Espy
King James Dictionary [1]
ESPY',v.t. L. specio.
1. To see at a distance to have the first sight of a thing remove. Seamen espy land as they approach it. 2. To see or discover something intended to be hid, or in a degree concealed and not very visible as, to espy a man in a crowd, or a thief in a wood. 3. To discover unexpectedly.
As one of them opened his sack, he espied his money. Genesis 42
4. To inspect narrowly to examine and make discoveries.
Moses sent me to espy out the land, and I brought him word again. Joshua 14 .
ESPY', To look narrowly to look about to watch.
Stand by the way and espy. Jeremiah 48
This word is often pronounced spy, which see.
ESPY', n. A spy a scout.
Webster's Dictionary [2]
(1): ( v. t.) To inspect narrowly; to examine and keep watch upon; to watch; to observe.
(2): ( v. t.) To catch sight of; to perceive with the eyes; to discover, as a distant object partly concealed, or not obvious to notice; to see at a glance; to discern unexpectedly; to spy; as, to espy land; to espy a man in a crowd.
(3): ( v. i.) To look or search narrowly; to look about; to watch; to take notice; to spy.
(4): ( n.) A spy; a scout.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia [3]
es - pı̄ ´: "Espy" in modern English means "to catch sight of," rather than "to explore secretly." the Revised Version (British and American) therefore retains it in Genesis 42:27 , "He espied his money" (Hebrew ראה , rā'āh , "see"), while in Joshua 14:7 "espy out the land" (the King James Version) becomes "spy out the land." the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes "watch" for "espy" in Jeremiah 48:19 , and "searched out" for "espied" in Ezekiel 20:6 , with a gain in accuracy of rendering (compare the context).
