5316. phainó
Lexical Summary
phainó: To appear, to shine, to become visible, to be evident

Original Word: φαίνω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: phainó
Pronunciation: fah'-ee-no
Phonetic Spelling: (fah'-ee-no)
KJV: appear, seem, be seen, shine, X think
NASB: appeared, appear, shining, shine, noticed, seen, appears
Word Origin: [prolongation for the base of G5457 (φῶς - light)]

1. (properly, transitive) to lighten (shine)
2. (intransitive) to appear (show)
{literal or figurative}

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
to shine, appear

Prolongation for the base of phos; to lighten (shine), i.e. Show (transitive or intransitive, literal or figurative) -- appear, seem, be seen, shine, X think.

see GREEK phos

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from a prim. root
Definition
to bring to light, to cause to appear
NASB Translation
appear (5), appeared (7), appears (1), became evident (1), become (1), flashes (1), noticed (2), seem (1), seen (2), shine (3), shines (1), shining (4), shown (1), visible (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 5316: φαίνω

φαίνω; (1 aorist active subjunctive 3 person singular φανῇ, L T WH in Revelation 8:12; Revelation 18:23 (see below and ἀναφαίνω; Winers Grammar, § 15, under the word; Buttmann, 41 (35))); passive, present φαίνομαι; 2 aorist ἐφαινην; 2 future φανήσομαι and (in 1 Peter 4:18) φανοῦμαι (cf. Kühner, § 343, under the word; (Veitch, under the word)); (φάω); in Greek writings from Homer down; to bring forth into the light, cause to shine; to show. In Biblical Greek:

1. Active intransitively, to shine, shed light (which the Greeks (commonly (cf. Liddell and Scott, under the word, A. II.)) express by the passive), the Sept. for הֵאִיר: τό φῶς φαίνει, John 1:5; 1 John 2:8; λύχνος, John 5:35; 2 Peter 1:19 (1 Macc. 4:50; Genesis 1:17); ἥλιος, Revelation 1:16; ἥλιος καί σελήνη, Revelation 21:23; ἡμέρα, Revelation 8:12 Rec.

2. Passive,

a. to shine, be bright or resplendent: ἡμέρα, Revelation 8:12 Tr ((see above); Revelation 18:23 R G Tr — but see Veitch, under the word; moreover, the following examples should be brought under the next head; see Meyer on Philippians 2:15); ὡς φωστῆρες, Philippians 2:15; ἀστήρ, Matthew 2:7; ἀστραπή, Matthew 24:27.

b. to become evident, to be brought forth into light, come to view, appear: Matthew 24:30; opposed to ἀφανίζεσθαι, James 4:14; of the appearance of angels: τίνι, Matthew 1:20; Matthew 2:13, 19 (2 Macc. 3:33 2Macc. 10:29 2Macc. 11:8; of God, Josephus, Antiquities 7, 7, 3; for נִקְרָה in reference to the same, Numbers 23:3); of those restored to life, Luke 9:8; τίνι, Mark 16:9; of growing vegetation, to come to light, Matthew 13:26; universally, to appear, be seen: φαινομενα, Hebrews 11:3; 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, Matthew 9:33.

c. to meet the eyes, strike the sight, become clear or manifest, with a predicate nominative (be seen to be) (cf. Buttmann, § 144, 15 a., 18): Matthew 6:16, 18; Matthew 23:27; 2 Corinthians 13:7; ἵνα (namely, ἁμαρτία) φανῇ ἁμαρτία (equivalent to ἁμαρτωλός), Romans 7:13; with the dative of the person added, Matthew 6:5 (namely, προσευχόμενοι praying); to be seen, appear: ἁμαρτωλός ποῦ φανεῖται; i. e. he will nowhere be seen, will perish, 1 Peter 4:18.

d. to appear to the mind, seem to one's judgment or opinion: τί ὑμῖν φαίνεται (A. V. what think ye), Mark 14:64 (1 Esdr. 2:18 (21)); ἐφάνησαν ἐνώπιον αὐτῶν ὡσεί ληροι, Luke 24:11 (Winers Grammar, § 33 f.; Buttmann, § 133, 3. Synonym: see δοκέω, at the end.)

Topical Lexicon
Definition and Range of Meaning

Strong’s Greek 5316 (phaínō and its middle/passive forms) expresses the idea of giving light, shining forth, becoming visible, or being made manifest. The verb moves easily between the physical realm (light that is seen) and the moral-spiritual realm (truth that becomes evident).

