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, τύπος^G5179 AND (2) eikōn, εἰκών^G1504. 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