UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

Sense 1: to shine, to give light, to bring light

Semantic entry: 14.37

Semantic domains: Physical Events and States

Subdomains: Light

Definition: to shine or to produce light, as in the case of heavenly bodies, lightning, candles, torches, etc.

Notes: Terms for ‘shining, giving light’ often differ depending upon the type of source. There may be, for example, a contrast between the shining of a heavenly body in contrast with some source on earth. There may also be a difference between a continuous shining such as of the sun and the moon and a brief flash, as in the case of lightning or sparks from a fire.

Sense 2: to appear, to become visible

Semantic entry: 24.18

Semantic domains: Sensory Events and States

Subdomains: See

Definition: to become visible to someone

Notes: In a number of languages the equivalent of ‘appeared to’ would simply be ‘came to’ or ‘arrived at.’ In other languages the equivalent is ‘… he saw in a dream.’

Forms: φαίνομαι[a]

Sense 3: to make known, to make plain, to reveal, to bring to the light, to disclose, revelation

Semantic entry: 28.36

Semantic domains: Know

Subdomains: Well Known, Clearly Shown, Revealed

Definition: to cause something to be fully known by revealing clearly and in some detail{N:001}

Forms: φαίνομαι[b]

Sense 4: to appear to be (something), to give an impression of

Semantic entry: 28.55

Semantic domains: Know

Subdomains: Well Known, Clearly Shown, Revealed

Definition: to make known only the superficial and not the real character of something

Notes: In order to do justice to φαίνομαι in RV MAT 23:28 · LV MAT 23:28 · Read together MAT 23:28, it may be necessary in some languages to translate as follows: ‘on the outside you appear to people to be good, but you really are not’ or ‘… you only appear to people to be good’ or ‘… you make people think you are good, but you are not.’

Forms: φαίνομαι[c]