phainō (to shine/appear)

Meaning

Usually translated “appeared”, “shines” and “shining”. Open the dictionary entry below for the full range of meaning, with the verses it cites.

How it's translated

appeared 3
shines 3
shining 3
appearing 2
appears 2
appear 2
will appear 2
may appear 2

Word-by-word English from the STEPBible tagged text.

Where it's used most

Matthew 13
Revelation 4
Mark 2
Luke 2
John 2
Romans 1

13 books in all.

Explore in Scripture

Matthew 1:20But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
Matthew 2:7Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
Matthew 2:13And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
Matthew 2:19But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
Matthew 6:5And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Matthew 6:16Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

All 31 verses, by book

Matthew 13: 1:20 2:7 2:13 2:19 6:5 6:16 6:18 9:33 13:26 23:27 23:28 24:27 24:30
Mark 2: 14:64 16:9
Luke 2: 9:8 24:11
John 2: 1:5 5:35
Romans 1: 7:13
2 Corinthians 1: 13:7
Philippians 1: 2:15
Hebrews 1: 11:3
James 1: 4:14
1 Peter 1: 4:18
2 Peter 1: 1:19
1 John 1: 2:8
Revelation 4: 1:16 8:12 18:23 21:23

Greek dictionary

φαίνω phainō · to shine/appear

φαίνω [in LXX for אוֹר hi., רָאָה ni., etc. ;] I. Act., 1. to bring to light, cause to appear (so most frequently in cl.). 2. Absol., to give light, shine (Hom., Plat., al.): Jhn.1:5 5:35, 2Pe.1:19, 1Jn.2:8, Rev.1:16 8:12 18:23 21:23. …

From STEPBible’s Greek lexicon (based on Abbott-Smith).

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

How the English word “appear” was understood when the King James Version was still the common Bible of English readers.

APPE'AR, verb intransitive

[Latin appareo, of ad and pareo, to appear or be manifest.]

To come or be in sight; to be in view; to be visible.“The leprosy appeareth in the skin of the flesh” Leviticus 13:43“And God said, Let the dry land appear” Genesis 1:9
To become visible to the eye, as a spirit, or to the apprehension of the mind; a sense frequent in scripture.“The Lord appeared to Abram, and said. 2” Genesis 17:1“The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of the bush” Exodus 3:2
To stand in presence of, as parties or advocates before a court, or as persons to be tried.“We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ” 2 Corinthians 5:10
To be obvious; to be known, as a subject of observation or comprehension.“It doth not yet appear what we shall be” 1 John 3:2

All definitions and other forms of “appear”

To be clear or made clear by evidence; as, this fact appears by ancient records.“But sin that it might appear sin” Romans 7:13
To seem, in opposition to reality.“They disfigure their faces, that they may appear to men to fast” Matthew 6:16
To be discovered, or laid open.“That they shame may appear” Jeremiah 13:26

APPE'AR, noun

Appearance. obsolete

Noah Webster, An American Dictionary of the English Language (1828). Verse references are checked against the KJV. Read the full entry.