ἐπιφαίνω G2014
to appear, become visible; to shine forth (of light or divine grace)
From epi ('upon') and phaino ('to shine, appear'), this verb means to come into view or shine forth, and in the NT it spans both physical and theological manifestation. In Luke 1:79 Zechariah prophesies that the Messiah will 'shine upon' those sitting in darkness. In Acts 27:20 neither sun nor stars 'appeared' during the storm. Most strikingly, Titus 2:11 and 3:4 proclaim that God's grace and kindness have 'appeared' to all humanity — a term that gave rise to the theological concept of 'epiphany.'
Senses
1. sense 1 — To appear, become visible, or shine forth — encompassing both physical visibility and divine manifestation. Luke 1:79 uses it of messianic light shining on those in darkness ('to shine/brillar'). Acts 27:20 describes the physical absence of celestial bodies during a storm ('neither sun nor stars appeared/apareció'). In Titus 2:11 and 3:4 the verb takes on its richest theological weight: the grace and kindness of God 'appeared' (Spanish 'apareció,' French 'apparaître') to humanity, the very usage that underlies the Christian term 'Epiphany.' The passive forms emphasize that this manifestation originates from God, breaking into human experience from beyond. 4×
AR["تَظْهَرُ", "ظَهَرَ", "ظَهَرَت", "لِيُضِيءَ"]·ben["আলো-দিতে", "দেখা-দিতেছিল", "প্রকাশিত-হল"]·DE["erscheint", "ἐπεφάνη", "Ἐπεφάνη"]·EN["appeared", "appearing", "to-shine"]·FR["apparaître", "briller"]·heb["הוֹפִיעָה", "לְהָאִיר", "נִגְלָה", "נִרְאוּ"]·HI["दिखतेहुए", "प्रकाश-देने-को", "प्रगतित-हुअ", "प्रगतित-हुअ,"]·ID["Muncullah", "muncul,", "tampak", "untuk-menerangi"]·IT["apparire", "epephanē", "epiphanai"]·jav["Katingal", "katingal", "katingal,", "supados-madhangi"]·KO["나타나니", "나타났다", "비추려고"]·PT["Manifestou-se", "aparecendo", "apareceu,", "para-brilhar"]·RU["Явилась", "воссиять", "появляющихся", "явились"]·ES["apareciendo", "apareció", "brillar"]·SW["Imedhihirika", "ilipodhihirika", "kuonekana", "kuwaangazia"]·TR["Göründü", "aydınlatmak", "göründü,", "görününce"]·urd["دکھائی-دیتے", "روشن-کرنے", "ظاہر-ہوئی"]
Related Senses
H7200 1. Qal: to see, perceive (1257×)G4771 2. you (singular address) (1077×)H8085 1. Qal: hear, perceive aurally (921×)H0859a 1. you (2nd person masculine singular pronoun) (743×)H0398 1. eat (consume food) (697×)H4191 1. die (Qal: natural/general death) (645×)G3708 1. see, perceive visually (419×)G0191 1. hear, perceive sound (360×)H???? 3. (352×)G3708 2. behold, look (exclamatory) (256×)H7272 1. foot (body part) (236×)H8354 1. drink, consume liquid (209×)H3205 1. Qal active: bear/give birth (female subject) (204×)H3205 2. Qal active: beget/father (male subject) (198×)H2421 1. Qal: live, be alive (177×)H8085 2. Qal: listen, heed, pay attention (172×)H2416a 1. alive, living (state/attribute) (146×)H2416e 1. life, lifespan, lifetime (145×)G2198 1. be alive, have life (133×)H8193 1. lip, lips (body part) (123×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἐπιφαίνω, aorist I (late) -έφᾱναLXX+NT:—show forth, display, absolutely, μηδὲ λίην ἐπίφαινε Refs 6th c.BC+; τὸ ἀγέρωχον, τὴν προαίρεσιν, Refs 1st c.AD+; τὸν μισοπόνηρον play the μ., Refs 1st c.BC+.:—passive, come into view, ἠέλιος δ᾽ ἐπέλαμψε, μάχη δ᾽ ἐπὶ πᾶσα φαάνθη Refs 8th c.BC+; of an enemy, Refs 5th c.BC+; διὰ τὸ ἐπιφανέντα με κωλῦσαι Test. cited in Refs 5th c.BC+to present oneself, Refs 5th…