Literal Light and Physical Visibility

1. John 1:5 “The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

The word conveys the continual, victorious shining of Christ, establishing a theme of conquering illumination that runs through the New Testament.
2. Revelation 1:16; 21:23; 8:12

In apocalyptic settings phaínō describes heavenly luminaries. The New Jerusalem “has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its lamp” (Revelation 21:23). God Himself is the final, unfailing source of light; created lights are expendable.
3. Matthew 24:27

Lightning “appears” from east to west. The term underscores sudden, unmistakable visibility. The Second Coming will be as obvious as a sky-filling flash.

Divine Revelatory Appearances

1. Angelic guidance to Joseph (Matthew 1:20; 2:13; 2:19)

Angels “appeared” in dreams, directing the protection of the Messianic child. The verb highlights God’s sovereign intervention in history and His care over the unfolding plan of redemption.
2. Resurrection encounters (Mark 16:9; Luke 24:11)

The risen Christ “appeared” first to Mary Magdalene, and angels “appeared” to the women. The vocabulary stresses objective reality; the resurrection is not visionary myth but an historical manifestation.
3. Transfiguration echo (Luke 9:8)

Herod hears that Elijah “appeared,” showing that phaínō can describe stunning, other-worldly events that break into ordinary time.

Messianic Revelation in the Nativity Narrative

Matthew employs the middle participle φαινομένου (Matthew 2:7) of the Bethlehem star. Its continuous aspect (“was appearing”) fits a sign that persisted long enough to guide the Magi. The usage binds celestial light to the dawning of Messianic light on earth.

Eschatological Manifestation

1. Matthew 24:30 “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven.” The public nature of Christ’s return is stressed; it will not be hidden or secret.
2. 2 Peter 1:19 pictures the prophetic word “as a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” The verb envisions Scripture’s prophetic witness as steady illumination that will finally yield to the full radiance of Christ’s Parousia.
3. Revelation 18:23 warns Babylon that “the light of a lamp will never shine again,” pronouncing irreversible judgment by the removal of even common light.

Moral and Ethical Light

1. Philippians 2:15 “in which you shine as lights in the world.” Believers are to embody visible holiness amid a “crooked and perverse generation.” The same verb applied to Christ (John 1:5) is now applied to His people, linking sanctification to Christlike radiance.
2. 1 John 2:8 “the true light is already shining.” The inaugural light of the new age has dawned; ethical darkness is losing its grip.
3. John 5:35 speaks of John the Baptist as “a burning and shining lamp.” Kingdom ministry is characterized by perceptible, warming brilliance that draws others to repentance.

Warning against Hypocritical Appearance

1. Matthew 6:5, 6:16 “they love to pray standing … in order to be seen by men” … “they disfigure their faces so that they may appear to be fasting.” Phaínō exposes self-promotion dressed up as piety.
2. Matthew 23:27-28 likens the scribes and Pharisees to whitewashed tombs that “appear beautiful” but are full of uncleanness. God judges reality, not mere appearance.
3. 2 Corinthians 13:7 “that we may not appear to have failed.” Paul’s desire is authenticity in ministry, not a façade of success.
4. Romans 7:13 shows sin “appearing as sin,” revealing its true nature through the law. The verb can unmask, not just adorn.

Faith and the Unseen Realm

1. Hebrews 11:3 “so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.” Phaínō stands at the interface of visible creation and the invisible word of God.
2. James 4:14 likens life to “a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” Human transience contrasts with God’s enduring glory.
3. Revelation 1:16; 8:12; 18:23 use the verb of celestial bodies to remind believers that the objects they trust for regularity can be darkened or removed. The only permanent light source is God Himself.

Pastoral and Ministry Implications

1. Revelation, Gospel, and Epistle passages tie phaínō to Christ’s manifestation—past (incarnation), present (church’s witness), and future (glorious return). Teaching should therefore keep all three tenses before God’s people: what has appeared, what is appearing, and what will appear.
2. Personal conduct must resist the temptation to “appear” righteous (Matthew 6; 23). Authenticity begins in secret devotion, trusting the Father “who sees in secret” (Matthew 6:6).
3. Evangelism is portrayed as radiant display, not mere information transfer. Like John the Baptist, believers are to be “burning and shining lamps,” attracting others to the true Light.
4. Eschatological hope motivates perseverance. The sure promise that the Son of Man will “appear” galvanizes holy living and fearless proclamation.

Intertextual Connections

The Septuagint frequently uses phaínō of the Lord’s glory cloud (for example, Exodus 16:10), preparing readers to recognize in Jesus the ultimate appearing of Yahweh’s glory (John 1:14). Prophets also foresaw a day when “your light has come” (Isaiah 60:1), a theme fulfilled in the Gospel narratives and consummated in Revelation’s climactic vision.

