APPLE OF THE EYE. An Eng. idiom denoting the pupil of the eye, which is precious and, therefore, most carefully guarded. It renders three Heb. words: אִישׁﯴן, H413, meaning literally “little man,” and prob. referring to the little image one sees of himself when looking into another’s eye; בַּת֒, H1426, meaning “daughter,” with prob. the same significance; and בָּבָה, H949, meaning literally “gate.” The phrase is used of God’s care of His people (Deut 32:10; Ps 17:8; Zech 2:8) and the preciousness of the divine Law (Prov 7:2). In Lamentations 2:18 KJV, it is used with a physiological meaning.