3700. optanomai
Strong's Lexicon
optanomai: to appear, to be seen, to be visible

Original Word: ὀπτάνομαι
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: optanomai
Pronunciation: op-tan'-om-ahee
Phonetic Spelling: (op-tan'-om-ahee)
Definition: to appear, to be seen, to be visible
Meaning: I appear, am seen (by), let myself be seen (by).

Word Origin: Middle voice of a (presumed) derivative of ὀπτάνω (optanō), which means "to gaze" or "to appear."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Hebrew equivalent often used in similar contexts is רָאָה (ra'ah - Strong's H7200), which means "to see" or "to appear."

Usage: The verb "optanomai" primarily means "to appear" or "to be seen." It is often used in the New Testament to describe the act of being visibly present or manifesting oneself to others. This term is frequently associated with divine or supernatural appearances, such as the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus Christ to His disciples.

Cultural and Historical Background: In the Greco-Roman world, the concept of divine appearances or epiphanies was not uncommon. Gods and supernatural beings were often believed to manifest themselves to humans in visible forms. In the Jewish context, theophanies (appearances of God) were significant events, as seen in the Old Testament. The New Testament usage of "optanomai" reflects this cultural understanding, emphasizing the reality and significance of Jesus' appearances after His resurrection, affirming His divine nature and the truth of His resurrection.

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 3700 optánomai (or optomai/optanō, likely a later cognate of 3708 /horáō) – become seen (appear). See 3708 (horaō).

[Some forms of Strong's numbering systems designate optomai as 3708.]

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from a prim. root op- (cf. horaó)
Definition
to appear
NASB Translation
appearing (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 3700: ὀπτάνω

ὀπτάνω (ὈΠΤΩ): to look at, behold; middle present participle ὀπτανόμενος; to allow oneself to be seen, to appear: τίνι, Acts 1:3. (1 Kings 8:8; Tobit 12:19; (Graecus Venetus, Exodus 34:24).)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
appear, look, see

A (middle voice) prolonged form of the primary (middle voice) optomai (op'-tom-ahee); which is used for it in certain tenses; and both as alternate of horao; to gaze (i.e. With wide-open eyes, as at something remarkable; and thus differing from blepo, which denotes simply voluntary observation; and from eido, which expresses merely mechanical, passive or casual vision; while theaomai, and still more emphatically its intensive theoreo, signifies an earnest but more continued inspection; and skopeo a watching from a distance) -- appear, look, see, shew self.

see GREEK horao

see GREEK blepo

see GREEK eido

see GREEK theaomai

see GREEK theoreo

see GREEK skopeo

Forms and Transliterations
οπτανομενος οπτανόμενος ὀπτανόμενος ωπτάνοντο optanomenos optanómenos
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Acts 1:3 V-PPM/P-NMS
GRK: ἡμερῶν τεσσεράκοντα ὀπτανόμενος αὐτοῖς καὶ
NAS: convincing proofs, appearing to them over
KJV: infallible proofs, being seen of them
INT: days forty being seen by them and

Strong's Greek 3700
1 Occurrence


ὀπτανόμενος — 1 Occ.

















3699
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