Quick Definition
φαίνω v. I shine, appear, seem
Strong's Definition
prolongation for the base of 5457; to lighten (shine), i.e. show (transitive or intransitive, literal or figurative)
KJV Usage: appear, seem, be seen, shine, X think
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
verb | aor.subj.3sg. φάνῃ · fut.midd.3sg. φανεῖται · aor.pass. ἐφάνην · subj. φανῶ · fut.pass. φανήσομαι | ἀναφαίνω · ἀφανής · ἀφανίζω · ἀφανισμός · ἄφαντος · ἐμφανής · ἐμφανίζω · ἐπιφαίνω · ἐπιφάνεια · ἐπιφανής · ἐπιφαύσκω · ἐπιφώσκω · κατήφεια · πρόφασις · συκοφαντέω · ὑπερηφανία · ὑπερήφανος · φανερός · φανερόω · φανερῶς · φανέρωσις · φανός · φαντάζομαι · φαντασία · φάντασμα · φάσις · φῶς · φωστήρ · φωσφόρος · φωτεινός · φωτίζω · φωτισμός
14.37 · Physical Events and States · Light
to shine, to give light, to bring light to shine or to produce light, as in the case of heavenly bodies, lightning, candles, torches, etc. Terms for ‘shining, giving light’ often differ depending upon the type of source. There may be, for example, a contrast between the shining of a heavenly body in contrast with some source on earth. There may also be a difference between a continuous shining such as of the sun and the moon and a brief flash, as in the case of lightning or sparks from a fire.
JHN 1:5 · JHN 5:35 · PHP 2:15 · 2PE 1:19 · 1JN 2:8 · REV 1:16 · REV 8:12 · REV 18:23 · REV 21:23
24.18 · (φαίνομαι[a]) · Sensory Events and States · See
to appear, to become visible to become visible to someone In a number of languages the equivalent of ‘appeared to’ would simply be ‘came to’ or ‘arrived at.’ In other languages the equivalent is ‘... he saw in a dream.’
MAT 1:20 · MAT 2:7 · MAT 2:13 · MAT 2:19 · MAT 6:5 · MAT 9:33 · MAT 13:26 · MAT 24:27 · MAT 24:30 · MRK 16:9 · LUK 9:8 · LUK 24:11 · HEB 11:3 · JAS 4:14 · 1PE 4:18
28.36 · (φαίνομαι[b]) · Know · Well Known, Clearly Shown, Revealed
to make known, to make plain, to reveal, to bring to the light, to disclose, revelation to cause something to be fully known by revealing clearly and in some detail
28.55 · (φαίνομαι[c]) · Know · Well Known, Clearly Shown, Revealed
to appear to be (something), to give an impression of to make known only the superficial and not the real character of something In order to do justice to φαίνομαι in MAT 23:28, it may be necessary in some languages to translate as follows: ‘on the outside you appear to people to be good, but you really are not’ or ‘... you only appear to people to be good’ or ‘... you make people think you are good, but you are not.’
MAT 6:16 · MAT 6:18 · MAT 23:27 · MAT 23:28 · MRK 14:64 · 2CO 13:7
1 All of these meanings involve a shift from the sensory domain of seeing, causing to see, or giving light to, to the cognitive domain of making something fully known, evident, and clear.
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
φαίνω; [1 aor. act. subjune. 3 pers. sing. avy, LT WH in Rev. viii. 12; xviii. 23, (see below and dvadaivw; W §15 5. v.; B.41(35))]; Pass., pres. φαίνομαι; 2 aor. ἐφάνην; 2 fut. φανήσομαι and (in 1 Pet. iv. 18) φανοῦμαι (cf. Kithner § 343s. v.; [Veitchs.v.]); (φάω) ; in Grk. writ. fr. Hom. down; to bring forth into the light, cause to shine; to show. In bibl. Grk. 1. Active intransitively, to shine, shed light, (which the Grks. [commonly (cf. L. and S.s. ν. A. IT.)] express by the passive), Sept. for VND: τὸ φῶς φαίνει, Jn. i. 5; 1 Jn. ii. 8; ὁ λύχνος, Jn. v. 85; 2 Pet. i. 19, (1 Mace. iv. 50; Gen. i. 17); ὁ ἥλιος, Rev. i. 16 ; ὁ ἥλ. καὶ ἡ σελήνη, Rev. xxi. 23; ἡ ἡμέρα, Rey. viii. 12 Ree. 2. Passive, a. to shine, be bright or resplendent: ἡ ἡμέρα, Rev. viii. 12 Tr [(see above); xviii. 