ὅρασις (horasis)
horasis
appearance/vision
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun horasis refers to a visual experience, specifically an appearance or a vision granted through divine intervention. In the New Testament, it appears only three times, marking moments where spiritual reality breaks into human perception. The word distinguishes itself by focusing on the visible aspect of what is seen, whether that be a physical manifestation or a supernatural sight.
Its usage in Acts 2:17 and Revelation highlights its theological weight as a divinely granted vision. In Acts, Peter quotes Joel to describe how God will pour out His Spirit, resulting in young men seeing visions (horaseis). Similarly, Revelation uses the term to describe the vivid, often symbolic appearances witnessed by John. This contrasts with ordinary sight, pointing instead to revelations that require spiritual discernment.
The word’s root connects it to the act of seeing, yet its scriptural application elevates it beyond mere optical perception. It signifies a glimpse into the divine realm, serving as a bridge between the earthly and the heavenly. Translators typically render it as "vision" or "appearance," capturing the sudden and impactful nature of these encounters.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word horasis points to a visual encounter where spiritual reality breaks into our everyday perception. It is not merely about physical sight but a divine appearance granted through intervention. When we read of visions in Scripture, we are witnessing moments where the veil between heaven and earth thins, allowing believers to glimpse what God intends to reveal.
In Acts 2:17, Peter explains that this pouring out of the Spirit includes seeing visions. This suggests that spiritual insight is not reserved for a select few but is available to all who seek God. These appearances serve as reminders that God actively communicates with His people, offering clarity and direction in ways that transcend ordinary understanding.
Revelation further illustrates this concept through vivid imagery, such as the throne room scene or the symbolic visions given to John. These accounts encourage us to look beyond the surface of our circumstances. By trusting in God’s ability to reveal truth, we find hope and assurance that He is guiding us through His Word and Spirit.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- in appearance2×
- visions1×
- vision1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ὁράσει3×
- ὁράσεις1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 2:17
‘It will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will dream dreams.
This verse links the outpouring of the Spirit directly to seeing visions, showing that spiritual insight is a gift available to all believers in the last days.
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Revelation of John 4:3
that looked like a jasper stone and a sardius. There was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald to look at.
Here, the term describes the radiant appearance of God’s glory, emphasizing the awe-inspiring nature of divine revelation rather than physical detail.
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Revelation of John 9:17
Thus I saw the horses in the vision and those who sat on them, having breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the horses’ heads resembled lions’ heads. Out of their mouths proceed fire, smoke, and sulfur.
John explicitly identifies his experience as a vision, highlighting how supernatural imagery conveys spiritual truths about judgment and divine power.