ὄψις
ópsis
G3799 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
visual aspect, appearance, the external form as seen by an observer; in some contexts, 'face' or 'countenance,' specifically the visible part or look of a person or thing (especially the face), but more broadly any outward appearance or aspect as perceived by sight.
Semantic Range
visible appearance, physical aspect, visage, face, countenance, outward look, display, the act of seeing
Root / Etymology
From the stem ὀπτ- (related to the verb ὀπτάνομαι, 'to be seen, to appear').
Historical & Contextual Notes
ὄψις is a classical and Koine Greek noun referring broadly to what is perceived through sight, often emphasizing the visual appearance or aspect of something rather than its intrinsic nature. In classical usage, it referred to 'sight' both as a faculty and as an object, but by the Hellenistic and Koine periods, it commonly denoted the visible aspect or appearance, especially the countenance (face) of a person or something's outward form. In the Septuagint and New Testament, ὄψις typically refers to the face or appearance—e.g., describing the change of appearance or radiance of a person's face (as in the transfiguration accounts). Unlike πρόσωπον, which means 'face' but also carries the sense of 'persona' or 'identity,' ὄψις focuses specifically on the visual impression or look. English translations often render it as 'appearance,' 'countenance,' or occasionally 'face,' but sometimes these fail to capture the full nuance of 'visible aspect' or 'form.' The word is relatively rare in the New Testament and is more descriptive than technical, implying what is perceived by sight. Cognates and related terms include ὀπτάνομαι ('to be seen'), ὅραμα ('vision'), and ὁρᾶν ('to see').
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ὀπτάνομαι; properly, sight (the act), i.e. (by implication) the visage, an external show:--appearance, countenance, face.
Root Family
ὄψις (opsis) — visible appearance, outward aspect, face, countenance, sight
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3799-02 |
ὄψις | opsis | N NOM F SG |
face | visible appearance | face | 2 |
G3799-01 |
ὄψιν | opsin | N ACC F SG |
appearance | visible appearance | appearance | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3799-01 |
John 7:24 | ὄψιν | opsin | N ACC F SG |
appearance | visible appearance | appearance |
G3799-02 |
John 11:44 | ὄψις | opsis | N NOM F SG |
face | visible appearance | face |
G3799-02 |
Revelation 1:16 | ὄψις | opsis | N NOM F SG |
face | visible appearance | visible appearance |