Theological Summary

Phaínō weaves through Scripture a tapestry of revelation: God shines truth into darkness; He appears to save; His people shine forth in holiness; and one day His Son will appear in unapproachable brightness. The verb therefore summons the church to worship the God who makes Himself known, to walk in transparent integrity, and to wait expectantly for the definitive appearing when “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea” (Habakkuk 2:14).

Forms and Transliterations
εφαίνετο έφαναν εφανη εφάνη ἐφάνη εφανησαν εφάνησαν ἐφάνησαν φαινει φαίνει φαίνειν φαινεσθε φαίνεσθε φαινεται φαίνεται φαίνηται φαινομενη φαινομένη φαινομενου φαινομένου φαινομενων φαινομένων φαίνοντα φαινονται φαίνονται φαινοντι φαίνοντι φαινων φαίνων φαινωσιν φαίνωσιν φαιόν φακόν φακός φακού φαλακρά φαλακρέ φαλακρός φαλάκρωμα φαλακρώματι φανείσθε φανειται φανείται φανεῖται φανη φανή φανῇ φάνη φάνῃ φανης φανής φανῇς φανησεται φανήσεται φανήσονται φανήτω φανούνται φανούσιν φανωμεν φανώμεν φανῶμεν φανώσι φανωσιν φανῶσιν ephane ephanē epháne ephánē ephanesan ephanēsan ephánesan ephánēsan phainei phaínei phainesthe phaínesthe phainetai phaínetai phainomene phainomenē phainoméne phainoménē phainomenon phainomenōn phainoménon phainoménōn phainomenou phainoménou phainon phainōn phaínon phaínōn phainontai phaínontai phainonti phaínonti phainosin phainōsin phaínosin phaínōsin phane phanē phanêi phanē̂i phánei phánēi phanêis phanē̂is phaneitai phaneîtai phanes phanēs phanesetai phanēsetai phanḗsetai phanomen phanômen phanōmen phanō̂men phanosin phanôsin phanōsin phanō̂sin
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Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 1:20 V-AIP-3S
GRK: κατ' ὄναρ ἐφάνη αὐτῷ λέγων
NAS: of the Lord appeared to him in a dream,
KJV: of the Lord appeared unto him
INT: in a dream appeared to him saying

Matthew 2:7 V-PPM/P-GMS
GRK: χρόνον τοῦ φαινομένου ἀστέρος
NAS: the star appeared.
KJV: what time the star appeared.
INT: time of the appearing star

Matthew 2:13 V-PIM/P-3S
GRK: ἄγγελος Κυρίου φαίνεται κατ' ὄναρ
NAS: of the Lord appeared to Joseph
KJV: of the Lord appeareth to Joseph
INT: an angel of [the] Lord appears in a dream

Matthew 2:19 V-PIM/P-3S
GRK: ἄγγελος Κυρίου φαίνεται κατ' ὄναρ
NAS: of the Lord appeared in a dream
KJV: of the Lord appeareth in
INT: an angel of [the] Lord appears in a dream

Matthew 6:5 V-ASP-3P
GRK: προσεύχεσθαι ὅπως φανῶσιν τοῖς ἀνθρώποις
NAS: so that they may be seen by men.
KJV: that they may be seen of men. Verily
INT: to pray so that they might be seen by men

Matthew 6:16 V-ASP-3P
GRK: αὐτῶν ὅπως φανῶσιν τοῖς ἀνθρώποις
NAS: so that they will be noticed by men
KJV: that they may appear unto men
INT: of them so that they might appear to men

Matthew 6:18 V-ASP-2S
GRK: ὅπως μὴ φανῇς τοῖς ἀνθρώποις
NAS: that your fasting will not be noticed by men,
KJV: That thou appear not unto men
INT: so that not you might appear to men

Matthew 9:33 V-AIP-3S
GRK: λέγοντες Οὐδέποτε ἐφάνη οὕτως ἐν
NAS: has ever been seen in Israel.
KJV: It was never so seen in Israel.
INT: saying Never was it seen thus in

Matthew 13:26 V-AIP-3S
GRK: ἐποίησεν τότε ἐφάνη καὶ τὰ
NAS: then the tares became evident also.
KJV: fruit, then appeared the tares also.
INT: produced then appeared also the

