ἐπιφαίνω

From the study of Titus 3:4

Range of meaning

"To show forth, appear, become visible." It is used of light breaking out (dawn, stars), and especially of a god showing their presence to help worshippers or of a ruler's arrival. The related noun epiphaneia means "appearance, manifestation," and the adjective epiphanēs means "manifest, illustrious." The form here is a simple past passive with intransitive sense, "it appeared," and it presents the appearing as one complete event.

Against the English

"Appeared" (most versions) is accurate but flat. NLT's "revealed" turns the event into the communication of information and loses the sense of something breaking into view to act.

How it drifted

"Appeared" in English can mean simply "seemed" or "became visible." The Greek word family carried the idea of divine help made visible, the sense still faintly present in English "epiphany."

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Greek Old Testament: Num 6:25, "the Lord make his face shine (epiphanai) upon you"; Ps 118:27 (LXX 117:27). It is used of God's saving appearances in 2 Maccabees (e.g. 3:24; 12:22; 15:27). Kings took the title Epiphanēs: Ptolemy V Epiphanes, Antiochus IV Epiphanes. An inscription at Ephesus (48 BC) calls Julius Caesar "god manifest (theon epiphanē) and common savior (sōtēra) of human life." In the NT the verb appears only in Luke 1:79, Acts 27:20 and Titus 2:11; 3:4. The Pastoral Letters use the noun epiphaneia both for Christ's first coming (2 Tim 1:10) and for his future return (1 Tim 6:14; 2 Tim 4:1, 8; Titus 2:13).

From the study of Titus 2:11

Range of meaning

Active: to show, display. Passive or intransitive (as here): to appear, become visible, shine forth. Often used of light breaking out, such as dawn or a star (Acts 27:20). In religious use, a deity making itself known by an intervention that helps people.

Against the English

'Appeared' (BSB, WEB, KJV, ESV), 'was manifested' (YLT) and 'has been revealed' (NLT) are all fair. But 'appeared' can sound like quietly coming into view. In Greek the word carried the weight of an epiphany: a divine power breaking into human affairs to act.

How it drifted

English 'appear' has become an everyday word ('he appeared at the door'). The religious sense, which 'epiphany' keeps in English, is lost in most translations.

Used elsewhere in the period

LXX: in the priestly blessing, 'the LORD make his face shine (epiphanai) upon you' (Num 6:25), and in Ps 118(117):27, 'the LORD is God and has shone upon us'. 2 Maccabees repeatedly uses epiphaneia for God's visible interventions to save his people (2 Macc 3:24; 12:22; 15:27). In Hellenistic and Roman inscriptions, rulers were hailed as gods 'made manifest'. Antiochus IV took the title Epiphanēs. The Priene calendar inscription (9 BC) praises Augustus as a 'savior' whose appearing (epiphaneis) went beyond everyone's hopes. In the New Testament this word family is concentrated in the Pastoral Letters (Titus 2:11, 13; 3:4; 1 Tim 6:14; 2 Tim 1:10; 4:1, 8).

From the study of Luke 1:79

Range of meaning

To show forth or appear, especially suddenly or in brilliance. Used of heavenly bodies coming into view, of light shining upon something, and (in religious use) of a deity making a manifest, helpful appearance. Its relatives are 'epiphaneia' (appearing) and 'epiphanēs' (manifest, illustrious).

Against the English

'Shine on' (BSB, WEB, NIV, NASB) and 'give light to' (KJV, ESV) both catch the light image. Neither can carry the overtone of a divine appearing, which a Greek reader would hear. The English word 'epiphany' comes from this family.

Used elsewhere in the period

Greek Old Testament: the priestly blessing, 'May the LORD make his face shine (epiphanai) upon you' (Num 6:25), and the refrain 'make your face shine upon us, and we shall be saved' (Ps 80:3, 7, 19; also Ps 31:16; 67:1). In the NT it is used of stars appearing (Acts 27:20) and of God's grace and kindness that 'appeared' (Titus 2:11; 3:4). In Hellenistic culture gods and kings were praised for their 'epiphanies'. The Seleucid king Antiochus IV took the title 'Epiphanes' ('God Manifest'), a name Jews of Zechariah's day remembered bitterly from the Maccabean crisis.