Quick Definition
φωσφόρος, ον Adj light-bearing, radiant, the morning-star
Strong's Definition
light-bearing ("phosphorus"), i.e. (specially), the morning-star (figuratively)
Derivation: from G5457 (φῶς) and G5342 (φέρω);
KJV Usage: day star
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
adjc. | -ου | φαίνω + φέρω
1.32 · Geographical Objects and Features · Heavenly Bodies
morning star a light-producing heavenly body, probably the morning star (a planet), but possibly the sun The literal meaning of φωσφόρος is ‘that which bears light,’ but it is a conventional reference to the morning star, which in reality is not a star, but one of the brighter planets, usually Venus, but also Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, or even Saturn. In the one occurrence of this word in the NT, namely, 2PE 1:19, φωσφόρος is an indirect figurative reference to Jesus and his redemptive work, but it is extremely difficult in a number of languages to speak of ‘the light of the morning star shining in your hearts.’ One may sometimes say ‘... shines upon your hearts’ or possibly ‘... shines upon you and causes you to have new hearts’ or ‘... and illumines your minds.’
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
φωσ-φόρος, -ov, (pas and φέρω), light-bringing, giving light, (Arstph., Eur., Plat., Plut., al.) ; as subst. ὁ φ. (Lat. Lucifer), the planet Venus, the morning-star, day-star, (Plat. Tim. Loer. p. 96 e.; Plut., al.): 2 Pet. i.19, on the meaning of this pass. see λύχνος.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
φωσφόρος phōsphoros 1x
light-bringing; i.e. ἀστήρ, Lucifer, the morning star, met. 2 Pet. 1:19*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
* φωσ-φόρος, -ον
(< φῶς, φέρω),
light-bringing; as subst., ὁ φ., the morning star (Plat., al.; cf. ἐωσφόρος, Is 14:12, Jb 3:9, Ps 110:3): metaph., II Pe 1:19 (v. Mayor, in l.).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
φωσφόρος, “light-bringing ”: thence as a subst. “‘day-star” (probably the planet Venus). In Biblical Greek the word is found only in 2 Pet 11% (see Mayor’s note), applied metaphorically to the rising of the kingdom of God in the heart. An interesting ex. of the word is found in BGU II. 597°? (A.D. 75), Where on the verso of a private letter there has been added in uncial characters the hexameter line— Φωσφόρε φωσφορεοῦσα φίλων (/. φίλον) φῶς φῶς φέρε λαμπάς. The words, according to Olsson (Papyrusbriefe Ῥ- 139), are probably an extract from an Orphic hymn. The same epithet is found in the magic P Lond 4617, 500 (iv/A.D.) (=I. pp- 70, 74) φωσφόρ᾽ tow. In P Rein 108 (B.C. IIT) it is applied to the priestess of Queen Cleopatra— φωσφόρου βασιλίσσης Κλεοπάτρας, ‘sous la phosphore (prétresse) de la reine Cléopatre”: cf. Otto Priester il. p. 320. For φωσφόριον, ‘‘a window,” see P Ryl II. 16278 (A.D. 159), and P Hamb I. 158 (A.D. 209). 5)
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
φωσφόρος (phōsphoros) — light-bearing. φωσφόρ-ος (paroxytone), ον, poetry φαοσφόρος Lyric poetry Adesp. in [Refs], φαεσφόρος [Refs 3rd c.BC+]:— bringing or giving light, Ἕως [Refs 5th c.BC+]; φ. ἀστήρ, of Dionysus at the mysteries, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; αἴγλη, Ἦμαρ, [Refs 5th c.AD+] __b substantive, ὁ φ. (i.e. ἀστήρ), the light-bringer, i.e. the morning-star, a name specially given to the planet Venus, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
2. of the eye, φ. ὄμματα [Refs 5th c.BC+]; φ. κόραι, of the Cyclops, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
2. b name of an eye-salve, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
II. torch-bearing, epithet of certain deities, especially of Hecate, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; φ. θεά (i.e. Ἄρτεμις) [Refs 5th c.BC+]; of Hephaestus, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
III. φωσφόρος, ἡ, torch-bearer, title of a priestess, Κλεοπάτρας θεᾶς [Refs 2nd c.BC+]
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon
Bible Occurrences (1)
📖 Greek Word Study — In-Depth Study from Precept Austin
Morning Star (5459) phophoros