a-per': Of eight Hebrew originals the chief is ra'ah, "to be seen." Used mainly of God's self-revelations in person and in dreams and visions: "Yahweh appeared unto Abram" (Genesis 12:7); to Moses (Exodus 3:2); to Solomon (1 Kings 3:5). All originals used of Nature's processes, of the appearing, i.e. coming of the morning (Exodus 14:27); stars (Nehemiah 4:21); flowers, flocks of goats, tender grapes (Song of Solomon 2:12; 4:1 m; Song of Solomon 7:12 margin). So New Testament ophthen, passive of horao, "I see," "to be seen" used especially of angelic revelations and visions: as on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:3); an angel (Luke 1:11); the risen Lord (Luke 24:34); cloven tongues at Pentecost (Acts 2:3); vision to Paul (Acts 16:9); a great wonder in heaven (Revelation 12:1, the King James Version).

opiano, in Acts 1:3, of Christ appearing after his suffering; phainomai, "to shine," like the above with the added thought of a resplendent, luminous revelation, as of the Bethlehem star (Matthew 2:7); the bringing to light of sin (Romans 7:13, the King James Version). Also phaneroo, "to make manifest," used exclusively of the post-resurrection appearances and second coming of Christ and of the disclosures of the great judgment day. See Colossians 3:4; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 3:18 and seven other passages the King James Version.

Dwight M. Pratt

From the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Edited by James Orr, published in 1939 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

Are you a good person? Try the good person test.