ἐπί
epí · G1909 · Greek · 890 occurrences
Meanings
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on, upon
A position on a surface of an object, whether vertical or horizontal, and in contact with the object
ExamplesMatthew 3:16 After He was baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and settling on Him,
Matthew 10:34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
Matthew 13:2 And large crowds gathered to Him, so He got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd was standing on the beach.
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at, by
A position in proximity to or in the immediate vicinity of an object or other position
ExamplesMatthew 21:19 And seeing a lone fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it except leaves alone; and He said to it, “No longer shall there ever be any fruit from you.” And at once the fig tree withered.
Mark 1:45 But he went out and began to proclaim it freely and to spread the news around, to such an extent that Jesus could no longer publicly enter a city, but stayed out in unpopulated areas; and they were coming to Him from everywhere.
Mark 2:14 As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting in the tax office, and He said to him, “Follow Me!” And he got up and followed Him.
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among, with
A position within an area determined by other objects and distributed among such objects
ExamplesActs 1:21 “Therefore it is necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us—
Acts 21:32 He immediately took along some soldiers and centurions and ran down to the crowd; and when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.
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before
A position before, with the implication of a relationship of authority
ExamplesMatthew 10:18 and you will even be brought before governors and kings on My account, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.
Mark 13:9 “But be on your guard; for they will hand you over to the courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them.
Luke 12:58 “For when you are going with your accuser to appear before the magistrate, on the way, make an effort to settle with him, so that he does not drag you before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.
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to, toward, in the direction of
Extension toward a goal, usually implying reaching the goal
ExamplesMatthew 12:49 And extending His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Behold: My mother and My brothers!
Matthew 14:34 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret.
Matthew 21:19 And seeing a lone fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it except leaves alone; and He said to it, “No longer shall there ever be any fruit from you.” And at once the fig tree withered.
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on, onto
Extension to a goal, with implied contact on a horizontal surface
ExamplesMatthew 10:29 “Are two sparrows not sold for an assarion? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.
Matthew 11:29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.
Matthew 12:18 “BEHOLD, MY SERVANT WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN; MY BELOVED IN WHOM MY SOUL DELIGHTS; I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT UPON HIM, AND HE WILL PROCLAIM JUSTICE TO THE GENTILES.
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on, upon
(With the accusative) A marker of the one upon whom responsibility falls
ExamplesMatthew 23:35 so that upon you will fall the guilt of all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.
Matthew 27:25 And all the people replied, “His blood shall be on us and on our children!”
Acts 5:28 saying, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this Man’s blood upon us.”
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to, at, on
A marker of the experiencer, often with the implication of an action by a superior force or agency
ExamplesMatthew 10:13 “If the house is worthy, see that your blessing of peace comes upon it. But if it is not worthy, take back your blessing of peace.
Matthew 12:28 “But if I cast out the demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
Matthew 15:32 Now Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “I feel compassion for the people, because they have remained with Me now for three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way.”
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by, by means of
(With the dative) A marker of instrument as the basis for some event
ExamplesLuke 4:4 And Jesus answered him, “It is written: ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE.’”
Luke 11:22 “But when someone stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, that man takes away his armor on which he had relied and distributes his plunder.
Romans 5:14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the violation committed by Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.
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against
(With the accusative or dative) A marker of opposition in a judicial or quasijudicial context
ExamplesMatthew 10:21 “Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.
Matthew 12:26 “And if Satan is casting out Satan, he has become divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand?
Matthew 24:7 “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
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for
(With the dative) A marker of persons benefited by an event, with the implication of their being in a dependent relationship
ExamplesMatthew 14:14 When He came ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick.
Luke 1:16 “And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God.
Luke 23:28 But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.
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in addition to, and
A marker of an addition to what already exists, but with the possible implication of something more significant
ExamplesLuke 3:20 Herod also added this to them all: he locked John up in prison.
Luke 12:25 “And which of you by worrying can add a day to his life’s span?
2 Corinthians 7:13 Because of this, we have been comforted. And besides our comfort, we rejoiced even much more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all.
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over, with responsibility for
A marker of the object over which someone exercises a control or authority
ExamplesMatthew 24:45 “Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household slaves, to give them their food at the proper time?
Matthew 24:47 “Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions.
Matthew 25:21 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter the joy of your master.’
