ἀφανής
aphanḗs
G852 predicate adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Unseen, invisible, not apparent to the senses; describes something hidden from view, not manifest, or not readily perceptible. May refer to that which is physically concealed or to that which is not evident or obvious in a situation or argument.
Semantic Range
unseen, invisible, unapparent, not manifest, hidden, not obvious, not easily detected
Root / Etymology
From the prefix ἀ- (a-, 'not') as a Greek privative, joined to the root φαν- (from φαίνω, 'to appear, to show'). Thus, ἀφανής literally means 'not appearing,' 'not manifest.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
The adjective ἀφανής is attested from classical Greek onward and is used in a variety of contexts to indicate that something is hidden from perception, invisible to the eye, or not easily recognized. In classical literature, it is used for objects, persons, or truths not immediately detected. In Hellenistic and Koine Greek—including the Septuagint and New Testament—the term can describe both material (e.g., a person hidden from view, a city out of sight) and immaterial (e.g., an intention not made public, a quality not obvious) realities. Its use overlaps with terms such as ἀόρατος ('invisible'), but ἀφανής more specifically denotes the lack of appearance or manifestation, rather than mere incapacity to be seen. In English Bible translations, it is typically rendered as 'hidden,' 'invisible,' or 'not manifest,' but these do not always fully convey the nuance of 'unapparent' or 'not making itself known.' The distinction between apparent and unapparent is significant in philosophical and rhetorical contexts, where ἀφανής may refer to things not evident to human understanding or reasoning. The Septuagint uses the term occasionally for things hidden from God or people; the New Testament employs it in contexts of unrevealed or concealed things (e.g., Mark 4:22).
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from Α (as a negative particle) and φαίνω; non-apparent:--that is not manifest.
Root Family
ἀφανής (aphanēs) — unseen, invisible, not manifest, hidden
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G852-01 |
ἀφανὴς | aphanes | ADJ.P NOM F SG |
hidden | unseen | unseen | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G852-01 |
Hebrews 4:13 | ἀφανὴς | aphanes | ADJ.P NOM F SG |
hidden | unseen | unseen |