Matthew 23:27 V-PIM/P-3P
GRK: ἔξωθεν μὲν φαίνονται ὡραῖοι ἔσωθεν
NAS: on the outside appear beautiful,
KJV: which indeed appear beautiful outward,
INT: outwardly indeed appear beautiful inside

Matthew 23:28 V-PIM/P-2P
GRK: ἔξωθεν μὲν φαίνεσθε τοῖς ἀνθρώποις
NAS: outwardly appear righteous
KJV: outwardly appear righteous
INT: outwardly indeed appear to men

Matthew 24:27 V-PIM/P-3S
GRK: ἀνατολῶν καὶ φαίνεται ἕως δυσμῶν
NAS: from the east and flashes even
KJV: and shineth even unto
INT: east and shines as far as [the] west

Matthew 24:30 V-FIP-3S
GRK: καὶ τότε φανήσεται τὸ σημεῖον
NAS: of Man will appear in the sky,
KJV: then shall appear the sign
INT: And then will appear the sign

Mark 14:64 V-PIM/P-3S
GRK: τί ὑμῖν φαίνεται οἱ δὲ
NAS: how does it seem to you? And they all
KJV: the blasphemy: what think ye? And
INT: what to you appears and

Mark 16:9 V-AIP-3S
GRK: πρώτῃ σαββάτου ἐφάνη πρῶτον Μαρίᾳ
NAS: He first appeared to Mary
KJV: [day] of the week, he appeared first
INT: first [day] of the week he appeared first to Mary

Luke 9:8 V-AIP-3S
GRK: ὅτι Ἠλίας ἐφάνη ἄλλων δὲ
NAS: that Elijah had appeared, and by others
KJV: Elias had appeared; and
INT: that Elijah had appeared by others also

Luke 24:11 V-AIP-3P
GRK: καὶ ἐφάνησαν ἐνώπιον αὐτῶν
NAS: words appeared to them as nonsense,
KJV: their words seemed to them
INT: And appeared before them

John 1:5 V-PIA-3S
GRK: τῇ σκοτίᾳ φαίνει καὶ ἡ
NAS: The Light shines in the darkness,
KJV: And the light shineth in darkness;
INT: the darkness shines and the

John 5:35 V-PPA-NMS
GRK: καιόμενος καὶ φαίνων ὑμεῖς δὲ
NAS: that was burning and was shining and you were willing
KJV: a burning and a shining light: and
INT: burning and shining you moreover

Romans 7:13 V-ASP-3S
GRK: ἁμαρτία ἵνα φανῇ ἁμαρτία διὰ
NAS: in order that it might be shown to be sin
KJV: sin, that it might appear sin, working
INT: sin that it might appear sin by

2 Corinthians 13:7 V-ASP-1P
GRK: ἡμεῖς δόκιμοι φανῶμεν ἀλλ' ἵνα
NAS: not that we ourselves may appear approved,
KJV: that we should appear approved, but
INT: we approved might appear but that

Philippians 2:15 V-PIM/P-2P
GRK: ἐν οἷς φαίνεσθε ὡς φωστῆρες
NAS: whom you appear as lights
KJV: among whom ye shine as lights
INT: among whom you appear as lights

Hebrews 11:3 V-PPM/P-GNP
GRK: μὴ ἐκ φαινομένων τὸ βλεπόμενον
NAS: was not made out of things which are visible.
KJV: made of things which do appear.
INT: not from [things] appearing the things seen

James 4:14 V-PPM/P-NFS
GRK: πρὸς ὀλίγον φαινομένη ἔπειτα καὶ
NAS: You are [just] a vapor that appears for a little while
KJV: that appeareth for a little time,
INT: for a little [while] appears then moreover

1 Peter 4:18 V-FIM-3S
GRK: ἁμαρτωλὸς ποῦ φανεῖται
NAS: WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE GODLESS MAN
KJV: and the sinner appear?
INT: sinner where will appear

Strong's Greek 5316
31 Occurrences


ἐφάνη — 5 Occ.
ἐφάνησαν — 1 Occ.
φαίνει — 3 Occ.
φαίνεσθε — 2 Occ.
φαίνεται — 4 Occ.
φαίνων — 1 Occ.
φαίνωσιν — 1 Occ.
φαινομένη — 1 Occ.
φαινομένων — 1 Occ.
φαινομένου — 1 Occ.
φαίνονται — 1 Occ.
φαίνοντι — 1 Occ.
φανῇ — 3 Occ.
φανῇς — 1 Occ.
φανήσεται — 1 Occ.
φανεῖται — 1 Occ.
φανῶμεν — 1 Occ.
φανῶσιν — 2 Occ.

5315b
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