What does φανερόω (phaneróō) mean in the Bible?
Phaneroō means to make manifest, reveal, disclose, or bring into open view. First Timothy summarizes the mystery of godliness with Christ manifested in flesh and vindicated by the Spirit.
Greek · G5319
φανερόω
To render apparent (literally or figuratively)
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φανερόω G5319
Pronunciation phaneróō
What does φανερόω (phaneróō) mean in the Bible?
Phaneroō means to make manifest, reveal, disclose, or bring into open view. First Timothy summarizes the mystery of godliness with Christ manifested in flesh and vindicated by the Spirit.
Reader summary
Full entry for φανερόω (G5319) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G5319?
The BSB source-word alignment has 49 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include was revealed (4), appeared (3), revealed (3), [Jesus] appeared (2), appears (2).
Where does φανερόω (phaneróō) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Mark 4:22. Its strongest book concentrations include 1 John (9), 2 Corinthians (9), John (9), Colossians (4).
Are there verse guides for φανερόω (phaneróō)?
This entry includes 3 verse guides that explain exact original-language forms in context.
What This Word Actually Means
Phaneroō means to make manifest, reveal, disclose, or bring into open view. First Timothy summarizes the mystery of godliness with Christ manifested in flesh and vindicated by the Spirit. Second Timothy says God's grace has now been manifested through the appearing of Jesus Christ, who abolished death and illuminated life and immortality through the gospel. Titus says God manifested His word at the proper time through proclamation entrusted by command.
John closes his Gospel by narrating Jesus manifesting Himself to disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. The verb identifies disclosure into visibility or knowledge, but it does not authorize vague private claims. The passages specify what God reveals, through whom, and in what saving event or message.
How the Bible Uses It
Phaneroō describes God's saving reality brought openly into history and witness: Christ appears in flesh, grace is manifested through His coming, God's word is disclosed through commissioned proclamation, and the risen Jesus reveals Himself to disciples.
- 1Tim.3.16
By common confession, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was proclaimed among the nations, was believed in throughout the world, was taken up in glory.
First Timothy 3:16 begins the confession of godliness with Christ manifested in flesh. The hymn-like summary joins incarnation, vindication, angelic witness, proclamation, belief, and glory.
- 2Tim.1.10
And now He has revealed this grace through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the gospel,
Second Timothy 1:10 says grace has now been manifested through the appearing of Christ Jesus, who nullified death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
- Titus.1.3
In His own time He has made His word evident in the proclamation entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior.
Titus 1:3 says God manifested His word at the proper time in proclamation entrusted to Paul by divine command. Disclosure includes a commissioned public message, not secret possession.
- John.21.1
Later, by the Sea of Tiberias, Jesus again revealed Himself to the disciples. He made Himself known in this way:
John 21:1 says Jesus manifested Himself again to disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. The following meal, catch, and restoration of Peter make the resurrection appearance concrete and relational.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It was revealed 4× 1 Peter 1:20, 1 John 1:2, 1 John 3:8, 1 John 4:9
appeared 3× John 21:14, 1 Timothy 3:16, 1 John 3:5
revealed 3× John 2:11, John 21:1, Romans 16:26
[Jesus] appeared 2× Mark 16:12, Mark 16:14
appears 2× Colossians 3:4, 1 Peter 5:4
be revealed 2× 2 Corinthians 4:10, 2 Corinthians 4:11
It is clear 2× 2 Corinthians 3:3, 2 Corinthians 5:11
[Christ] appears 1× 1 John 3:2
appear 1× 2 Corinthians 5:10
becomes visible 1× Ephesians 5:13
been disclosed 1× Hebrews 9:8
been revealed 1× 1 John 3:2
disclosed 1× Mark 4:22
has been revealed 1× Romans 3:21
has made [it] plain 1× Romans 1:19
have been revealed 1× Revelation 15:4
He appears 1× 1 John 2:28
He has appeared 1× Hebrews 9:26
He has made 1× Titus 1:3
He has revealed [this grace] 1× 2 Timothy 1:10
He made [Himself] known 1× John 21:1
He might be revealed 1× John 1:31
I have revealed 1× John 17:6
I may declare it clearly 1× Colossians 4:4
is illuminated 1× Ephesians 5:13
is now revealed 1× Colossians 1:26
it may be seen clearly 1× John 3:21
