ἐμφανής
emphanḗs
G1717 predicate adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Clearly visible or evident; openly apparent to the senses or to understanding. The term emphasizes visibility or manifestation without concealment. In various contexts, it may refer to something that is readily recognized or evident to those observing, or more abstractly, something clearly revealed or made known.
Semantic Range
manifest, evident, apparent, visible, openly seen, clearly perceived, unmistakable
Root / Etymology
Formed from the preposition ἐν ('in') and the root φαίνω ('to shine, appear, bring to light'), meaning 'brought into visibility' or 'made apparent.' The word is a compound adjective structure, literally meaning 'in appearance,' indicating that something is visible in itself or clearly seen.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Attested in classical and Hellenistic Greek as meaning 'clear,' 'manifest,' or 'obvious,' ἐμφανής maintains the sense of something being outwardly apparent, in contrast to terms like λανθάνω (to be hidden). In the New Testament and Septuagint, the word is used sparingly but consistently retains this basic sense of appearance or manifestation. Standard English translations such as 'manifest' or 'openly' sometimes obscure that the term also applies broadly to anything clearly revealed to sense perception or intellectual apprehension. In certain philosophical texts, ἐμφανής can also carry the sense of something intellectually evident or unmistakable as an object of perception. It is distinct from terms indicating internal revelation or hiddenness, focusing instead on external visibility or recognition.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from a compound of ἐν and φαίνω; apparent in self:--manifest, openly.
Root Family
ἐμφανής (emphanēs) — manifest, evident, visible, brought to light, openly apparent
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1717-01 |
ἐμφανῆ | emphane | ADJ.P ACC M SG |
manifest | openly evident | manifest | 1 |
G1717-02 |
ἐμφανὴς | emphanes | ADJ.P NOM M SG |
manifest | openly evident | openly evident | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1717-01 |
Acts 10:40 | ἐμφανῆ | emphane | ADJ.P ACC M SG |
manifest | openly evident | manifest |
G1717-02 |
Romans 10:20 | ἐμφανὴς | emphanes | ADJ.P NOM M SG |
manifest | openly evident | openly evident |