ἐπιφαίνω
epiphaínō
G2014 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To shine upon, to give light to; by extension, to appear or become manifest, often with the nuance of something becoming publicly visible or evident. In figurative contexts, can refer to something (such as divine favor or revelation) being clearly made known or revealed.
Semantic Range
to shine upon, to give light, to illuminate, to appear, to become evident, to be revealed, to make manifest, to bring to light
Root / Etymology
From the preposition ἐπί ('upon, over') and the verb φαίνω ('to shine, to appear'). The compound construction heightens the sense of shining directly onto or making something visible.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, ἐπιφαίνω refers primarily to literal shining or causing light to fall upon something (e.g., the rising sun illuminating an area). In Koine Greek, including the Septuagint and New Testament, the term expands to both literal and metaphorical uses, such as becoming manifest or being revealed, particularly in the context of divine action or events becoming evident (see Titus 2:11; Luke 1:79). The term does not merely mean 'to appear' but stresses the aspect of illumination or revelation, often with implications of new understanding or gracious intervention. Standard translations sometimes reduce the sense to 'appear,' which can obscure the active sense of 'shining forth' or making something plainly evident.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἐπί and φαίνω; to shine upon, i.e. become (literally) visible or (figuratively) known:--appear, give light.
Root Family
φαίν- (aiphnídios) — to appear, to come to light
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2014-01 |
ἐπεφάνη | epephane | V AOR PASS IND 3P SG |
appeared | was made manifest | was made manifest | 2 |
G2014-02 |
ἐπιφαινόντων | epiphainonton | V PRS ACT PTCP GEN N PL |
appeared | of those shining upon | appearing | 1 |
G2014-03 |
ἐπιφᾶναι | epiphanai | V AOR ACT INF |
to shine upon | to shine upon | to shine upon | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2014-03 |
Luke 1:79 | ἐπιφᾶναι | epiphanai | V AOR ACT INF |
to shine upon | to shine upon | to shine upon |
G2014-02 |
Acts 27:20 | ἐπιφαινόντων | epiphainonton | V PRS ACT PTCP GEN N PL |
appeared | of those shining upon | appearing |
G2014-01 |
Titus 2:11 | ἐπεφάνη | epephane | V AOR PASS IND 3P SG |
has appeared | was made manifest | was made manifest |
G2014-01 |
Titus 3:4 | ἐπεφάνη | epephane | V AOR PASS IND 3P SG |
appeared | was made manifest | was made manifest |