"form, external appearance, Lk. 3:22; 9:29; Jn. 5:37; kind, species, 1 Thess. 5:22; sight, perception, 2 Cor. 5:7*"
Definition and meaning
form, external appearance, Lk. 3:22; 9:29; Jn. 5:37; kind, species, 1 Thess. 5:22; sight, perception, 2 Cor. 5:7*
In the original Greek the word is written: εἶδος
Historical context
Luke wrote as a historian addressing a Greek audience. He carefully interviewed eyewitnesses and arranged events in order. The social and economic realities he describes — Roman taxation, Jewish religious hierarchy, the marginalization of women and the poor — are consistent with first-century Judea under Roman administration.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of eidos (G1491) across the King James Bible.
And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.
And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.
And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.
(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
Abstain from all appearance of evil.
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Common questions
Strong's G1491 (eidos) is a Greek word that means: form, external appearance, Lk. 3:22; 9:29; Jn. 5:37; kind, species, 1 Thess. 5:22; sight, perception, 2 Cor. 5:7* It appears 5 times in the King James Bible.
The word eidos (G1491) appears 5 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G1491 is eidos, a Greek word defined as: form, external appearance, Lk. 3:22; 9:29; Jn. 5:37; kind, species, 1 Thess. 5:22; sight, perception, 2 Cor. 5:7*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
eidos is a Greek word found in the New Testament.