1466 vision

Scripture uses the term to refer to both the physical act of seeing, and also the gift of spiritual insight. All things, physical and spiritual, are seen by God.

God’s vision

God views all life on earth 2Ch 16:9; Ps 11:4 See also Ge 6:11; Ex 3:9; Ps 31:22; Ps 34:15; Ps 139:16; Zec 4:10

God sees the hearts and thoughts of people Ge 6:5 See also 1Sa 2:3; Ps 139:1-4,23-24; Pr 15:11; Jer 20:12; Mt 6:8,18; Lk 16:15; Heb 4:13; 1Jn 3:20

The physical vision of human beings

It is given and can be taken by God Ex 4:11; Ps 146:8 See also Lev 26:16; Pr 29:13; Ac 9:8-9 pp Ac 22:11

Jesus Christ restores the sight of the blind Lk 4:18 See also Mt 9:30; Jn 9:7; Ac 9:17-18 pp Ac 22:13

Physical sight diminishes with age Ge 27:1; Ge 48:10; 1Sa 3:2; 1Sa 4:15; 1Ki 14:4; Ecc 12:3 Ecc 12:2-5 is an allegory on ageing. It gives a graphic description of a person’s progressive deterioration.

Physical vision has its dangers

It can create fear Job 41:9; Joel 2:6; Mt 28:3-4 pp Mk 16:5 pp Lk 24:4-5; Rev 1:17

It gives rise to temptation 1Jn 2:16 See also Ge 3:6; Jos 7:21; 2Sa 11:2-4; Job 31:1; Ps 119:37; Mt 5:28-29

Christians are to live by faith rather than by sight

Heb 11:1 See also Ro 8:24; 2Co 4:18; 2Co 5:7; Heb 11:27

Visions of God

Examples of those who saw God Ge 32:30; Ex 33:18-23; Job 42:5; Isa 6:1,5; Rev 1:12-18

God’s people will see him Mt 5:8; 1Jn 3:2 See also Ps 17:15; Jn 17:24; 1Co 13:12; Rev 22:4

Spiritual vision

Seeing used metaphorically for spiritual insight 2Ki 6:17 See also Pr 29:18; Isa 22:1 Jerusalem was called “the Valley of Vision”, possibly ironically, for although God spoke through his prophets and dwelt there, its inhabitants lacked insight; Isa 29:10; Mk 8:17-21; Lk 24:31; Jn 9:39; Ac 26:17-18

Spiritual insight given in dreams or visions Ac 2:17 See also Joel 2:28; Ge 15:1; Nu 12:6; Da 1:17; Da 2:19; Da 4:5; Da 7:1 Daniel’s dream of four beasts; Da 8:1; Da 10:7-8 Daniel’s vision of a man; Ac 9:12; Ac 10:9-17 pp Ac 11:4-10 Peter’s vision; Ac 16:9-10 Paul’s vision of the man of Macedonia; Ac 26:19; 2Co 12:1

The OT prophets had visions from God 1Sa 3:15; Isa 1:1; Jer 24:1; Eze 1:1; Eze 8:3-4; Eze 11:24; Eze 40:2-3; Hos 12:10; Ob 1; Na 1:1

False prophets in the OT lacked true vision Jer 14:14; Jer 23:16; La 2:14; Eze 7:26; Eze 13:1-12

See also