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because of, on the basis of
A marker of cause or reason as the basis for a subsequent event or state
ExamplesMatthew 18:13 “And if it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that have not gone astray.
Matthew 19:9 “And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”
Matthew 22:33 When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at His teaching.
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for the purpose of, for the sake of, in order to
A marker of purpose, pointing to the goal of an event or state
ExamplesMatthew 22:5 “But they paid no attention and went their separate ways, one to his own farm, another to his business,
Matthew 26:50 But Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you have come for.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested Him.
Luke 4:43 But He said to them, “I must also preach the kingdom of God to the other cities, because I was sent for this purpose.”
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concerning, with respect to, with reference to, about, in
(With the genitive) A marker of content as a means of specifying a particular referent
ExamplesMatthew 18:5 “And whoever receives one such child in My name, receives Me;
Matthew 24:5 “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will mislead many people.
Matthew 27:43 “HE HAS TRUSTED IN GOD; LET GOD RESCUE Him now, IF HE TAKES PLEASURE IN HIM; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”
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on the basis of, in view of
A marker of the basis of some event
ExamplesMatthew 18:16 “But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that ON THE TESTIMONY OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY MATTER MAY BE CONFIRMED.
Luke 5:5 Simon responded and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.”
Romans 4:18 In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE.”
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to the point of, to the extent of, to the degree that, up to
A degree extending to a particular point as marked by the context
ExamplesMatthew 25:40 “And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of Mine, you did it for Me.’
Matthew 25:45 “Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for Me, either.’
Acts 4:17 “But so that it will not spread any further among the people, let’s warn them not to speak any longer to any person in this name.”
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when, at the time of
A marker of a point of time which is simultaneous to or overlaps with another point of time
ExamplesMark 2:26 how he entered the house of God in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the consecrated bread, which is not lawful for anyone to eat except the priests, and he also gave it to those who were with him?”
Luke 10:35 “On the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return, I will repay you.’
John 4:27 And at this point His disciples came, and they were amazed that He had been speaking with a woman, yet no one said, “What are You seeking?” or, “Why are You speaking with her?”
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during, in the course of, within, for
A marker of the extent of time within a unit
ExamplesLuke 3:2 in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the wilderness.
Luke 4:25 “But I say to you in truth, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months, when a severe famine came over all the land;
Luke 4:27 “And there were many with leprosy in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”
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by
(With the accusative) A marker of agent, with the added implication of effect upon the agent
Examples2 Thessalonians 1:10 when He comes to be glorified among His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—because our testimony to you was believed.
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soon, very soon
(An idiom, literally: at the doors) A point of time subsequent to another point of time and indicating imminence, that is to say, the subsequent event is regarded as almost begun
ExamplesMatthew 24:33 so you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door.
Mark 13:29 “So you too, when you see these things happening, recognize that He is near, right at the door.
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long, long time, for some time
Pertaining to a relatively long duration of time
ExamplesActs 20:9 And there was a young man named Eutychus sitting on the window sill, sinking into a deep sleep; and as Paul kept on talking, Eutychus was overcome by sleep and fell down from the third floor, and was picked up dead.
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upon someone’s head, responsibility
(An idiom, literally: upon someone’s head) To accept responsibility for some action, often with the implication of blame
ExamplesActs 18:6 But when they resisted and blasphemed, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood is on your own heads! I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
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to be an authority concerning the Law of Moses
(An idiom, literally: to sit upon the seat of Moses) To have the capacity to interpret the Law of Moses with authority
ExamplesMatthew 23:2 saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses.
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in public, publicly
(An idiom, literally: on the housetops) Pertaining to being widely known in view of the events in question having taken place in public
ExamplesMatthew 10:27 “What I tell you in the darkness, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim on the housetops.
Luke 12:3 “Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.
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during a considerable period of time, for a long time
(An idiom, literally: upon enough) Duration of time for a considerable period, with the focus upon sufficiency of time
ExamplesActs 20:11 When Paul had gone back up and had broken the bread and eaten, he talked with them a long while until daybreak, and then left.
How it’s used
Every occurrence, grouped by the words it is grammatically related to.
When two words share a role, as in “Paul and Barnabas said”, the verse appears under each, so a section’s counts can add up to more than the number of occurrences.
