Eye (Hastings' Dictionary)

The eyes of Orientals are usually well formed, large, and lustrous, but deficient in that play of expression which accompanies thought, humour, and fancy. As the chief of the organs of sense, the eye had a leading place in the lex talionis, ' eye for eye ' (Ex 21*"). To put out the eyes of an enemy or prisoner was like breaking the teeth of a captured wild animal, the removal of the chief power to injure. It was also a great degradation (Jg 16-', IS 11', 2 K 25').

Among the begging classes of Palestine, blindness, next to the revolting spectacle of leprosy, makes the strongest claim upon the charity of the benevolent. Blind men are some- times known to decline the oft'er of the medical missionary, as restored sight would mean a loss of privilege (see Blindness under Medicine). The fig. references to the eye are many and varied.

As the chief means of contact with the outer world, tbi eye is the source of pleasurable sensations and the principal avenue of tempta- tion (Gn 3«, Pr 27^, Ezk 242>, 1 Jn 2'«). Know- ledge is the opening of the eyes (Gn 3', Ps 119", Epli l'«). The prophet was first called the ' seer ' (nxi) IS 9', and his message a 'vision' (pm) Is 1', Ezk 7" etc.

In connexion with the feelings, sorrow is associated wth a consumed or wasted ej^e (Ps 6'), and satisfaction in worldly prosperity with an eye standing out with fatness (Ps 73'). Tear-bottles are often found in the ancient tombs, as affecting tokens of regret and grief. This memorial act may be referred to in Ps 56' ' Put thou my tears into thy bottle.' (See BoTTLB.)

To have the eyes delivered from tears takes rank with the deliverance of the soul from death and the feet from falling (Ps IIG') ; to have all tears wiped from the eyes (Rev 21*), is part of the riches in glory. As a judge of what is pleasant or offensive, the eye indicates an intention of favour or hostility.

"Thus in an Arabic salutation, in answer to the opening inqviiry as to health, the usual reply is, 'Well, by your looking upon me' (favour of your eye), and the conventional parry of politeness is to say, ' By God's looking upon you.' A similar thought of the eye's protective favour lies in the words providence, episcopos, overseer. On the other hand, there is the widespread and deeply-rooted •uperstition about the power of the evil-eye, and one of the chief uses of the amnlet (wh.

see) is to obtain protection against it. The Eyelids (csyry) are mentioned as a means of seduction employed by the ' evil woman ' (Pr 6"), and not infrequently appear in poetical language as a synonym for, or parallel with, the eyes (Job 1(1'«, Jer 9's, Ps 11 132>, Pr 6 30"). By a beautiful metaphor in Job 3' 41'* the first rays of dawn are called the 'eyelids of the morning.' Eye-paint (-is, Arab, kuhl; cf.

^ns Ezk 23*>) was a paste made of antimony powder, giving a brown-black burnished stain to the eyelashes. The practice which is de- picted on the monuments still con- tinues in Egypt (see Lane, Mod. Egypt.' i. 45 f.) 'The paint is kept in a small horn or ornamental metal vase with a thin rod for applying it. It makes the eyes look larger and more lustrous (2 K ff", Jer i^, Ezk 23^°). One of Job's daughters was called Keren -happukh, ' horn of eye- paint' (Job 42'-'). BORsroRir.

- Ihe Eye-salye (/coXXot'pioc, col- paiki. lyrium) of Rev 3'* was a preparation used for healing or strengthening the eye (cf. Hor. Sat. i. 5. 30 ; Epict. Diss. ii. 21. 20, lii. 21. 21 ; Gels. vi. 6. 7). (See Medicine.) G. M. Mackie.