Lexical Summary eidos: Form, appearance, sight, kind Original Word: εἶδος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance appearance, fashion, shape, sight. From eido; a view, i.e. Form (literally or figuratively) -- appearance, fashion, shape, sight. see GREEK eido HELPS Word-studies 1491 eídos (a neuter noun derived from 1492 /eídō, "to see, apprehend") – properly, the sight (i.e. of something exposed, observable), especially its outward appearance or shape (J. Thayer). 1491 (eídos) emphasizes "what is physically seen" (BAGD) before mentally or spiritually apprehended. See 1492 (eidō, oida). Example: 1491 /eídos ("visible appearance") refers to the outward form taken on by each of the three Persons of the tri-personal God: a) the Holy Spirit in Lk 3:22: "And the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove"; b) Jesus, in Lk 9:29: "And while He was praying, the appearance of His face became different, and His clothing became white and gleaming"; and c) the Father, in Jn 5:37: "You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form." Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1491: εἶδοςεἶδος, εἴδους, τό (ἘΙΔΩ), in the Sept. chiefly for מַרְאֶה and תֹּאַר; properly, that which strikes the eye, which is exposed to view; 1. the external oppearance, form, figure, shape, (so from Homer down): John 5:37; σωματικῷ εἴδει, Luke 3:22; τό εἶδος τοῦ προσώπου αὐτοῦ, Luke 9:29; διά εἴδους, as encompassed with the visible appearance (of eternal things) (see διά, A. I. 2), 2 Corinthians 5:7, — commonly explained, by sight i. e. beholding (Luth.:im Schauen); but no example has yet been adduced from any Greek writings in which εἶδος is used actively, like the Latin species, of vision; (στόμα κατά στόμα, ἐν εἴδει, καί οὐ δἰ ὁραμάτων καί ἐνυπνίων, Clement. homil. 17, 18; cf. Numbers 12:8 the Sept.). 2. form, kind: ἀπό παντός εἴδους πονηροῦ ἀπέχεσθε, i. e. from every kind of evil or wrong, 1 Thessalonians 5:22 (cf.πονηρός, under the end); (Josephus, Antiquities 10, 3, 1 πᾶν εἶδος πονηρίας. The Greeks, especially Plato, oppose τό εἶδος to τό γένος, as the Latin does species to genus. Cf. Schmidt, chapter 182, 2). The term describes the outward appearance, shape, or visible manifestation of something or someone. It can denote what is perceptible to the eye in contrast to hidden essence, and it often prompts reflection on whether physical sight is sufficient for spiritual understanding. Biblical Occurrences The word appears five times in the Greek New Testament: 1. Luke 3:22 – a visible manifestation accompanying Jesus’ baptism. Manifestation of the Spirit (Luke 3:22) “And the Holy Spirit descended on Him in a bodily form like a dove.” The descent in an identifiable form underscores the reality of the Spirit’s personhood while confirming the Father’s approval of the Son. The visible sign verifies an invisible truth: Jesus is the anointed Messiah. For ministry, this occurrence reassures believers that God may graciously confirm His work through tangible tokens without reducing faith to mere sight. Transfiguration Glory (Luke 9:29) “As He was praying, the appearance of His face changed, and His clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.” The altered appearance previews the glorified state of Christ and the promised transformation awaiting the redeemed. Prayer precedes the change, linking communion with God to experiential foretaste of glory. The passage invites believers to anticipate ultimate conformity to Christ’s image and to value spiritual realities that transcend current perceptions. The Father’s Invisible Form (John 5:37) “You have never heard His voice nor seen His form.” Jesus confronts religious leaders who rely on external religion yet miss the divine reality before them. The statement affirms the transcendence of the Father and exposes the inadequacy of physical perception apart from revelation. It also safeguards against idolizing any physical representation of God, preserving His incomparability. Faith versus Sight (2 Corinthians 5:7) “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” Here the word broadens to encompass every sensory impression that could substitute for trusting God’s promises. Paul encourages perseverance amid suffering, assuring believers that unseen eternal realities outweigh present appearances. Ministry anchored in this perspective avoids pragmatism driven solely by what is measurable and cultivates reliance on God’s Word. Ethical Vigilance (1 Thessalonians 5:22) “Abstain from every form of evil.” The instruction reaches beyond overt wicked acts to every visible expression in which evil might disguise itself. The call is comprehensive—believers are to distance themselves even from the outward semblance of sin so the gospel witness remains unclouded. Old Testament Background The Septuagint often uses the term for the prophetic “appearance” of the glory of the LORD (for example, Exodus 24:17) and the “form” Moses beheld (Numbers 12:8). These antecedents prepare the reader to recognize that visible manifestations serve God’s self-revelation, yet never exhaust His being. Theological Implications 1. Revelation: God occasionally condescends to human sight, but He is not confined to what is seen. Practical Ministry Applications • Encourage discernment so that congregations are not captivated by appearances—whether impressive ceremonies or contemporary spectacles—but remain centered on biblical truth. Summary Strong’s Greek 1491 underscores the tension between what is seen and what is ultimate. Scripture employs the term to reveal divine presence, to disclose Christ’s glory, to warn against superficial religion, to elevate faith over sight, and to call believers to moral purity. Recognizing the limits of appearance while honoring the God who occasionally wraps His purposes in visible form equips the church for faithful, expectant service until “we shall see Him as He is.” Englishman's Concordance Luke 3:22 N-DNSGRK: ἅγιον σωματικῷ εἴδει ὡς περιστερὰν NAS: upon Him in bodily form like KJV: in a bodily shape like INT: Holy in a bodily form as a dove Luke 9:29 N-NNS John 5:37 N-ANS 2 Corinthians 5:7 N-GNS 1 Thessalonians 5:22 N-GNS Strong's Greek 1491 |
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