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

Word Origin: Middle voice of a primary verb (ὁράω, horaō) meaning "to see."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • H7200 רָאָה (ra'ah): A primary root meaning "to see," "to look at," "to inspect," "to perceive," or "to consider."
• H7202 מַרְאֶה (mar'eh): Derived from H7200, meaning "appearance," "sight," or "vision."
• H4759 מַרְאָה (mar'ah): Another derivative of H7200, meaning "vision" or "appearance."

These Hebrew terms share a conceptual link with ὀπτάνομαι in their emphasis on seeing and appearance, often in contexts of divine revelation or significant visual experiences.

Usage: This verb is used in the New Testament to describe instances where someone or something appears or is seen, often in a supernatural or significant context. It is frequently used in reference to post-resurrection appearances of Jesus Christ.

Context: The Greek verb ὀπτάνομαι (optánomai) is primarily used in the New Testament to denote the act of appearing or being seen, often with a connotation of divine or supernatural revelation. It is a middle voice verb, indicating an action that is both performed and experienced by the subject. This term is distinct from other Greek words for "seeing" in that it often implies a purposeful or significant appearance, rather than a casual or incidental sighting.

In the New Testament, ὀπτάνομαι is notably used in the context of Jesus Christ's appearances after His resurrection. For example, in Acts 1:3, it is written, "After His suffering, He presented Himself to them with many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a span of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God." Here, the verb underscores the intentional and revelatory nature of Christ's post-resurrection appearances to His disciples.

The verb also appears in 1 Corinthians 15:5-8, where Paul recounts the appearances of the risen Christ to Cephas, the twelve, and over five hundred brethren at once, emphasizing the reality and significance of these events. The use of ὀπτάνομαι in these contexts highlights the transformative impact of witnessing the risen Christ, serving as a foundation for the apostolic witness and the early Christian proclamation of the resurrection.

Beyond the resurrection narratives, ὀπτάνομαι is used in other contexts to describe divine or angelic appearances, such as in Luke 1:11, where an angel of the Lord appears to Zechariah. This usage underscores the term's association with divine revelation and the communication of God's purposes to humanity.

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.]

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

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

Links

Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts