ὅρασις
hórasis
G3706 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
the act of seeing or the faculty of sight; more specifically, a vision, referring to a supernatural or divinely inspired visual experience; also, by extension, a revelation or message received through such a visual experience. The primary sense is a visual phenomenon, whether ordinary perception or a special, visionary experience.
Semantic Range
act of seeing, faculty of vision, sight (the ability to see), visionary experience, supernatural or prophetic vision, revelatory appearance
Root / Etymology
From the root ὁράω ('to see, to perceive with the eyes'), with the nominal suffix -σις forming an abstract noun. Thus, ὅρασις literally indicates 'seeing' or 'vision.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
ὅρασις is attested in classical, Hellenistic, and Koine Greek with both ordinary and technical senses. In classical literature, it can mean 'sight' (the faculty or the act), but in Hellenistic and later Jewish and early Christian writings, it often takes on the technical sense of a supernatural vision or revelation. In the Septuagint, it frequently renders Hebrew חָזוֹן (ḥāzôn, 'vision, prophetic revelation'), highlighting its role in communicating divine messages. In the New Testament (Luke 1:22; Acts 2:17), ὅρασις refers specifically to a visionary experience—often prophetic or apocalyptic in nature—rather than ordinary sight. English translations often use 'vision' but may not always convey the full nuance of revelatory or supernatural encounter inherent in the term. ὅρασις differs from related terms like ὅραμα ('a thing seen, vision, often emphasizing the object or image itself') and ἀποκάλυψις ('revelation', with broader disclosure of hidden things, not only through seeing).
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ὁράω; the act of gazing, i.e. (externally) an aspect or (internally) an inspired appearance:--sight, vision.
Root Family
ὅρασις (horasis) — seeing, sight, vision, visionary experience, revelatory appearance
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3706-01 |
ὁράσει | orasei | N DAT F SG |
in vision | 3 | |
G3706-02 |
ὁράσεις | oraseis | N ACC F PL |
visions | visions | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3706-02 |
Acts 2:17 | ὁράσεις | oraseis | N ACC F PL |
visions | visions |
G3706-01 |
Revelation 4:3 | ὁράσει | orasei | N DAT F SG |
in vision | |
G3706-01 |
Revelation 4:3 | ὁράσει | orasei-2 | N DAT F SG |
in vision | |
G3706-01 |
Revelation 9:17 | ὁράσει | orasei | N DAT F SG |
in vision |