23 RG Tr—but see Veitchs.v.; moreover, the foll. exx. should be brought under the next head; see Meyer on Phil. ii. 15]; ὡς φωστῆρες, Phil. ii. 15; ὁ ἀστήρ, Mt. ii. 7; ἡ ἀστραπή, Mt. xxiv. 27. b. to become evident, to be brought forth into light, come to view, appear: Mt. xxiv. 30; opp. to ἀφανίζεσθαι, Jas. iv. 14; appearance of angels: τινί, Mt. i. 20; ii. 13, 19, (2 Mace. iii. 33; x. 29; xi. 8; of God, Joseph. antt. 7, 7, 3; for 779) in ref. to the same, Num. xxiii. 3); of those restored to life, Lk. ix. 8; τινί, Mk. xvi. 9; of growing vegetation, to come to light, Mt. xiii. 26; univ. fo appear, be seen: φαινόμενα, Heb. xi. 3; impersonally, φαίνεται, it is seen, exposed to view: οὐδέποτε ἐφάνη οὕτως ἐν τῷ Ἰσραήλ, never was it seen in such (i. e. so remarkable) a fashion — never was such a sight seen — in Israel, Mt. ix. 33. c. to meet the eyes, strike the sight, become clear or manifest, with a predicate nom. (be seen to be) [cf. B. § 144, 15 a., 18]: Mt. vi. 16, 18; xxili. 27sq.; 2 Co. xiii. 7; ἵνα (sc. ἡ ἁμαρτία) φανῇ ἁμαρτία (equiv. to ἁμαρτωλός), Ro. vii. 13; with the dat. of the pers. added, Mt. vi. 5 (se. προσευχόμενοι praying); to be seen, appear: ὁ ἁμαρτωλὸς ποῦ φανεῖται ; i.e. he will nowhere be seen, will perish, 1 Pet. iv. 18. d. to appear to the mind, seem to one’s Judgment or opinion: τί ὑμῖν φαίνεται, [A.V. what think ye], Mk. xiv. 64 (1 Esdr. ii. 18 (21)) ; ἐφάνησαν ἐνώπιον αὐτῶν ὡσεὶ ληροί, Lk. xxiv. 11[W. § 33 f.; B. §133, 3. Syn. see δοκέω, fin.]
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
φαίνω phainō 31x
to cause to appear, bring to light; absol. to shine, Jn. 1:5; 5:35; 2 Pet. 1:19; 1 Jn. 2:8; Rev. 1:16; 8:12; 21:23; mid./pass. to be seen, appear, be visible, Mt. 1:20; 2:7, 13, 19; τὰ φαινόμενα, things visible, things obvious to the senses, Heb. 11:3; φαίνομαι, to appear, seen, be in appearance, Mt. 23:27; Lk. 24:11; to appear in thought, seen in idea, be a notion, Mk. 14:64
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
φαίνω
[in LXX for אור hi., ראה ni., etc. ;]
Act.,
to bring to light, cause to appear (so most freq. in cl.).
Absol., to give light, shine (Hom., Plat., al.): Jo 1:5 5:35, II Pe 1:19, I Jo 2:8, Re 1:16 8:12 18:23 21:23.
Pass., to come to light, appear, be manifest: Mt 2:7 13:26 24:27, 30, Lk 9:8, Phl 2:15, He 11:3, I Pe 4:18 (LXX); opp. to ἀφανίζεσθαι, Ja 4:14; c. dat. pers. (Bl. § 54, 4), Mt 1:20 2:13, 19, Mk 16:9; c. nom. pred., Mt 23:27, 28, Ro 7:13, II Co 13:7; id. c. dat. pers., Mt 6:5, 16, 18 (seq. nom. ptcp., but not as in cl.; v. Bl., § 73, 4); impers., Mt 9:33; of the mind and judgment (= δοκεῖ, q.v.), Mk 14:64 (cf. I Es 2:21), Lk 24:11.†
SYN.: v.s. δοκέω
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
φαίνω (phainō) — to shine/appear. φαίνω, [Refs 8th c.BC+], Epic dialect also φαείνω (which see):—future φᾰνῶ, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; Ionic dialect φᾰνέω (ἀπο-) [Refs 5th c.BC+], optative φᾰνοίην [Refs 5th c.BC+]: aorist 1 ἔφηνα [Refs 8th c.BC+]; Doric dialect ἔφᾱνα [Refs 5th c.BC+]subjunctive, ἀπο-φάνῃ uncertain reading in [Refs]; φάνῃς [Refs 4th c.BC+]; so in late Prose, (ἐξ-) [NT+2nd c.AD+]; Epic dialect iterative φάνεσκε (intransitive) [Refs 8th c.BC+]: perfect πέφαγκα [Refs 4th c.BC+]perfect πέφηνα (see. below[Refs], Doric dialect3rd.pers. plural ἐκ-πεφάναντι [Refs 5th c.BC+]; pluperfect ἐπεφήνειν [Refs 2nd c.AD+]:—middle, future infinitive φᾰνεῖσθαι [Refs 8th c.BC+], Ionic dialect φᾰνέομαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]; the forms φανῆσθον and Doric dialect imperative φάνευ are corrupt in [Refs 5th c.BC+]aorist 1 ἐφηνάμην (transitive) [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—passive, Ionic dialect imperfect φαινέσκετο [Refs 8th c.BC+]: future φᾰνήσομαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]future πεφήσεται [Refs 8th c.BC+]: aorist 1 ἐφάνθην [Refs 5th c.BC+]; Epic dialect 3rd.pers. singular φαάνθη [Refs 8th c.BC+], 3rd.pers. plural φάανθεν [Refs]aorist 2 ἐφάνην [ᾰ], Epic dialect φάνην [Refs 8th c.BC+]; Epic dialect 3rd.pers. plural φάνεν [Refs 8th c.BC+]; Epic dialect subjunctive φανήῃ [Refs 8th c.BC+]; Epic dialect infinitive φανήμεναι [Refs]: perfect πέφασμαι [Refs 5th c.BC+], 3rd.pers. singular πέφανται [Refs 8th c.BC+]; πέφᾰται in [Refs 5th c.BC+], or to φημ; infinitive πεφάνθαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]; participle πεφασμένος [Refs 8th c.BC+]; 3rd.pers. plural pluperfect ἐπέφαντο [Refs 8th c.BC+] __A active, bring to light, cause to appear, in physical sense, τέρας τινὶ φ. make a sign appear to one, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἔφην᾽ ἄφαντον φῶς, i.e. fire, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; φ. μηρούς, ἐπιγουνίδα, show by baring, i.e. uncover.., [Refs 8th c.BC+]; reflect an image in water, τὰ δέ νιν καλὰ κύματα φαίνει [Refs 3rd c.BC+] —middle, τὰ τόξα.. τοῖσιν Ἀργείοισι φήνασθαι θέλει exhibit them as his own, [Refs 5th c.BC+] __b make known, reveal, disclose, ἐς τὸ φῶς φανεῖ κακά [Refs 8th c.BC+]; φανεῖ.. κωκύματα wailings will show forth [the truth of what I say], [Refs 5th c.BC+] wilt make us appear.., [Refs] __c γόνον Ἑλένῃ φ. show her a child, i. e. grant her to bear one, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; φ. παράκοιτίν τινι show (i.e. give) one a wife, [Refs]
2. of sound, make it clear to the ear, make it ring clear, ἀοιδὴν φαίνειν [Refs 4th c.BC+]
3. show forth, display in action, ἀρετήν [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ὕβριν[Refs 4th c.BC+]
3. b set forth, expound, νοήματα [Refs 8th c.BC+]; but τὰ λαμπρὰ.. φ. ἔπη make them good, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
4. inform against one, denounce, φανῶ σε (σε φανῶ codices) τοῖς πρυτάνεσι [Refs 5th c.BC+]: denounce a thing as contraband, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὰ φανθέντα articles denounced as contraband, [Refs]give information, ὁ φήνας ἢ ὁ γραψάμενος [Refs 5th c.BC+]
5. φαίνειν φρουράν, call up a levy, at Sparta, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; also φ. θυσίαν proclaim, order a sacrifice, [Refs 4th c.BC+] —passive, πέφαται θνατοῖσι νίκας ὕστερον εὐφροσύνα has been ordained, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II. absolutely, give light, shine, φαίνοντες νύκτας.. δαιτυμόνεσσι [Refs 8th c.BC+]; of the sun, moon, etc., φ. τινί [Refs 5th c.BC+]; compare φάω: so ἦρι μὲν φαίνοντι in spring when it shines forth, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; of the Dioscuri shining in mid-air, [Refs 5th c.BC+] soft shining hope, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
II. b Φαίνων, οντος, ὁ, the planet Saturn, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; accusative -ωνα [Refs]
III. Epic dialect iterative φάνεσκε appeared, μετὰ πρώτοισι φάνεσκε [Refs 8th c.BC+]