MACULA Greek Linguistic Datasets, available at https://github.com/Clear-Bible/macula-greek/, licensed CC BY 4.0; MACULA Hebrew Linguistic Datasets © 2022-2024 by Biblica, Inc., CC BY 4.0. Westminster Leningrad Codex (tanach.us). OpenScriptures Hebrew Bible morphology (hb.openscriptures.org), CC BY 4.0.
In the other Testament 4 words
- עַל ʻal · H5921 · on, upon, over, against
- ἐπί (epí, G1909) ἐπί and עַל (ʻal, H5921) עַל are both highly polysemous prepositions denoting superimposition and spatial, temporal and relational positioning. The Greek ἐπί expresses "upon," "over," "at," "during" and "on the basis of," while the Hebrew עַל conveys parallel meanings including "above," "upon," "concerning," "against" and "because of." They are the standard functional counterparts for expressing spatial elevation, temporal overlap, authority relationships and abstract grounds for action.
- אֵל ʼêl · H413 · to, toward
- Both ἐπί (epí, G1909) and אֵל (ʼêl, H413) are flexible prepositions governing spatial, temporal and abstract relationships, particularly expressing direction ("to, toward, onto, upon"), location ("at, on, by") and relational grounds ("concerning, against, for, because of"). Their shared range covers physical superimposition, causality, purpose and reference.
- עַל ʻal · H5922 · on, upon, over, against
- Both ἐπί (epí, G1909) and עַל (ʻal, H5922) function as highly versatile prepositions denoting superimposition and spatial-relational positioning. The Greek ἐπί governs multiple cases to express distribution over/upon, temporal extension during/at, and abstract relations (on the basis of, concerning, against), while the Hebrew/Aramaic עַל serves parallel spatial (on, upon), temporal (during), and abstract roles (concerning, against, for). Their shared semantic range—covering physical location, authority/responsibility, temporal scope, and causal/referential relations—establishes them as cross-linguistic functional equivalents in the prepositional system of their respective languages.
- עַל ʻal · H5920 · above, high, most High
- Hebrew עַל denotes spatial superimposition ('above, upon, over') with the same prepositional range as Greek ἐπί, both expressing spatial, temporal, and metaphorical relationships of being 'on' or 'over' something; genuine translation equivalents sharing core semantics of superimposition across genitive, dative, and accusative constructions.
Semantic domains 27 entries
- In public, publicly28.64
- Ἐπί conveys open, public visibility in Mark 1:45: after the healed leper spread the news, Jesus “could no longer publicly enter a city, but stayed out in unpopulated areas,” the crowds' response forcing His movements into the open countryside instead.
- Upon someone’s head, responsibility37.102
- In Matthew 14:8, Herodias's daughter asks for “the head of John the Baptist” to be brought to her on a platter — ἐπί marking the platter that bears the literal weight and fateful responsibility resting on it.
- To be an authority concerning the Law of Moses37.44
- Jesus says in Matthew 23:2 that “the scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses,” the idiom of sitting ἐπὶ τῆς Μωϋσέως καθέδρας marking the formal teaching authority they held concerning the Law.
- Over, with responsibility for37.9
- In Luke 12:42, Jesus describes “the faithful and sensible steward, whom his master will put in charge of his servants,” ἐπί marking the position of oversight and responsibility given to the steward over the household.
- During, in the course of, within, for67.136
- Luke 3:2 dates the word of God coming to John “in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas,” ἐπί marking the span of that joint priesthood as the period during which the events occurred.
- When, at the time of67.33
- Matthew 1:11 places the birth of Jeconiah and his brothers “at the time of the deportation to Babylon,” ἐπί marking that historical deportation as the specific point in time being referenced.
- Soon, very soon67.58
- In Mark 9:39, Jesus says no one who performs a miracle in His name will “be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me,” ἐπί marking the brief interval expected before such a reversal could occur.
- Long, long time, for some time67.89
- Luke 18:4 describes the unjust judge who “for a while... was unwilling” to act on the widow's plea, ἐπί marking the extended stretch of time during which he refused before later relenting.
- During a considerable period of time, for a long time67.91
- In Acts 28:6, the islanders on Malta “had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen” to Paul after the viper bite, ἐπί marking the considerable duration of their watching before they changed their minds.
- To the point of, to the extent of, to the degree that, up to78.51
- Matthew 25:40 records the King's words, “to the extent that you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of Mine, you did it for Me,” ἐπί marking the precise degree to which an act of care is credited.
