εἰκών
eikṓn
G1504 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Visual representation; a form or figure resembling a person or thing. εἰκών primarily denotes something that is made to look like or correspond to an original—often in a visual or physical form, such as a statue, portrait, or image. It can further extend to abstract or figurative senses, denoting a representation, manifestation, or likeness—whether physical (e.g., a coin’s press), visual (e.g., a painting), or conceptual (e.g., a moral or spiritual likeness). Its semantic range includes: 1) a material object fashioned to represent a being or thing (statue, portrait, effigy); 2) a visible likeness or outward form; 3) a symbolic, conceptual, or spiritual representation (as of qualities, virtues, or character).
Semantic Range
image, likeness, physical representation (statue, portrait, effigy), visible appearance, manifestation, symbolic or spiritual representation, archetype/copy relationship
Root / Etymology
From the Greek verb εἴκω ('to be like, resemble'). The noun εἰκών is formed directly from the root, meaning 'likeness' or 'image'.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, εἰκών referred to an actual likeness—statues, pictures, or representations, often of deities or persons. In the Septuagint, it frequently substitutes for Hebrew צֶ֫לֶם (ṣelem, 'image'), especially in contexts of prohibiting fashioned images or idols, conveying a physical representation rather than an abstract form. In philosophical texts (e.g., Plato), εἰκών can describe not just visual semblance but also metaphysical or conceptual analogy—thus broadening its sense to archetype and copy relationships. In New Testament usage, εἰκών extends from literal (e.g., images on coins) to metaphorical uses (e.g., describing humans as made in the 'image' of God, Col 1:15, where Christ is called the εἰκών of the invisible God). Thus, while English 'image' approximates the primary sense, it may miss nuances of physical representation, visible resemblance, and analogical correspondence found in Greek sources. Unlike μορφή ('form, shape'), which focuses on intrinsic shape or structure, εἰκών centers on correspondence to an original, often with deliberate creation for the sake of resemblance.
Translation Consistency
Most natural and widely used English equivalent for εἰκών across its semantic range. "Image" covers physical statues/portraits, visible likenesses, and abstract or spiritual representations (e.g. "image of God"), matches the most frequent P2 renderings, and yields clear, natural phrasing in translation.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from εἴκω; a likeness, i.e. (literally) statue, profile, or (figuratively) representation, resemblance:--image.
Root Family
εἰκ- (eikṓn) — to resemble, to be like, to appear as
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1504-02 |
εἰκόνα | eikona | N ACC F SG |
image | likeness | image | 10 |
G1504-01 |
εἰκὼν | eikon | N NOM F SG |
image | likeness-image | image | 6 |
G1504-03 |
εἰκόνι | eikoni | N DAT F SG |
image | to a likeness | to an image | 4 |
G1504-04 |
εἰκόνος | eikonos | N GEN F SG |
image | of a likeness | of an image | 3 |
Occurrences in Scripture
23 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1504-01 |
Matthew 22:20 | εἰκὼν | eikon | N NOM F SG |
image | likeness-image | image |
G1504-01 |
Mark 12:16 | εἰκὼν | eikon | N NOM F SG |
image | likeness-image | image |
G1504-02 |
Luke 20:24 | εἰκόνα | eikona | N ACC F SG |
image | likeness | image |
G1504-04 |
Romans 1:23 | εἰκόνος | eikonos | N GEN F SG |
of an image | of a likeness | of an image |
G1504-04 |
Romans 8:29 | εἰκόνος | eikonos | N GEN F SG |
image | of a likeness | of an image |
G1504-01 |
1 Corinthians 11:7 | εἰκὼν | eikon | N NOM F SG |
image | likeness-image | image |
G1504-02 |
1 Corinthians 15:49 | εἰκόνα | eikona | N ACC F SG |
image | likeness | image |
G1504-02 |
1 Corinthians 15:49 | εἰκόνα | eikona-2 | N ACC F SG |
image | likeness | image |
G1504-02 |
2 Corinthians 3:18 | εἰκόνα | eikona | N ACC F SG |
image | likeness | image |
G1504-01 |
2 Corinthians 4:4 | εἰκὼν | eikon | N NOM F SG |
image | likeness-image | image |
G1504-01 |
Colossians 1:15 | εἰκὼν | eikon | N NOM F SG |
image | likeness-image | image |
G1504-02 |
Colossians 3:10 | εἰκόνα | eikona | N ACC F SG |
the image | likeness | image |
G1504-02 |
Hebrews 10:1 | εἰκόνα | eikona | N ACC F SG |
image | likeness | image |
G1504-02 |
Revelation 13:14 | εἰκόνα | eikona | N ACC F SG |
an image | likeness | image |
G1504-03 |
Revelation 13:15 | εἰκόνι | eikoni | N DAT F SG |
image | to a likeness | to an image |
G1504-01 |
Revelation 13:15 | εἰκὼν | eikon | N NOM F SG |
image | likeness-image | image |
G1504-03 |
Revelation 13:15 | εἰκόνι | eikoni-2 | N DAT F SG |
image | to a likeness | to an image |
G1504-02 |
Revelation 14:9 | εἰκόνα | eikona | N ACC F SG |
image | likeness | image |
G1504-02 |
Revelation 14:11 | εἰκόνα | eikona | N ACC F SG |
image | likeness | image |
G1504-04 |
Revelation 15:2 | εἰκόνος | eikonos | N GEN F SG |
image | of a likeness | of an image |
G1504-03 |
Revelation 16:2 | εἰκόνι | eikoni | N DAT F SG |
image | to a likeness | to an image |
G1504-03 |
Revelation 19:20 | εἰκόνι | eikoni | N DAT F SG |
image | to a likeness | to an image |
G1504-02 |
Revelation 20:4 | εἰκόνα | eikona | N ACC F SG |
image | likeness | image |