III.2. perfect [Refs 5th c.BC+] __B passive, come to light, appear, φάνεν δέ οἱ εὐρέες ὦμοι, being stripped bare, [Refs 8th c.BC+]: frequently of fire, shine brightly, πυρὰ φαίνετο Ἰλιόθι πρό [Refs 8th c.BC+]shone like fire, [Refs 8th c.BC+]: frequently of the rising of heavenly bodies, ἄστρα φαεινὴν ἀμφὶ σελήνην φαίνετ᾽ ἀριπρεπέα [Refs 8th c.BC+]; of the first gleam of daybreak, ἦμος δ᾽ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἅμ᾽ ἠοῖ φαινομένηφι at break of day, [Refs 8th c.BC+]: of a rising wind, οὐδέ ποτ᾽ οὖροι πνείοντες φαίνονθ᾽ ἁλιαέες [Refs 8th c.BC+]; of a vapour, ἐκ νεφέων ἐρεβεννὴ φ. ἀήρ [Refs 8th c.BC+] __B.2 of persons, οἴῳ φαινομένη appearing to him alone, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; οὗπερ κἀφάνης where thou didst first appear, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὁδόν φανῆναι a pregnant expression for ἐλθεῖν ὁδὸν ὥστε φανῆναι, [Refs]; πόθεν φαίν; whence come you? [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οὐδαμοῦ φ. is nowhere to be seen, [Refs] __B.2.b come into being, φανεὶς δύστηνος born to misery, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; become, ἐκ βασιλέως ἰδιώτην φανῆναι [Refs 5th c.BC+]; to be made out, δοῦλος λόγοισιν.. φανείς [Refs 5th c.BC+] __B.3 of events, come about, τέλος οὔ πώ τι πέφανται [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἔργον, ἄεθλον, etc.,[Refs 8th c.BC+]; of sayings, to be set forth, λόγος ἀρχαῖος φανείς[Refs] __B.II appear to be so and so, with infinitive, δμῳάων ἥ τίς τοι ἀρίστη φαίνεται εἶναι [Refs 8th c.BC+]: frequently with infinitive omitted, οὗ καὶ πρόσθεν ἀρίστη φαίνετο βουλή [Refs 8th c.BC+] also with participle, to be manifest: thus, ἐμοὶ σὺ πλουτέειν μέγα φαίνεαι you appear to me to be very rich, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; but εὔνοος ἐφαίνετο ἐών he was manifestly well-inclined, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οὐκ ἄκαιρα φαίνεται λέγειν he appears to be speaking.., [Refs 4th c.BC+]; but φανέονται λέγοντες οὐδέν it will be manifest that they talk nonsense, [Refs 5th c.BC+]participle omitted, πέφανται ἁρματηλάτας σοφός (i.e. ὤν) [Refs 5th c.BC+]; Κᾶρες ἐφάνησαν (i.e. ὄντες) they were seen to be Carians, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τί φαίνομαι (i.e. ὤν) δῆτ; what do I look like? [Refs 5th c.BC+] __B.II.2 in Philosophy, φαίνομαι (absolutely) is sometimes used of what appears to the senses, φαίνεται δ᾽ οὐδὲν is observed, [Refs 4th c.BC+]: sometimes of what is mentally manifest, [Refs]; to be evident, [Refs]: especially appear to the imagination [Refs 5th c.BC+]: especially in participle φαινόμενος, η, ον: __B.II.2.a appearing in sense experience, τὰ φ. κατὰ τὴν αἴσθησιν [Refs]sense-data, [Refs 4th c.BC+] = celestial phenomena, title of a work by Eudoxus, versified by Aratus, [Refs 4th c.BC+]: generally, τὸ μὴ ἐκ φαινομένων τὸ βλεπόμενον γεγονέναι [NT] __B.II.2.b mentally apparent, opposed to ὄντα τῇ ἀληθείᾳ, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὸ φ. εἰπεῖν to express one's opinion, [Refs 1st c.AD+]: hence, specious, fallacious, φ. ἐνθυμήματα, opposed to ὄντα, [Refs 4th c.BC+] __B.II.2.c τὰ φ. what is to be seen, show, [Refs 4th c.AD+] __B.II.3 frequently in answers in Plato's dialogue, φαίνεται, yes, Prt.[Refs]: [τοῦτο] φῂς εἶνα; Answ. φαίνομαι (i.e. λέγειν) [Refs 5th c.BC+] __B.II.3.b later impersonal with dative person et infinitive, it seems good, ἐάν σοι φαίνηται Wilcken [Refs 3rd c.BC+], etc.; ὁπότε αὐτῷ φανείη στρατιὰν ἐξάγειν [Refs 1st c.BC+] __B.II.4 joined with δοκέω, εἰ δὴ κακός τε φ. δοκῶ τέ σοι [Refs 5th c.BC+] __B.II.5 οὐδαμοῦ φαίνεσθαι 'to be nowhere', metaphorically from racing, [Refs 5th c.BC+] __B.III τὰ φανθέντα, see above [Refs 4th c.BC+]