made it clear 1× 1 John 2:19
not exposed 1× Revelation 3:18
show 1× John 7:4
spreads 1× 2 Corinthians 2:14
that was revealed 1× 1 John 1:2
We have made this clear 1× 2 Corinthians 11:6
What we are is clear 1× 2 Corinthians 5:11
will appear 1× Colossians 3:4
will expose 1× 1 Corinthians 4:5
would be displayed 1× John 9:3
would be made clear 1× 2 Corinthians 7:12
Show sample aligned rows
Mark 4:22 φανερωθῇ to disclosed Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 3rd Person Singular Mark 16:12 ἐφανερώθη to [Jesus] appeared Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular Mark 16:14 ἐφανερώθη to [Jesus] appeared Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular John 1:31 φανερωθῇ to He might be revealed Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 3rd Person Singular John 2:11 ἐφανέρωσεν to revealed Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular John 3:21 φανερωθῇ to it may be seen clearly Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 3rd Person Singular John 7:4 φανέρωσον to show Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular John 9:3 φανερωθῇ to would be displayed Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 3rd Person Singular John 17:6 Ἐφανέρωσά to I have revealed Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular John 21:1 ἐφανέρωσεν to revealed Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Mark 4:22
Aligned rows 49
Books represented 14
Mark 3 John 9 Romans 3 1 Corinthians 1 2 Corinthians 9 Ephesians 2 Colossians 4 1 Timothy 1 2 Timothy 1 Titus 1 Hebrews 2 1 Peter 2 1 John 9 Revelation 2
Source forms
ἐφανερώθη 11x ephanerōthē Mark 16:12, Mark 16:14, John 21:14, Colossians 1:26
φανερωθῇ 10x phanerōthē Mark 4:22, John 1:31, John 3:21, John 9:3
ἐφανέρωσεν 5x ephanerōsen John 2:11, John 21:1, Romans 1:19, Titus 1:3
φανερωθέντος 3x phanerōthentos Romans 16:26, 1 Peter 1:20, 1 Peter 5:4
πεφανερῶσθαι 2x pephanerōsthai 2 Corinthians 5:11, Hebrews 9:8
πεφανέρωται 2x pephanerōtai Romans 3:21, Hebrews 9:26
φανερωθῆναι 2x phanerōthēnai 2 Corinthians 5:10, 2 Corinthians 7:12
ἐφανερώθησαν 1x ephanerōthēsan Revelation 15:4
Parsing patterns
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular 11x Mark 16:12, Mark 16:14, John 21:14, Colossians 1:26
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 3rd Person Singular 10x Mark 4:22, John 1:31, John 3:21, John 9:3
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular 5x John 2:11, John 21:1, Romans 1:19, Titus 1:3
Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Genitive Masculine Singular 3x Romans 16:26, 1 Peter 1:20, 1 Peter 5:4
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Passive 2x 2 Corinthians 5:10, 2 Corinthians 7:12
Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular 2x Romans 3:21, Hebrews 9:26
Verb - Perfect Infinitive Middle or Passive 2x 2 Corinthians 5:11, Hebrews 9:8
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular 1x John 7:4
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Do not present an untested private impression as equal to God's public revelation in Christ and apostolic Scripture.
- Do not imply that manifestation grants exhaustive knowledge of God's purposes or hidden details.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not present an untested private impression as equal to God's public revelation in Christ and apostolic Scripture.
- Do not imply that manifestation grants exhaustive knowledge of God's purposes or hidden details.
Key Verse and Form Guides
Verse-level guides showing how this original-language form works in its specific context, including grammar, verse function, and guarded interpretation.
Colossians 3:4 Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Passive Subjunctive
φανερωθῇ, phanerothe to render apparent (literally or figuratively) The form helps present Christ's coming manifestation as the hinge of the verse and frames the believer's hope around that public event. Read verse guide John 1:31 Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Passive Subjunctive
φανερωθῇ phanerothe to render apparent (literally or figuratively) The passive subjunctive in the hina clause supports John's stated purpose: the Messiah is to be made known to Israel through the ministry described in the verse. Read verse guide Romans 3:21 Verb Third Person Singular Perfect Passive Indicative
πεφανέρωται, pephanerotai to render apparent (literally or figuratively) The form strengthens the verse's claim that God's righteousness is not merely announced as an idea but stands as a completed revelation now in view. Read verse guide Evidence Summary
Greek word. To make publicly visible or known; reveal what was hidden or obscure.
