Lexical Summary horasis: Vision, sight Original Word: ὅρασις Strong's Exhaustive Concordance sight, vision. From horao; the act of gazing, i.e. (externally) an aspect or (internally) an inspired appearance -- sight, vision. see GREEK horao NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom horaó Definition the act of seeing, a vision, appearance NASB Translation appearance (2), vision (1), visions (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3706: ὅρασιςὅρασις, ὁράσεως, ἡ (ὁράω); 1. the act of seeing: ὀμμάτων χρῆσις εἰς ὅρασιν, Wis. 15:15; the sense of sight, Aristotle, de anima 3, 2; Diodorus 1, 59; Plutarch, mor., p. 440f; plural the eyes, ἐκκόπτειν τάς ὁράσεις, Diodorus 2, 6. 2. appearance, visible form: Revelation 4:3 (Numbers 24:4; Ezekiel 1:5, 26, 28; Sir. 41:20, etc.). 3. a vision, i. e. an appearance divinely granted in an ecstasy: Revelation 9:17; ὁράσεις ὄψονται, Acts 2:17 from Joel 2:28. (The Sept. chiefly for מַרְאֶה and חָזון.) The Greek noun ὅρασις (horasis) refers to a God-given vision or supernatural sight. In Scripture it depicts moments when the unseen realm is opened to human perception so that divine truth may be conveyed with unmistakable clarity. Such visions stand at the intersection of revelation and human experience, underscoring the nearness of God and His sovereign purpose in history. Occurrences in the New Testament Acts 2:17 – In Peter’s Pentecost sermon, citing Joel, the Spirit promises that “your young men will see visions”, anchoring the phenomenon of horasis in the outpouring of the last days and legitimizing prophetic activity in the church age. Revelation 4:3 (twice) – John describes the appearance of the One on the throne: “The One seated there looked like jasper and carnelian, and a rainbow that gleamed like an emerald encircled the throne”. The repeated use of horasis emphasizes the overwhelming sensory impact of the heavenly court, framing the remainder of Revelation within an unveiled throne-room perspective. Revelation 9:17 – John again reports, “And this is how I saw the horses in my vision,” introducing a symbolic tableau of judgment. The term alerts readers that what follows must be interpreted through prophetic imagery rather than wooden literalism, yet it remains true in every respect. Theological Significance of Visions 1. Mediation of Revelation Horasis functions as a divinely initiated bridge between heaven and earth. Whether through Peter’s citation of Joel or John’s apocalyptic disclosures, visions validate that God still speaks and that Scripture’s prophetic corpus is cohesive from Genesis through Revelation. 2. Authentication of Messengers Visions authenticate the calling of prophets (Joel, John) and apostles (Peter) by grounding their message in God’s direct initiative. The biblical pattern shows that genuine horasis leads to fidelity to the gospel, never novelty or contradiction. 3. Eschatological Foretaste In Revelation, horasis provides a foretaste of consummated reality. Believers are invited to view present sufferings in the light of the throne, the rainbow, and the Lamb, thereby fostering perseverance and worship. Continuity with Old Testament Revelation Horasis continues a long Old Testament trajectory: Abraham’s “vision” (Genesis 15:1), Isaiah’s temple encounter (Isaiah 6:1), Ezekiel’s wheels (Ezekiel 1:1), and Daniel’s night visions (Daniel 7:1). The New Testament usage shows that the same God who spoke “in many portions and in many ways” (Hebrews 1:1) now culminates revelation in Christ and through His Spirit. Pastoral and Practical Implications • Discernment – Because Scripture records both true and false visions (Jeremiah 23:16), believers must measure every claimed revelation against the closed canon of Scripture (1 Thessalonians 5:21). Historical Reception in the Church The early Fathers regarded John’s horasis as normative for the apocalyptic genre while carefully distinguishing canonical visions from later private revelations. Medieval theologians such as Gregory the Great stressed that authentic vision always humbles and sends the servant to concrete acts of love. The Reformation reaffirmed sola Scriptura, yet reformers acknowledged the ongoing illumination of the Spirit, respecting the category of horasis while refusing any revelation that competes with Scripture. Related Greek Terms While horasis denotes the vision itself, optasia highlights the act of appearing, and horama often describes the content seen. Together they weave a rich tapestry of biblical revelation that culminates in the unveiled glory of Jesus Christ. Summary Horasis in the New Testament marks critical junctures where heaven breaks into history, whether empowering the church at Pentecost or unveiling the climactic triumph of the Lamb. These Spirit-given visions uphold the unity of redemptive history, call believers to faithful witness, and anchor hope in the certainty that what is presently seen only by vision will soon be sight. Englishman's Concordance Acts 2:17 N-AFPGRK: νεανίσκοι ὑμῶν ὁράσεις ὄψονται καὶ NAS: SHALL SEE VISIONS, AND YOUR OLD MEN KJV: young men shall see visions, and your INT: young men of you visions will see and Revelation 4:3 N-DFS Revelation 4:3 N-DFS Revelation 9:17 N-DFS Strong's Greek 3706 |
    |