τυφλόω
typhlóō
G5186 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To cause blindness; to deprive of physical sight. Also used figuratively: to cause someone to be unable to perceive, to obscure understanding, or render insensitive to moral or spiritual truths. The primary sense is to cause literal blindness, but figurative uses are prominent in Koine Greek literature, especially to denote moral or mental obtuseness or a hardened heart.
Semantic Range
to cause literal blindness, to deprive of physical sight, to make unable to perceive, to obscure understanding, to render insensitive or unresponsive (especially spiritually or morally)
Root / Etymology
From the adjective τυφλός (typhlós, 'blind'), formed as a causative denominative verb. The root is τυφλ- (typhl-).
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Classical Greek, τυφλόω is rarely attested; the verb becomes more common in the Hellenistic and Koine periods, especially in Jewish-Greek literature such as the Septuagint and the New Testament. In the Septuagint and New Testament, the verb frequently appears both in reference to literal blindness and, especially, in metaphorical contexts, describing spiritual, moral, or intellectual blindness. Figurative usage denotes a willful or divinely permitted inability to grasp or accept certain truths, often tied to prophetic or theological concepts such as hardening of heart. Notably, traditional English translations often render figurative uses as 'to blind' (e.g., 'God has blinded their hearts'), but this can obscure the sense of 'rendering unresponsive' or 'causing insensibility.' The verb is related to, but not synonymous with, σκοτίζω ('to darken'), which emphasizes darkness rather than the absence of sight or perception. The English term 'blind' corresponds well to the literal application but may not fully capture the nuanced figurative senses present in Greek sources.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from τυφλός; to make blind, i.e. (figuratively) to obscure:--blind.
Root Family
τυφλόω (typhloō) — to blind, to deprive of sight, to obscure perception
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5186-01 |
ἐτύφλωσεν | etuphlosen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
has blinded | he blinded | 2 |
G5186-02 |
τετύφλωκεν | tetuphloken | V PRF ACT IND 3P SG |
He has blinded | has blinded | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5186-02 |
John 12:40 | τετύφλωκεν | tetuphloken | V PRF ACT IND 3P SG |
He has blinded | has blinded |
G5186-01 |
2 Corinthians 4:4 | ἐτύφλωσεν | etuphlosen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
he blinded | |
G5186-01 |
1 John 2:11 | ἐτύφλωσεν | etuphlosen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
has blinded | he blinded |