Source Gloss
to render apparent (literally or figuratively)
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpus Greek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
16 of 49 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
Mark 4:22 Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Passive Subjunctive
φανερωθῇ· fanerwqh
I make clear, visible, or manifest
Read verse Mark 16:12 Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Passive Indicative
ἐφανερώθη efanerwqh
I make clear, visible, or manifest
Read verse Mark 16:14 Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Passive Indicative
ἐφανερώθη, efanerwqh
I make clear, visible, or manifest
Read verse fanerwqh
I make clear, visible, or manifest
Read verse John 2:11 Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Active Indicative
ἐφανέρωσε efanerwsen
I make clear, visible, or manifest
Read verse John 3:21 Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Passive Subjunctive
φανερωθῇ fanerwqh
I make clear, visible, or manifest
Read verse John 7:4 Verb Second Person Singular Aorist Active Imperative
φανέρωσον fanerwson
I make clear, visible, or manifest
Read verse John 9:3 Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Passive Subjunctive
φανερωθῇ fanerwqh
I make clear, visible, or manifest
Read verse John 17:6 Verb First Person Singular Aorist Active Indicative
ἐφανέρωσά efanerwsa
I make clear, visible, or manifest
Read verse John 21:1 Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Active Indicative
ἐφανέρωσεν efanerwsen
I make clear, visible, or manifest
Read verse John 21:1 Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Active Indicative
ἐφανέρωσε efanerwsen
I make clear, visible, or manifest
Read verse John 21:14 Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Passive Indicative
ἐφανερώθη efanerwqh
I make clear, visible, or manifest
Read verse Romans 1:19 Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Active Indicative
ἐφανέρωσε. efanerwsen
I make clear, visible, or manifest
Read verse pefanerwtai
I make clear, visible, or manifest
Read verse Romans 16:26 Verb Aorist Passive Participle Genitive Singular Masculine
φανερωθέντος fanerwqentov
I make clear, visible, or manifest
Read verse 1 Corinthians 4:5 Verb Third Person Singular Future Active Indicative
φανερώσει fanerwsei
I make clear, visible, or manifest
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
Grammatical Forms
How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups 5 Aligned forms 48 Tenses Aorist, Perfect, Future, Present Voices Passive, Active
Tenses
Voices
Indicative states a fact or reality 24×
Aorist Passive Mark 16:12 · Mark 16:14 · John 21:14 · Col 1:26 · 1 Tim 3:16 · 1 John 1:2 · 1 John 3:2 · 1 John 3:5 · 1 John 3:8 · 1 John 4:9 · Rev 15:4 12×
Aorist Active John 2:11 · John 21:1 · Rom 1:19 · Titus 1:3 · John 17:6 6×
Future Active 1 Cor 4:5 1×
Present Passive Eph 5:13 1×
Future Passive Col 3:4 1×
Subjunctive possibility, probability, or purpose 12×
Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract 4×
Aorist Passive 2 Cor 5:10 · 2 Cor 7:12 2×
Perfect Passive 2 Cor 5:11 · Heb 9:8 2×
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 7×
Aorist Passive 1 Pet 1:20 · 1 Pet 5:4 · 2 Tim 1:10 3×
Present Passive 2 Cor 3:3 · Eph 5:14 2×
Present Active 2 Cor 2:14 1×
Aorist Active 2 Cor 11:6 1×
Imperative command or strong request 1×
Aorist Active John 7:4 1×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 48 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
aorist 37 perfect 5 present 4 future 2
Voice
passive 37 active 11
Mood
indicative 24 subjunctive 12 participle 7 infinitive 4 imperative 1
NT Occurrences
Mark 4:22 φανερωθῇ aorist passive subjunctive subjunctive Mark 16:12 ἐφανερώθη aorist passive indicative completed Mark 16:14 ἐφανερώθη aorist passive indicative completed John 1:31 φανερωθῇ aorist passive subjunctive subjunctive John 2:11 ἐφανέρωσεν aorist active indicative completed John 3:21 φανερωθῇ aorist passive subjunctive subjunctive John 7:4 φανέρωσον aorist active imperative imperative John 9:3 φανερωθῇ aorist passive subjunctive subjunctive John 17:6 Ἐφανέρωσά aorist active indicative completed John 21:1 ἐφανέρωσεν aorist active indicative completed John 21:1 ἐφανέρωσεν aorist active indicative completed John 21:14 ἐφανερώθη aorist passive indicative completed Romans 1:19 ἐφανέρωσεν aorist active indicative completed Romans 3:21 πεφανέρωται perfect passive indicative resultant 1 Corinthians 4:5 φανερώσει future active indicative prospective 2 Corinthians 2:14 φανεροῦντι present active participle participle 2 Corinthians 3:3 φανερούμενοι present passive participle participle 2 Corinthians 4:10 φανερωθῇ aorist passive subjunctive subjunctive 2 Corinthians 4:11 φανερωθῇ aorist passive subjunctive subjunctive 2 Corinthians 5:10 φανερωθῆναι