ἰδέα (idea)
idea
appearance
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun idea refers to a visible form or external appearance. It comes from the verb eidō, meaning "to see," and describes what is perceived by the eyes rather than an abstract concept. In the New Testament, this word appears only once, in Matthew 28:3.
This single occurrence describes the angel at Jesus’ tomb, whose face shone like lightning and whose clothes were white as snow. The text uses idea to highlight the striking visual aspect of the angel’s glory. Unlike other Greek words for form or image, idea focuses on the immediate, observable look of a person or object.
Translators typically render it as "appearance" or "form." This usage reminds readers that biblical language often grounds divine encounters in tangible, sensory details. The word captures the physical reality of the angel’s presence, making the supernatural event vivid and concrete for those who witnessed it.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word idea appears just once in the New Testament, found in Matthew 28:3. It describes the striking visual presence of the angel at Jesus’ tomb. The text notes that his appearance was like lightning and his clothes were white as snow. This single usage grounds a supernatural event in tangible, sensory detail.
For your faith, this reminds us that God often meets us in ways we can perceive with our senses. The disciples did not just hear about the resurrection; they saw its reality reflected in the angel’s radiant form. Divine encounters are not always abstract ideas but can be vivid and immediate experiences of God’s power.
When you read Scripture, notice how physical details often carry spiritual weight. This word shows that the divine is not distant or invisible to human eyes. Instead, God uses visible signs to confirm His promises. Let this encourage you to look for God’s presence in the concrete realities of your life, trusting that He makes Himself known in clear and undeniable ways.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- appearance1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- εἰδέα1×
Key Verses
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Matthew 28:3
His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.
This verse uses idea to describe the angel's radiant face and clothing, emphasizing the visual shock of the resurrection announcement.