Word Study for G5318 (φανερός)

phanerós /fan-er-os'/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom φαίνω

Meaningshining, i.e. apparent (literally or figuratively); neuter (as adverb) publicly, externally

KJV usageabroad, + appear, known, manifest, open (+ -ly), outward (+ -ly).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of phanerós — 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 phanerós, represented by G5318, means shining or apparent. It appears 21 times across 19 unique verses in the Bible. Derived from a word meaning to shine, it describes that which is apparent, known, manifest, open, or outward, either literally or figuratively.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In scripture, G5318 is frequently used to contrast what is hidden with what is brought into the open. It speaks of an inevitable revealing, as stated in Luke 8:17, where nothing secret will fail to be made manifest. This applies to both works and identity. The works of the flesh are described as manifest Galatians 5:19, just as the distinction between the children of God and the children of the devil is made manifest by their actions 1 John 3:10. The word is also used to describe things that are publicly known, such as Paul's bonds being manifest in the palace Philippians 1:13 or a miracle being manifest to all in Jerusalem Acts 4:16.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words expand on the concept of being seen or made known:

G5316 phaínō: As the root of phanerós, it means to lighten or shine. It is used to describe believers who shine as lights in the world Philippians 2:15.
G5319 phaneróō: This verb form means to render apparent. It is used in profound statements, such as "God was manifest in the flesh" 1 Timothy 3:16.
G2927 kryptós: Meaning concealed or secret, this word is often used as a direct contrast to phanerós. It describes a reality that is inwardly Romans 2:29, as opposed to what is outwardly apparent.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G5318 is centered on the principle of revelation and accountability.

The Certainty of Judgment: The word underscores that every person's work will ultimately be made manifest and judged, as nothing hidden will remain so forever (1 Corinthians 3:13, Luke 8:17).
The Evidence of True Faith: A person's inner spiritual state is made manifest through outward actions. This is seen in how one's status as approved is made manifest 1 Corinthians 11:19 and how a person's spiritual allegiance is revealed 1 John 3:10.
Outer vs. Inner Reality: The term is used to distinguish between mere external appearance and true inner character, as in the discussion of who is a Jew outwardly versus inwardly Romans 2:28. Similarly, deeds done in secret are contrasted with a reward given openly Matthew 6:4.

Summary

In summary, G5318 moves beyond simple visibility to convey the idea of revealing a true, underlying reality. It is a cornerstone for the biblical themes of accountability, the nature of true faith, and the ultimate triumph of light over secrecy. It teaches that what is done in secret, whether good or evil, and who a person truly is on the inside, will one day be made open and apparent to all.

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 an adjective across 21 occurrences, inflected in 8 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Nominative Singular Neuter 6×
Dative Singular Neuter 5×
Accusative Singular Masculine 3×
Nominative Plural Neuter 3×
Accusative Plural Masculine 1×
Accusative Singular Neuter 1×
Nominative Plural Masculine 1×
Nominative Singular Feminine 1×

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
Dative: The indirect object — often "to" or "for".
Accusative: The direct object of the verb.
Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
Feminine: Feminine grammatical gender.
Neuter: Neuter grammatical gender.

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 19 verses across 10 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Matthew (4 verses); never once in the other 17.

Matthew

Mark

Luke

Acts

Romans

1 Corinthians

Galatians

Philippians

1 Timothy

1 John

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.