"to cause to appear clearly; to communicate, report, Acts 23:15, 22; to bring charges against, Acts 24:1; 25:2, 15, to manifest, intimate plainly, Heb. 11:14; to reveal, make known, Jn. 14:21, 22; pass. to appear, be visible, Mt. 27:53; to present one’s self, Heb. 9:24*"
Definition and meaning
to cause to appear clearly; to communicate, report, Acts 23:15, 22; to bring charges against, Acts 24:1; 25:2, 15, to manifest, intimate plainly, Heb. 11:14; to reveal, make known, Jn. 14:21, 22; pass. to appear, be visible, Mt. 27:53; to present one’s self, Heb. 9:24*
In the original Greek the word is written: ἐμφανίζω
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
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 emphanizo (G1718) across the King James Bible.
And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.
So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him, See thou tell no man that thou hast shewed these things to me.
And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul.
Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him,
About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him.
For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
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Common questions
Strong's G1718 (emphanizo) is a Greek word that means: to cause to appear clearly; to communicate, report, Acts 23:15, 22; to bring charges against, Acts 24:1; 25:2, 15, to manifest, intimate plainly, Heb. 11:14; to reveal, make known, Jn. 14:21, 22; pass... It appears 10 times in the King James Bible.
The word emphanizo (G1718) appears 10 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G1718 is emphanizo, a Greek word defined as: to cause to appear clearly; to communicate, report, Acts 23:15, 22; to bring charges against, Acts 24:1; 25:2, 15, to manifest, intimate plainly, Heb.. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
emphanizo is a Greek word found in the New Testament.