offenbaren
to reveal
To deliberately make known or reveal something that was secret, unknown, or hidden.
EXAMPLE
In dem Brief offenbarte er ihr seine wahren Gefühle.
In the letter, he revealed his true feelings to her.
offenbaren
to reveal
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Meanings
sich offenbaren
to reveal itself
To become visible, recognizable, or clear; to prove to be something specific.
EXAMPLE
In der Krise offenbarte sich sein wahrer Charakter.
In the crisis, his true character revealed itself.
sich offenbaren
to reveal itself
To show itself or make itself known. Often used in a religious context when a deity reveals itself to humans.
EXAMPLE
Dem Propheten soll sich Gott in einer Vision offenbart haben.
God is said to have revealed himself to the prophet in a vision.
Usage tips
Word structure
The verb 'offenbaren' (to reveal) is closely related to the adjective 'offen' (open). It literally means to 'make something open,' that is, to make it visible or known.
EXAMPLE
Er wollte seine Pläne noch nicht offenbaren.
He did not want to reveal his plans yet.
Register and style
'Offenbaren' (to reveal) is a word used in elevated language. It sounds more formal and poetic than everyday verbs like 'zeigen' (to show) or 'verraten' (to betray/reveal).
EXAMPLE
Die Untersuchung offenbarte schwere Mängel in der Konstruktion.
The investigation revealed serious defects in the construction.
Transitive vs. reflexive
The verb can be used transitively or reflexively. 'Etwas offenbaren' (to reveal something) means to disclose a secret. 'Sich offenbaren' (to reveal itself/oneself) means that something becomes visible on its own or shows itself.
EXAMPLE
Der Zeuge offenbarte dem Gericht wichtige Details.
The witness revealed important details to the court.
Sentence structure with dative
When saying to whom something is revealed, that person or group is in the dative. The thing revealed is in the accusative.
EXAMPLE
Sie offenbarte nur ihren engsten Freunden ihr Geheimnis.
She revealed her secret only to her closest friends.
Context clue
The reflexive form 'sich offenbaren' (to reveal itself/oneself) is often used in a religious or spiritual context. Words like 'Gott' (God), 'Geist' (spirit), or 'Vision' (vision) are typical companions then.
EXAMPLE
In der Stille der Natur offenbarte sich ihm eine tiefe Wahrheit.
In the silence of nature, a deep truth revealed itself to him.
Compare with
offenbaren vs gestehen
to confess
Both words can express that a previously hidden feeling becomes known. “Gestehen” emphasizes a personal and often difficult admission to someone, while “offenbaren” focuses more on revealing the feeling and can sound more elevated. For romantic feelings, “jemandem etwas gestehen” is therefore especially common.
offenbaren
Sie offenbarte ihm in einem ruhigen Gespräch ihre Liebe.
She revealed her love to him during a quiet conversation.
gestehen
Nach langem Zögern gestand sie ihm ihre Liebe.
After hesitating for a long time, she confessed her love to him.
In real life
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