Apple Of The Eye
Morrish Bible Dictionary [1]
1. ishon. Gesenius says this word signifies 'little man' and then 'the little man of the eye; 'that is, "the pupil of the eye in which, as in a mirror, a person sees his own image reflected in miniature." He says "this pleasing image is found in several languages." It is the part of the eye specially to be guarded: God preserved His own as the apple of His eye. Deuteronomy 32:10; Psalm 17:8 . His law should be kept as a precious thing. Proverbs 7:2 .
2. babah, the black or pupil of the eye, or, as others, 'the gate of the eye.' To touch God's people is touching the apple of His eye. Zechariah 2:8 .
3. bath, daughter. The sense is, Let not the apple (the daughter) of thine eye cease to shed tears. Lamentations 2:18 . In all places 'the apple of the eye' is a beautifully figurative expression for that which must be tenderly cherished as a most choice treasure.
Fausset's Bible Dictionary [2]
The promise is in Zechariah 2:8, "He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of His eye"; the prayer is Psalms 17:8 "Keep me as the apple of the eye"; the fulfillment Deuteronomy 32:10, "He kept him as the apple of His eye." A different Hebrew word from Tappunch , namely, Ishon , "little man," i.e. "pupil" (Greek Kore ) of the eye. Called so from the image formed on the retina. The part most precious and most guarded from attack; which feels most acutely the least hurt, and the loss of which is irreparable.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible [3]
Apple Of The Eye (lit. ‘child or daughter of the eye,’ i.e. that which is most precious [the organ of sight], and most carefully guarded [by the projecting bone, protecting it as far as possible from injury]). A figure of God’s care of His people ( Deuteronomy 32:10 , Psalms 17:8 , Zechariah 2:8 ), and of the preciousness of the Divine law ( Proverbs 7:2 ). In Lamentations 2:18 it is the source of tears.
C. W. Emmet.
Holman Bible Dictionary [4]
Deuteronomy 32:10 Proverbs 7:2 Psalm 17:8 Lamentations 2:18 Zechariah 2:8 Lamentations 2:18
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia [5]
ap ´' l : The eyeball, or globe of the eye, with pupil in center, called "apple" from its round shape. Its great value and careful protection by the eyelids automatically closing when there is the least possibility of danger made it the emblem of that which was most precious and jealously protected. The Hebrew terms for it were, 'ı̄shōn , diminutive of 'ı̄sh , "man," little man or mannikin , referring perhaps specially to the pupil , probably from "the little image one sees of himself when looking into another's pupil" (Davies' Lexicon ). "He kept him (Israel) as the apple of his eye" ( Deuteronomy 32:10 ); "Keep me as the apple of the eye," literally, "as the apple, the daughter of the eye" ( Psalm 17:8 ). "Keep my law (the Revised Version, margin "teaching") as the apple of thine eye" ( Proverbs 7:2 ). Compare Proverbs 7:9 where it is used to denote what is the center (American Revised Version, "in the middle of the night"; the English Revised Version "in, the blackness of night"; margin "Hebrew pupil (of the eye)"); bābhāh perhaps an "opening," "gate"; others regard it as a mimetic word akin to Latin pupa , pupilla ("He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye," i.e. Yahweh's; Zechariah 2:8 ); bath - ‛ayin , "daughter of the eye"; "Give thyself no respite, let not the apple of thine eye cease" ( Lamentations 2:18 ), which means, either "sleep not," or "cease not to weep." κόρη , kórē , "young girl," "pupil of the eye": "He (the Lord) will keep the good deeds (the Revised Version (British and American) "bounty") of a man as the apple of the eye" (Ecclesiasticus 17:22); the Septuagint also has korē in all instances except Lamentations 2:18 , where it has θυγάτηρ , thugátēr , "daughter."