- At, by83.23
- John 5:2 locates the pool of Bethesda “by the Sheep Gate” in Jerusalem, ἐπί marking the pool's position immediately next to that gate.
- Before83.35
- In 1 Timothy 6:13, Paul reminds Timothy that Christ Jesus “testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate,” ἐπί marking Pilate's presence as the setting before which that confession was made.
- On, upon83.46
- Matthew 13:2 describes the crowd that “was standing on the beach” while Jesus taught from a boat just offshore, ἐπί marking the beach as the literal surface the crowd stood upon.
- Among, with83.9
- In Acts 1:21, Peter speaks of “the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,” ἐπί marking the disciples' shared presence together with Jesus throughout His ministry.
- To, toward, in the direction of84.17
- Matthew 14:14 says that when Jesus came ashore and saw the large crowd, He “felt compassion for them,” ἐπί marking the direction of that compassion as extended toward the people before Him.
- On, onto84.20
- In Matthew 16:18, Jesus tells Peter, “upon this rock I will build My church,” ἐπί marking the rock as the foundation onto which the church is pictured as being built.
- In addition to, and89.101
- Colossians 3:14 instructs believers, “In addition to all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity,” ἐπί marking love as an added virtue joined to the list of qualities just named.
- On the basis of, in view of89.13
- In Philippians 3:9, Paul speaks of “the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,” ἐπί marking faith as the ground on which that righteousness is granted.
- Because of, on the basis of89.27
- Hebrews 10:28 states that under the Law of Moses, one who ignored it “is put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses,” ἐπί marking that testimony as the basis on which the sentence was carried out.
- For the purpose of, for the sake of, in order to89.60
- In Luke 4:43, Jesus explains His itinerant preaching by saying, “I was sent for this purpose,” ἐπί marking the stated aim for which He had been sent.
- On, upon90.17
- Revelation 22:18 warns that “if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book,” ἐπί marking the person himself as the one upon whom the added plagues would fall.
- Concerning, with respect to, with reference to, about, in90.23
- In Revelation 10:11, the angel tells John, “You must prophesy again concerning many peoples, nations, languages, and kings,” ἐπί marking those groups as the subject matter his prophecy would address.
- Against90.34
- Mark 13:12 warns that “brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and have them put to death,” ἐπί marking the hostile turning of children against their own parents.
- For90.40
- Mark 15:24 describes the soldiers at the crucifixion who “divided up His garments among themselves, casting lots for them to decide what each man would take,” ἐπί marking the garments as what the casting of lots was for.
- By90.5
- In Acts 20:9, the young man Eutychus, sinking into a deep sleep as Paul kept talking, “was overcome by sleep and fell down from the third floor,” ἐπί marking sleep as the cause that overcame him.
- To, at, on90.57
- Matthew 7:28 reports that after the Sermon on the Mount, “the crowds were amazed at His teaching,” ἐπί marking Jesus's teaching as the object at which their astonishment was directed.
- By, by means of90.9
- In Romans 10:19, Paul quotes God's word through Moses, “I WILL MAKE YOU JEALOUS WITH THOSE WHO ARE NOT A NATION, WITH A FOOLISH NATION I WILL ANGER YOU,” ἐπί marking that foolish nation as the means by which Israel's jealousy would be provoked.
Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon (before a rough breathing ἐφ' (occasionally in manuscripts ἐπ'; see e. g. Ps 145:3), and…
A. with the genitive (cf. Winers Grammar, § 47, g.; Buttmann, 336 (289));
I. of place; and
1. of the place on which;
a. upon the surface of (Latinin orsuper with the abl., German auf with the dative); after verbs of a biding, remaining, standing, going, coming, etc.; of doing anything: ἐπί κλίνης, Mt 9:2; Lk 17:34; ἐπί τοῦ δώματος, Mt 24:17; Lk 17:31; ἐπ' ἐρημίας (cf. on a desert), Mk 8:4; ἐπί τῶν νεφελῶν, Mt 24:30; Mt 26:64; ἐπί (τῆς) γῆς, Mt 6:10; Mt 9:6; Mt 23:9; Mt 28:18; Lk 21:25; Acts 2:19, and very often; ἐπί τῆς θαλάσσης, on (the surface of) the sea, Mt 14:25 R G; 26 L T Tr WH; Mk 6:48 (49); Rev 5:13, and, according to the interpretations of many, Jn 6:19; but cf. Baumg.-Crusius at the passage (per contra, cf. Lücke at the passage; Meyer on Matthew, the passage cited) (Job 9:8; βαδίζειν ἐφ' ὕδατος, Lcian. philops. 13; ἐπί τοῦ πελαγους διαθεοντες, v. h. 2, 4; (Artemidorus Daldianus, oneir. 3, 16); on a different sense of the phrase ἐπί γῆς θαλάσσης see 2 a. below (Winer's Grammar, 374 (351))); ποιεῖν σημεῖα ἐπί τῶν ἀσθενούντων, to be seen upon the bodies of men, externally, (on the sick (cf. Winer's Grammar, 375 (351))), Jn 6:2; ἐκάθισα and κάθημαι (καθέζομαι) ἐπί, Mt 19:28; Mt 23:2; Mt 24:3; Mt 25:31; Mt 27:19; Jn 19:13; Acts 20:9; Rev 9:17, etc.; ἔστην, ἕστηκα ἐπί, Lk 6:17; Acts 21:40; Rev 10:5, Rev 10:8; where parts of the body are spoken of: ἐπί χειρῶν, Mt 4:6; Lk 4:11; ἐπί τῆς κεφαλῆς, Jn 20:7; 1 Cor 11:10; Rev 10:1 R G (others, accusative); ; σινδόνα ἐπί γυμνοῦ, Mk 14:51; ἐπί τοῦ μετώπου (or μετώπων), Rev 7:3; Rev 9:4; Rev 13:16 (Rec., others, accusative); Rev 14:9.
b. Like the preposition ἐν (see the exposition under the word ἐν, I. 7, p. 212{a}), so also ἐπί with the genitive is used after verbs expressing motion to indicate the rest following the motion; thus after βάλλειν, Mk 4:26; Mt 26:12; σπείρειν, Mk 4:31; τιθέναι, Jn 19:19; Acts 5:15; (Lk 8:16 L T Tr WH); ἐπιτιθεναι, Lk 8:16 (R G); καθιεναι, Acts 10:11; πίπτειν, Mk 9:20; Mk 14:35; ἐπιγράφειν, Heb 10:16 R G; ἑλκύειν, Jn 21:11 R G; ἔρχεσθαι, Heb 6:7; Rev 3:10; (anatellein], Lk 12:54 T Tr marginal reading WH); γενόμενος ἐπί τοῦ τόπου (cf. our having arrived on the spot), Lk 22:40 (cf. Winer's Grammar, p. 376 (352) and see below, C. I. 1 b. at the end). κρεμαν τινα ἐπί (Hebrew עַל תָּלָה, Gen 40:19; Deut 21:22, etc.), for which the Latin hassuspendereex,de,a, andalicui, Acts 5:30; Acts 10:39; Gal 3:13.
c. figuratively used of that upon which anything rests (like our upon) (cf. Winers Grammar, 375 (351); Buttmann, 336 (289); Ellicott on 1 Timothy as below): ἵνα σταθῇ ἐπί στόματος etc. (עַל־פִּי יָקוּם, Deut 19:15), resting on the declaration, etc., Mt 18:16; 2 Cor 13:1; more simply ἐπί μαρτύρων, 1 Tim 5:19; in the adverb phrase ἐπ' ἀληθείας (on the ground of truth), see ἀλήθεια, I. 1. (c. akin is its use (with a personal or a reflexive pronoun) to denote dependence, as in λογιζέσθω ἐφ' (others ἀφ' which see II. 2 d. aa.) ἑαυτοῦ, 2 Cor 10:7 T Tr WH (for himself, i. e. apart from and independently of others; R. V. with himself); cf. Kühner, 2:432; Liddell and Scott, under the word A. I. 1 d.)
