English · KJV
G398

ἀναφαίνω

anaphaínō /an-af-ah'-ee-no/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom ἀνά and φαίνω
Meaningto show, i.e. (reflexively) appear, or (passively) to have pointed out
KJV usage(should) appear, discover.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of anaphaínō — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word anaphaínō, represented by G398, means to show, discover, or appear. It is formed from the words ἀνά and φαίνω. Though it appears only 2 times in 2 unique verses, its usage illustrates two distinct types of revelation: the physical act of discovering something and the anticipated appearance of a spiritual reality.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical contexts, G398 is used both literally and conceptually. The first instance describes a literal, navigational discovery, where Paul and his companions "had discovered Cyprus" while sailing to Syria Acts 21:3. The second instance addresses the expectations of the disciples, who thought the kingdom of God would immediately appear while Jesus was near Jerusalem Luke 19:11. This highlights the contrast between seeing a physical object and anticipating the manifestation of a divine kingdom.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide context for the events surrounding the use of G398:

  • G191 akoúō: This verb means to hear. Its connection is seen in Luke 19:11, where Jesus tells a parable because the people heard his teachings and formed expectations about the kingdom. This concept of hearing God's word is fundamental, as believers are called to be "swift to hear" James 1:19.
  • G2036 épō: This word for "to speak or say" is also used in the parable from Luke 19:11. Jesus spake to correct the crowd's misunderstanding. The authority of what is spoken by God is a recurring theme, as when God said, "I will dwell in them" 2 Corinthians 6:16.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G398 is seen in its dual application of "appearing":

  • Guidance in the Physical World: The discovery of Cyprus is more than a geographical note; it signifies a revealed landmark on a divinely appointed missionary journey. It shows how God makes the way known, or allows it to appear, to those carrying out His purpose Acts 21:3.
  • Revelation of the Spiritual Kingdom: The expectation that the kingdom of God would appear points to the central eschatological hope of believers. The term is used in a context that corrects a misunderstanding about the timing and nature of this appearance, emphasizing that God's kingdom is revealed according to His sovereign plan, not human expectation Luke 19:11.

Summary

In summary, G398 is a specific term that carries the idea of revelation. Whether used for the literal discovery of land on a journey or the anticipated appearance of the kingdom of God, it underscores moments when something that was unseen becomes visible. Its rare usage emphasizes the significance of these specific moments of discovery and divine manifestation in the biblical narrative.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a verb across 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

  • 2nd Aorist Active Participle Nominative Plural Masculine 1×
  • Present Passive Infinitive 1×
Nominative
The subject of the verb.
Plural
More than one.
Masculine
Masculine grammatical gender.
2nd
Second person — the one addressed ("you").
Present
Action in progress or repeated — happening now or continually.
Aorist
Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Active
The subject performs the action.
Passive
The subject is acted upon.
Infinitive
The verb as a noun — "to do".
Participle
A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

G191 ἀκούω a primary verb; to hear (in various senses):--give (in the) audience (of), come (to the ears), (shall) hear(-er, -ken), G2036 ἔπω a primary verb (used only in the definite past tense, the others being borrowed from ἐρέω, ῥέω, and φημί); to speak or s

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 2 verses across 2 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Luke and Acts (1 verse each); never once in the other 25.

1
Luke
1
Acts

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.