EVIL EYE (עַיִן רָעָה, evil eye). An eye that is supposed to be capable of harming, or even killing, living beings by looking at them. The damage may or may not be intended by the owner of the eye. This belief was widespread in ancient times and has continued up to the present, although it seems never to have spread to the western hemisphere.

Methods of defense against effects of the evil eye included the wearing of charms (the camels’ ornaments of Judg 8:21, according to some), repeating of oaths, and obscene gestures. A person might be held in suspicion of evil intentions if observed watching children or farm animals. The effects of the evil eye were believed to be rooted in envy so that when one expressed his admiration for animals or children he would often say, “God bless them” or its equivalent, so that his motivations would not be questioned.

In the OT the phrase seems to denote the quality of stinginess, referring to the man or his action, without reference to magical power. In Deuteronomy 15:9, “thine eye be evil against” (KJV) might just as well be tr. “you are selfish toward.” Likewise, “his eye shall be evil toward” (KJV) means “he will act selfishly toward” (Deut 28:54, 56). The contexts indicate that those referred to refused to share with others who had less. Selfishness also fits the context of Proverbs 28:22, describing one who “hastens after wealth.” In Proverbs 23:6 the context allows the RSV tr. “stingy.” Selfishness or envy is the apparent meaning in Matthew 20:15 and may possibly be related to the situation in Matthew 6:22, 23 and Luke 11:34.

Bibliography F. T. Elworthy, The Evil Eye (1895); HERE, V (1912), 608-615; S. Thompson, Motif-Index of Folk-Literature, II (1956), D 2071.