Greek word · G3705

ὅραμα

horama

vision

From ὁράω, "to see": something seen, a sight, a spectacle. In biblical Greek it most often means a vision from God, a seen experience through which God communicates. It can happen by day or by night, awake or in a trance.

Appears 12 times in 12 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ὅραμα, -τος, τό

(ὁράω), [in LXX for חָזוֹן, מַרְאֶה, etc. ;]

that which is seen;

(a) a sight, spectacle: Matthew 17:9, Acts 7:31;

(b) an appearance, vision: Acts 9:10, 12 (Rec.) Acts 10:3, 17 10:19 11:5 12:9 16:9-10 18:9 (cf. ὀπτασία).†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Acts 10:3

Range of meaning

From ὁράω, "to see": something seen, a sight, a spectacle. In biblical Greek it most often means a vision from God, a seen experience through which God communicates. It can happen by day or by night, awake or in a trance.

Against the English

English "vision" is a fair rendering. Modern English also uses "vision" for imagination, an inner picture, or a leader's goals, and none of those fit here.

How it drifted

In modern English "vision" has drifted toward the subjective ("I had a vision for the church") and toward the psychological. The Greek word is about what is seen and about who causes it to be seen.

Used elsewhere in the period

The Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament) uses ἐν ὁράματι, "in a vision," in Genesis 15:1, where the word of the LORD comes to Abram, and in Genesis 46:2, where God calls "Jacob, Jacob" in a vision of the night. It is frequent in Daniel. In the NT it occurs once outside Acts (Matthew 17:9, the transfiguration). Luke uses it about eleven times in Acts: Moses at the bush (7:31), Ananias and Saul (9:10, 12), Cornelius and Peter (10:3, 17, 19; 11:5), Peter's escape (12:9), the Macedonian man (16:9–10) and Paul at Corinth (18:9).

From the study of Acts 11:5

Range of meaning

'That which is seen': a sight or spectacle, and in religious contexts a vision given by God, received either awake or in sleep.

Against the English

'Vision' is accurate. The modern sense of 'vision' as foresight or a leader's plan is foreign to it.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the LXX: Moses' 'great sight' of the burning bush (Exod 3:3), and repeatedly for Daniel's visions. In the NT it is used for the Transfiguration (Matt 17:9). Acts uses it about eleven times, for example Ananias (9:10), Cornelius (10:3), Peter (10:17, 19) and Paul's Macedonian call (16:9). Each time it is a means of divine direction at a turning point in the mission.

From the study of Acts 16:9

Range of meaning

Something seen: a sight or spectacle. In biblical usage it means above all a sight granted by God, whether in a waking trance or a dream.

Against the English

'Vision' is accurate. In modern church and business language, though, 'vision' usually means a leader's plan or long-range goal ('God gave me a vision for this ministry'). Here it is an actual sight that Paul saw, not a strategy he formed.

How it drifted

From the 20th century, 'vision' came into management language ('vision statement', 'visionary leader'). Church leadership culture borrowed that sense.

Used elsewhere in the period

The Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament) uses ὅραμα for prophetic and dream-visions, for example Gen 46:2 ('in a vision of the night') and frequently in Daniel. Luke uses it more than any other New Testament writer: Acts 7:31; 9:10, 12; 10:3, 17, 19; 11:5; 12:9; 16:9–10; 18:9. 'Vision of the night' language echoes Gen 46:2 and Dan 7:2, 7, 13 (LXX/Theodotion).

Where it appears

Matthew · 1

  1. Matthew 17:9 ὅραμα vision

    As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Do not tell anyone about this vision until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

    Here: "What was seen": Jesus transformed, Moses and Elijah, the bright cloud, the voice. Bible Greek uses the word for something God lets a person see. It does not in itself say whether the sight was outward or inward (see Studies).

Acts · 11

  1. Acts 7:31 ὅραμα· vision;

    When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight. As he approached to look more closely, the voice of the Lord came to him:

  2. Acts 9:10 ὁράματι a vision

    In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Here I am, Lord,” he answered.

  3. Acts 9:12 ὁράματι a vision

    In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”

  4. Acts 10:3 ὁράματι a vision

    One day at about the ninth hour, he had a clear vision of an angel of God who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”

    Here: "A vision." This is a thing seen that God grants. Luke uses the word for God's communications in Acts. Because it is about three in the afternoon, it is a waking vision and not a dream.

  5. Acts 10:17 ὅραμα vision

    While Peter was puzzling over the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house and approached the gate.

  6. Acts 10:19 ὁράματος vision

    As Peter continued to reflect on the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you.

  7. Acts 11:5 ὅραμα a vision

    “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision of something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came right down to me.

    Here: 'Something seen', and in Acts a revelatory vision sent by God. It is the object of 'I saw'.

  8. Acts 12:9 ὅραμα a vision

    So Peter followed him out, but he was unaware that what the angel was doing was real. He thought he was only seeing a vision.

  9. Acts 16:9 ὅραμα a vision

    During the night, Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”

    Here: A sight given by God. Here it comes at night, so it is probably a dream-vision. It is the subject of the sentence: the vision itself 'was seen' by Paul.

  10. Acts 16:10 ὅραμα vision

    As soon as Paul had seen the vision, we got ready to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

  11. Acts 18:9 ὁράματος a vision

    One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking; do not be silent.

    Here: Something seen, here a revelation from God given at night. Luke uses this word for the visions that steer the mission at key turning points (Acts 9:10; 10:3; 16:9).

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.