ἐμφαν-ής G1717
visible, manifest, openly shown; appearing in clear view or made evident to perception
The word carries the idea of making visible what was previously hidden or potential. God made Jesus manifest to chosen witnesses after the resurrection (Acts 10:40), while Paul quotes Isaiah about God becoming manifest to those who were not seeking Him (Rom 10:20). The lexical background includes appearing bodily among men and being produced openly in court. Translations consistently emphasize the quality of being openly visible or clearly evident rather than hidden or obscure.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Visible, manifest, openly shown to view. In Acts 10:40, God gave Jesus to become manifest to chosen witnesses after his resurrection—not to all, but to those appointed to see him bodily. In Rom 10:20, Isaiah's prophecy describes God becoming manifest to those not seeking him. The classical sense of appearing bodily or being produced openly in court underlies both uses. Cross-linguistic glosses consistently render the clear, visible quality of manifestation. 2×
AR["ظَاهِرًا"]·ben["দৃশ্যমান", "প্রকাশিত"]·DE["offenbar", "ἐμφανῆ"]·EN["manifest"]·FR["manifeste"]·heb["גָּלוּי", "נִגְלֵיתִי"]·HI["प्रकट"]·ID["nyata"]·IT["visibile"]·jav["katingal", "ketèla"]·KO["나타나게", "나타났다"]·PT["manifesto"]·RU["-не-", "явным"]·ES["manifiesto"]·SW["kuonekana-wazi", "wazi"]·TR["açık", "görünür"]·urd["ظاہر"]
Related Senses
H3045 1. Qal: to know, perceive, understand (829×)H5315 1. soul, inner being (647×)H3820a 1. heart, inner self (mind/will/emotion) (572×)H4672 1. Qal: find, discover (289×)G1492 1. know facts or truths (285×)H3824 1. heart, inner self (mind/will/emotion) (250×)H1245 1. seek, search for (200×)G1097 1. know, be acquainted with (196×)H2142 1. Qal: remember, recall (173×)G2588 1. heart (inner self, mind, will) (158×)H0977 1. choose, select (Qal active) (145×)G2147 1. find, discover (144×)G5590 1. soul, inner self (100×)H4672 2. Niphal: be found, be discovered (99×)H1875 1. seek, search for (96×)H5315 2. life, vitality (94×)H1847 1. knowledge, discernment (90×)H2450 1. wise, prudent (84×)H7911 1. Qal: to forget (83×)H3684 1. fool, dullard (70×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἐμφαν-ής, ές, showing in itself, reflecting, of mirrors, Refs 5th c.BC+ __II visible to the eye, manifest, __II.a of persons, Refs 5th c.BC+; especially of the gods appearing bodily among men, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἐ. τινὰ ἰδεῖν see him bodily, Refs 5th c.BC+; πῶς ἂν ὑμὶν ἐμφανὴς.. γενοίμη; how could I make it manifest? Refs; ἐμφανὴς τιμαῖσιν, ={ἐμφανῶς τιμώμενος}, Refs; ἐ. ζῷα familiar animals, Refs…