aorist passive infinitive infinitive 2 Corinthians 5:11 πεφανερώμεθα perfect passive indicative resultant 2 Corinthians 5:11 πεφανερῶσθαι perfect passive infinitive infinitive 2 Corinthians 7:12 φανερωθῆναι aorist passive infinitive infinitive 2 Corinthians 11:6 φανερώσαντες aorist active participle participle Ephesians 5:13 φανεροῦται present passive indicative ongoing Ephesians 5:14 φανερούμενον present passive participle participle Colossians 1:26 ἐφανερώθη aorist passive indicative completed Colossians 3:4 φανερωθῇ aorist passive subjunctive subjunctive Colossians 3:4 φανερωθήσεσθε future passive indicative prospective Colossians 4:4 φανερώσω aorist active subjunctive subjunctive 1 Timothy 3:16 ἐφανερώθη aorist passive indicative completed 2 Timothy 1:10 φανερωθεῖσαν aorist passive participle participle Titus 1:3 ἐφανέρωσεν aorist active indicative completed Hebrews 9:26 πεφανέρωται perfect passive indicative resultant Hebrews 9:8 πεφανερῶσθαι perfect passive infinitive infinitive 1 Peter 1:20 φανερωθέντος aorist passive participle participle 1 Peter 5:4 φανερωθέντος aorist passive participle participle 1 John 1:2 ἐφανερώθη aorist passive indicative completed 1 John 1:2 ἐφανερώθη aorist passive indicative completed 1 John 2:19 φανερωθῶσιν aorist passive subjunctive subjunctive
+8 more occurrences
Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.
Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
New Testament Witnesses
To make visible or plain what was previously hidden, here referring to the eternal life that was with the Father now being publicly revealed in the incarnate Christ.
The visible manifestation of Christ at His return.
The future visible manifestation of Christ.
revealed Himself
Additional Occurrences
1-john Appearing phaneróō
to be revealed openly
1-john Manifested phaneróō
to make visible, to reveal openly
John 21:1-14 φανεόω phaneróō
to reveal, make manifest
Mark 4:21–25 φανερόω phaneróō
to reveal, make manifest
Showing 8 selected witnesses from 48 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
φανερόω is built from this root:
Why This Word Matters
Resurrection appearances as intentional revelation. 1 John 1:1-4
Resurrection appearances are divine self-disclosure. 1 John 2:28-29
Affirms the historical visibility of the eternal Son against any denial of true incarnation. 1 John 3:1-3
Refers to the visible manifestation of Christ at His return, grounding ethical urgency. John 21:1–14
The life of God is not discovered by human ascent but by God’s gracious self-revelation in His Son. Salvation is based on divine initiative, not human spiritual exploration.
Christian living is oriented toward an anticipated, public return of Christ.
Christian hope centers on Christ’s return and the believer’s transformation at that event.
Canonical Themes
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
For the Preacher and Teacher
Phaneroō is disclosure with a center: Jesus Christ. Godliness is not a secret technique but the mystery made visible in the incarnate, vindicated, proclaimed, believed, and glorified Christ. Grace enters public history through His appearing, and His victory exposes death's limit while the gospel illuminates life and immortality. God's word is manifested through entrusted proclamation rather than elite concealment.
John adds the tenderness of resurrection disclosure: Jesus makes Himself known beside the sea, feeds disciples, and restores Peter. Churches should therefore speak confidently about what God has revealed while remaining modest about what He has not. Claimed manifestations are tested by apostolic testimony, the lordship of Christ, and the public gospel, not by novelty or intensity.
Anchor passage
2Tim.1.10
Doctrinal connections
- Incarnation: the mystery of godliness is manifested in Christ's real fleshly appearing.
- Resurrection and vindication: Jesus is revealed as the living Lord and vindicated by the Spirit.
- Grace: God's saving purpose becomes manifest through Christ rather than human discovery.
- Death and immortality: Christ breaks death's claim and illuminates life through the gospel.
- Revelation and proclamation: God's word is publicly entrusted and announced at His appointed time.
- Restoration: the risen Jesus reveals Himself relationally to disciples and recommissions Peter.
Phaneroō is related to phaneros, "visible" or "manifest," and means make known, reveal, disclose, or bring to light. It can describe visible appearance or intelligible disclosure; the object and means specify the sense.
From Old to New Testament
God reveals His glory, name, and saving acts throughout Scripture while promising a coming servant and king. The New Testament presents this disclosure climactically in Christ's incarnation, resurrection, and gospel.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain