δῆλος (dēlos)
dēlos
Urim
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek adjective dēlos describes something that is clearly visible or plainly evident to the mind. It points to reality that has been revealed and can be understood, rather than remaining hidden or obscure. In the New Testament, this word signals a truth that stands out in plain sight, inviting recognition.
Its nuance lies in internal perception. While other words for "visible" focus on outward appearance, dēlos emphasizes that something is known and understood by those who perceive it. This distinction appears when Paul argues that the subjection of all things to Christ is evident (1 Corinthians 15:27), or when Peter’s Galilean accent makes his identity as a follower clear to others (Matthew 26:73).
The word carries theological weight by affirming that divine truths are not hidden secrets. They are manifest realities meant to be grasped. Translators often render it as "evident" or "clear," capturing the sense of something that has been brought into the light of understanding for all to see.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
There are moments in life when truth stops being a mystery and becomes plain to see. The Greek word dēlos captures this shift. It describes reality that has been revealed, standing out clearly for anyone willing to look. When Paul uses it, he is not speaking of hidden secrets reserved for the elite, but of facts laid bare before everyone.
This clarity brings comfort. You do not need to strain your eyes or search in shadows to find what God has shown. In 1 Corinthians 15:27, Paul points out that the subjection of all things under Christ is evident. The logic is open and undeniable. Similarly, in Galatians 3:11, he notes it is clear that no one is justified by the law alone. These truths are not obscure puzzles but manifest realities meant to be understood.
When you feel confused or uncertain, remember that God often makes His will known with such plainness that it invites recognition rather than confusion. You can trust that the core of the Christian faith is accessible. It is not locked away in esoteric knowledge but offered as a light for your path today.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- evident1×
- away1×
- [it is] evident1×
- [is] evident,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- δῆλον2×
- δῆλόν1×
- δῆλον,1×
Key Verses
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I Corinthians 15:27
For, “He put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when he says, “All things are put in subjection”, it is evident that he is excepted who subjected all things to him.
Paul uses this word to show that the exception of God from the universal subjection is logically undeniable and plainly visible in the text.
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Galatians 3:11
Now that no man is justified by the law before God is evident, for, “The righteous will live by faith.”
The term emphasizes that the impossibility of justification by the law is a clear fact, supported directly by the citation from Habakkuk.
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Matthew 26:73
After a little while those who stood by came and said to Peter, “Surely you are also one of them, for your speech makes you known.”
Here the concept applies to Peter's identity, as his speech made his association with Jesus plain and recognizable to bystanders.