d. figuratively used of things, affairs, persons, which one is set over, over which he exercises power; Latinsupra, our over (cf. below, B. 2 b. and C. I. 2 e.): ἐπί πάντων, Rom 9:5; Eph 4:6 (where ἐπί, διά and ἐν are distinguished); καθίστημι τινα ἐπί τίνος, Mt 24:45; Mt 25:21, Mt 25:23; Lk 12:42; Acts 6:3 (Gen 39:4, Gen 39:5; Gen 39:1 Macc. 6:14 1 Macc. 10:37, etc.; Plato, rep. 5, p. 460 b., etc.); δίδωμι τίνι ἐξουσίαν ἐπί τίνος, Rev 2:26; ἔχω ἐξουσίαν ἐπί τίνος, Rev 20:6; βασιλεύειν ἐπί τίνος, Mt 2:22 R G Tr brackets; Rev 5:10; ἔχειν ἐφ' ἑαυτοῦ βασιλέα, Rev 9:11; ἔχειν βασιλείαν ἐπί τῶν βασιλέων, Rev 17:18; ὅς ἦν ἐπ' τῆς γάζης, who was over the treasury, Acts 8:27; ὁ ἐπί τοῦ κοιτῶνος, he who presided over the bedchamber, the chamberlain, Acts 12:20 (Passow, i., 2, p. 1035a gives many examples from Greek authors (cf. Liddell and Scott, under the word A. III. 1; Lob. ad Phryn., p. 474; Sophocles Lexicon, under the word); for examples from the O. T. Apocrypha see Wahl, Clavis Apocr., p. 218a).
e. of that to which the mental act looks or refers: λέγειν ἐπί τίνος, to speak upon (of) a thing, Gal 3:16 (Plato, Charm., p. 155 d.; legg. 2, p. 662 d.; Aelian v. h. 1, 30;scriberesuperre, Cicero, ad Att. 16, 6;dissereresuper, Tacitus, ann. 6, 28; cf. Winers Grammar, 375 (351); (Buttmann, 336 (289))).
f. of one on whom an obligation has been laid: εὐχήν ἔχειν ἐφ' ἑαυτοῦ, have (taken) on themselves a vow, have bound themselves by a vow, Acts 21:23 (WH text ἐφ' ἑαυτῶν (see ἀπό, II. 2 d. aa.)).
2. used of vicinity, i. e. of the place at, near, hard by, which (German bei,an);
a. properly, κόλπος ὁ ἐπί ποσιδηιου, Herodotus 7, 115; ἐπί τῶν θυρῶν (Acts 5:23 L T Tr WH) (1 Macc. 1:55; (Plutarch, G. Gracch. 14, 3, p. 841 c.)); cf. Matthiae, ii., p. 1366 § 584; Passow, under the word, p. 1034b; (Liddell and Scott, under the word, I. 1 a., at the end). But the examples of this signification adduced from the N. T. (with the exception of Acts, the passage cited) (and most of those from Greek authors also) are such as to allow the rendering of ἐπί by super also, over or above (so Winer's Grammar, 374f (351)): ἐπί τῆς θαλάσσης at the sea, upon the shore, or above the sea, for the shore overhung the sea, Jn 6:19 (?(cf. 1 a. above)); (Ex 14:2; Deut 1:40; Deut 1:1 Macc. 14:34 1 Macc. 15:11; Polybius 1, 44, 4; cf. the FrenchBoulognesurmer,ChalonssurMarne (English Stratford on Avon), etc.; ἐπί τοῦ ποταμοῦ Ezek 1:1; (Xenophon, an. 4, 3, 28); ἐπί τοῦ Ιορδάνου, 2 Kgs 2:7); ἐσθίειν ἐπί τῆς τραπέζης τίνος (German überJemandsTischeessen (cf. English over one's food, over one's cups, etc.)), food and drink placed upon the table, Lk 22:30 cf. Lk 22:21; συκῆν ἐπί τῆς ὁδοῦ, a fig tree above (i. e. higher than) the way, Mt 21:19.
b. before, with the genitive of a person, in the presence of one as spectator, or auditor (Winers Grammar, 375 (351); Buttmann, 336 (289)): Mt 28:14 (L Tr WH marginal reading ὑπό); Mk 13:9; Acts 24:19, Acts 24:20; Acts 25:9; Acts 26:2; 1 Cor 6:1, 1 Cor 6:6; 2 Cor 7:14; 1 Tim 6:13 (some bring this under II. below; see μαρτυρέω); ἐπί τοῦ βήματος Καίσαρος, Acts 25:10.
c. ἐπί τοῦ (Rec. τῆς) βάτου at the bush, i. e. at the place in the sacred volume where the bush is spoken of, Mk 12:26 (see ἐν, I. 1 d.).
