die
Offenbarung
📖 What exactly is an Offenbarung?
Die Offenbarung (noun, feminine) describes the act of something previously hidden, unknown, or secret becoming known or visible. It has several nuances:
- Religious Context: The disclosure of divine truths or intentions, often through prophets or holy scriptures (e.g., die Offenbarung des Johannes - the Book of Revelation in the New Testament). 🙏
- General Revelation/Insight: A sudden insight or the uncovering of an important fact, often surprising. An Aha! moment!💡
- Disclosure: Making information accessible that was previously not public (e.g., financial data - die Offenbarung von Vermögensverhältnissen - the disclosure of financial circumstances). 💼
- Manifestation: The appearance or emergence of a quality or state. ✨
⚠️ It's important to consider the context to understand the exact meaning.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-ung → always feminine.
There are many -ung words, we won't list them all. There are only a few exceptions.
🧐 Grammar: Die Offenbarung in Detail
The word "Offenbarung" is a feminine noun. The article is always die.
Hint: Nouns ending in -ung are almost always feminine in German!
Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Offenbarung |
| Genitive | der | Offenbarung |
| Dative | der | Offenbarung |
| Accusative | die | Offenbarung |
Plural
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Offenbarungen |
| Genitive | der | Offenbarungen |
| Dative | den | Offenbarungen |
| Accusative | die | Offenbarungen |
📝 Example Sentences
- Die Lektüre des Buches war für mich eine echte Offenbarung.
(Reading the book was a real revelation/eye-opener for me.) - Viele Gläubige warten auf eine göttliche Offenbarung.
(Many believers await a divine revelation.) - Die Offenbarung seiner finanziellen Schwierigkeiten schockierte die Familie.
(The disclosure of his financial difficulties shocked the family.) - Die Offenbarung des Johannes beschreibt das Ende der Zeiten.
(The Book of Revelation describes the end times.)
🗣️ How to Use "Offenbarung"?
The use of die Offenbarung depends heavily on the context:
- In everyday life: Often used metaphorically for a surprising, eye-opening insight or realization. "Dieser Dokumentarfilm war eine Offenbarung!" (That documentary was a revelation!)
- Religion/Theology: Refers to divine inspiration, holy texts, or the acts of God. A central concept in many belief systems.
- Law/Business: In the sense of disclosure obligations, e.g., in bankruptcy proceedings (Offenbarungseid - an outdated term for an affidavit of means, now Vermögensauskunft) or the publication of business data.
Difference from "Enthüllung": While Enthüllung often means uncovering scandals or secrets, Offenbarung can have a deeper, even spiritual or epistemological dimension. Enthüllung is more neutral, whereas Offenbarung can imply greater significance or meaning.
Related Verb: offenbaren (to reveal something).
🧠 Mnemonics for Offenbarung
Article Mnemonic: Nouns ending in -ung are nearly always feminine ('die'). Remember: 'Die' endung '-ung' is feminine! -> die Offenbarung.
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine something is made offen (open) and becomes apparent or visible (-bar sounds a bit like 'bear' as in 'bear witness' or 'visible'). This revealing (-ung makes it a noun) is the Offenbarung (revelation/disclosure).
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning)
- Enthüllung: (Unveiling, disclosure) - Often for secrets, scandals.
- Kundgebung: (Proclamation, announcement) - More public declaration.
- Eingebung: (Inspiration, intuition) - Sudden idea, often creative or spiritual.
- Erkenntnis: (Realization, insight, knowledge) - Understanding of a fact.
- Manifestation: (Manifestation) - Becoming visible, embodiment.
- Preisgabe: (Disclosure, betrayal) - Giving away information.
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning)
- Verheimlichung: (Concealment) - Intentional hiding.
- Verschleierung: (Obscuring, veiling) - Making something unclear.
- Geheimnis: (Secret) - Something hidden, unknown.
- Verbergung: (Hiding, concealment).
Similar Sounding Words (Caution!):
😂 A Little Joke
Fragt der Lehrer: "Was ist eine Offenbarung?"
Meldet sich Fritzchen: "Wenn Mama Papas Kreditkartenabrechnung findet!"
Translation:
The teacher asks: "What is a revelation (Offenbarung)?"
Little Fritz answers: "When Mom finds Dad's credit card statement!"
📜 Poem about Offenbarung
Verborgen lag's im Dunkel tief,
Ein Schleier, der Geheimnis schlief.
Doch plötzlich Licht, ein klarer Schein,
Die Wahrheit bricht herein, ganz rein.
Was ungesagt, was unbekannt,
Wird nun als Offenbarung genannt.
Ein Ruck, ein Blitz, ein neuer Blick,
Verändert Schicksal und Geschick.
Translation:
Hidden it lay in darkness deep,
A veil where mystery did sleep.
But suddenly light, a clarity bright,
The truth breaks in, purely white.
What was unsaid, what was unknown,
Is now as revelation (Offenbarung) shown.
A jolt, a flash, a newer sight,
Changes destiny and plight.
🧩 Riddle Time
Ich komme oft ganz unerwartet,
Manchmal durch ein Wort gestartet.
Ich zeige, was verborgen war,
Mach Unsichtbares plötzlich klar.
In heil'gen Büchern steh' ich drin,
Bin auch im Alltag oft Gewinn.
Was bin ich?
Translation:
I often come unexpectedly,
Sometimes started by a word directly.
I show what was concealed before,
Make the invisible clear once more.
In holy books, I have my place,
In daily life, I'm often grace (a gain).
What am I?
(Solution: die Offenbarung / revelation)
💡 More about Offenbarung
Word Components: The word is composed of:
- offen: adjective (open)
- -bar: suffix, here part of the verb "offenbaren" (to reveal, make apparent)
- -ung: suffix used to form nouns, usually feminine.
Cultural Reference: "Die Offenbarung des Johannes" (The Revelation to John, often called The Book of Revelation) is the final book of the New Testament in the Bible, describing apocalyptic visions.
Outdated Term: The "Offenbarungseid" was the former term for the affidavit of means in enforcement proceedings, where a debtor had to disclose their financial situation. Today it's called "Vermögensauskunft".
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Offenbarung?
The word Offenbarung is always feminine, so the correct article is die Offenbarung. It primarily means a revelation, a disclosure, a sudden insight, or a divine manifestation.