Χαρακτήρ, Character; G5481, “EXPRESS
IMAGE” “IMPRINT”
“Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image [Greek: character] of his person, and
upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged
our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Hebrews 1:3). The Anglicized Greek word character (Strong's Greek Dictionary's
i.d. number is G5481) is used only one time in the New Testament and is translated by the KJV
as “express image” (Hebrews 1:3). The
meaning of this Greek word reminds me of two other Anglicized words with close
meanings: (1) tupos,
τύποςG5179
AND (2) eikōn, εἰκώνG1504. The nails left prints (tupos) in
Christ's hands (John 20:25). Eikon G1504
is used in Genesis 1:26 for man being in the image (shadow [in Hebrew]; similitude)
of God. Jesus
has revealed our God visibly for us; i.e., His
character in the Greek. Therefore, we can
fulfil our duty of imitating the perfection of God via Jesus. Jesus has provided everything we need through
the teaching of the word for us to be perfect as our Father. By imitating Jesus we
come to the “perfect” man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness
of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-13). The “perfect” man here refers to the complete man “grown up,” the maturity, since the context of
the Ephesians passage continues with “no longer being [like] children”
(verse 14). The
translation of the Greek word character in the KJV is “the express
image of.” Its meaning was “to
write”, “engraved mark”, “imprint”, and in Hellenistic times (during the
earthly ministry of Jesus) was metaphorically “defining quality, individual
feature.” Its reference in the Bible of
1611 predates its popular definition of “moral qualities assigned to one by
reputation” (which is only from 1712AD). = etymonline.com. GOD IS VISIBLE through Jesus, who is the character
of God the Father. “Not that any
man hath seen
the Father, save He which is of God, He
hath seen
the Father” (John 6:46). “No man
hath seen God at any time; the only
begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him” (John 1:18). This
point is emphasized in my article on this website: https://www.biblestudylessons.net/articles/character.html. ETYMONLINE.COM-- The meaning of Greek kharaktēr was extended in Hellenistic
times by metaphor to "a defining quality, individual feature." In
English, the meaning "sum of qualities that define a person or thing and
distinguish it from another" is from 1640s. That of "moral qualities
assigned to a person by repute" is from 1712.. STRONG'S HEBREW AND GREEK DICTIONARIES. --Χαρακτήρ
G5481 charaktēr khar-ak-tar' - From the same as G5482; a graver
(the tool or the person), that is, (by implication) engraving ([“character”],
the figure stamped, that is, an exact copy or [figuratively] representation):
- express image. G5482 - Charax khar'-ax From “charasso” (to sharpen
to a point; akin to G1125
through the idea of scratching); a stake, that is, (by
implication) a palisade or rampart (millitary
mound for circumvallation in a siege): - trench. Akin to G1125 grapho
(to write). THAYER'S GREEK
DEFINITIONS. charaktēr G5481 Thayer Definition: 1) the instrument used for engraving or carving 2) the mark stamped upon that instrument or
wrought out on it 2a) a mark or figure burned in (Lev_13:28) or stamped on, an impression 2b) the exact expression (the image) of any
person or thing, marked likeness, precise reproduction in every respect, i.e facsimile. Part of Speech: noun masculine GAYLON WEST |
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