Greek word · G2529
καθοράω
kathoraō
to perceive
Aoratos = 'unseeable, invisible', a standard description of God in both Jewish and Greek thought (Col 1:15; 1 Tim 1:17; Philo). Kathoraō = 'look down on, observe, perceive clearly', with kata- making 'see' stronger.
Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·
What it means
καθ-οράω, -ῶ
[in LXX: Numbers 24:2 (רָאָה), Job 10:4 39:26, 3Ma.3:11 * ;]
1. to look down.
2. to discern clearly: Romans 1:20.†
(AS)
From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).
In depth
- Range of meaning
Aoratos = 'unseeable, invisible', a standard description of God in both Jewish and Greek thought (Col 1:15; 1 Tim 1:17; Philo). Kathoraō = 'look down on, observe, perceive clearly', with kata- making 'see' stronger.
- Against the English
All major English versions keep 'invisible … clearly seen', but the Greek wordplay is sharper: a-orata ('un-seeables') kath-oratai ('are clearly seen'), two forms of the same verb root.
- Used elsewhere in the period
Kathoraō is used in the Greek Old Testament (e.g., Num 24:2; Job 10:4). The paradox that God is invisible yet seen from his works was a commonplace: Pseudo-Aristotle, On the Cosmos 399b ('though invisible to every mortal nature, he is seen from his works'); Josephus, Against Apion 2.190–191 (God is manifest in his works and gifts but beyond telling in form); Wisdom 13:5 ('from the greatness and beauty of created things their Maker is correspondingly perceived').
Where it appears
Romans · 1
-
Romans 1:20 καθορᾶται, are clearly seen,
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse.
Here: 'Are plainly seen, discerned'. This is the main verb. The prefix kata- makes 'see' stronger, and the present tense means 'are continually being seen'. It is set against aorata: the unseeable things are seen.
Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.