thereby preventing their own repentance and healing.

Biblical Usage

This word is used exclusively in two parallel passages that quote the prophet Isaiah: Matthew 13:15 and Acts 28:27. In both contexts, it describes a deliberate, active choice by people to close their eyes to spiritual truth. The usage is entirely metaphorical, depicting a hardened heart that rejects divine revelation. The pattern shows it is a specialized term for citing this specific Old Testament prophecy about Israel's spiritual condition.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek prefix κατά (kata, 'down') and the verb μύω (myō, 'to close' the eyes or lips). It is a classical Greek verb meaning specifically to shut or close the eyes. The form καμμύω shows assimilation of the prefix. Its meaning remained consistent from classical usage into the Koine Greek of the New Testament.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it describes a culpable, active spiritual blindness. It is not mere ignorance but a willful refusal to see and respond to God's truth, which results in judgment. Understanding this Greek term enriches the reading of Matthew 13:15 and Acts 28:27 by highlighting the human responsibility in rejecting the gospel—it is a conscious 'closing' of one's own eyes, which hardens the heart and prevents repentance.

In the Greco-Roman world, closing one's eyes could symbolize refusal, rejection, or a desire to avoid an unpleasant reality. The New Testament usage draws directly from the Jewish prophetic tradition in Isaiah, where this action signifies a rebellious response to Yahweh's prophets. The metaphor would be readily understood in both Jewish and broader Hellenistic cultures as an act of deliberate avoidance.

κλείω (kleiō, G2808) — a general term for shutting doors or gates, not specifically eyes. πωρόω (pōroō, G4456) — to harden or make callous, often describing the resulting state of the heart from actions like 'closing the eyes.'

Word Details

Scripture References