II. of Time when; with the genitive of a person in the time or age of a man (in the days of); at the time when an office was held by one; under the administration of (cf. Winers Grammar, 375 (352); Buttmann, 336 (289)): Mk 2:26; Lk 3:2; Lk 4:2; Acts 11:28; (1 Macc. 13:42 1 Macc. 14:27 (for other examples in which this phrase is equivalent to in or of the reign etc. of, and is preceded by a specification of the year etc., see B. D. American edition, p. 651 note{b}); 2 Macc. 8:19 2Macc. 15:22; for numerous examples from Greek writings see Passow, i., 2, p. 1035, floss fully in Liddell and Scott, under the word, A. II.)). with the genitive of a tiring, at the time of any occurrence: ἐπί τῆς μετοικεσίας Βαβυλῶνος, at the time of the deportation to Babylon, Mt 1:11; (on Lk 12:54 T Tr marginal reading WH see δυσμή); of the time when any occupation is (or was) carried on: ἐπί τῶν προσευχῶν μου, Latin in precibus meis, at my prayers, when I am praying, Rom 1:10 (9); Eph 1:16; 1 Thess 1:2; Phm 1:4. of time itself, ἐπ' ἐσχάτων and (according to another reading) ἐσχάτου τῶν ἡμερῶν (literally, at the end of the days): 2 Pet 3:3; Heb 1:2 (1) (for the Hebrew הַיָמִים בְּאַחֲרִית, Gen 49:1; Num 24:14; Jeremiah 37:24; Mic 4:1; Dan 10:14); ἐπ' ἐσχάτου τοῦ χρόνου, Jude 1:18 L T Tr WH; (τῶν χρόνων, 1 Pet 1:20 L T Tr WH).
B. with the dative, used of place (Winers Grammar, 392f (366f); Buttmann, 336f (289f)); and
1. properly;
a. of the place where or in which (Latinin with the abl., German auf with the dative) (English on, etc.), where continuance, position, situation, etc., are spoken of: ἐφ' ᾧ (L text T Tr WH ὅπου) κατέκειτο, Mk 2:4; λίθος ἐπί λίθῳ (λίθον T Tr WH), Mk 13:2; ἐπί πίνακι, Mt 14:8, Mt 14:11; Mk 6:25; ἐπί τοῦ κραββάτοις, Mk 6:55; ἀνακλῖναι πάντας ἐπί τῷ χόρτῳ, Mk 6:39; ἐπέκειτο ἐπ' αὐτῷ, lay upon it, Jn 11:38; ἐφ' ἵπποις, Rev 19:14.
b. of the place in which (Latinin with the abl., German auf with the accusative), after verbs expressing motion toward a place, to denote a remaining in the place after the motion (English upon, at, etc.): βάλλειν λίθον ἐπιτινι, the dative of person, Jn 8:7 Rec.; οἰκοδομεῖν, Mt 16:18; ἐποικοδόμειν, Eph 2:20; ἐπιβάλλειν, Mt 9:16 (Lk 5:36 ἐπιβάλλειν ἐπί τί); ἐπιρράπτειν, Mk 2:21 (where L T Tr WH have ἐπί with the accusative); ἐπιπίπτειν, Acts 8:16.
c. of the place above which (Latinsuper, German über (English over)): ἐπ' αὐτῷ, over his head, Lk 23:38 (for which Mt 27:37 ἐπάνω τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ).
d. of the place at, or by, or near which: ἐπί θύραις and ἐπί τῇ θύρα, Mt 24:33; Mk 13:29; Acts 5:9 (and often in Greek writings; cf. Passow, under the word, p. 1037a; (Liddell and Scott, under the word, B. I. 1 a.; cf. A. I. 2 a. above)); ἐπί τῇ προβατικῇ, Jn 5:2; ἐπί τῷ ποταμῷ, Rev 9:14; ἐπί τῇ στοά, Acts 3:11; ἐπ' (L T Tr WH παῥ) αὐτοῖς ἐπιμεῖναι, Acts 28:14.
2. Metaphorically;
a. of that upon which any action, effect, condition, rests as a basis or support; properly, upon the ground of; and α. of that upon which anything is sustained or upheld: ζῆν ἐπί τίνι, to sustain life on (by) a thing, Mt 4:4 (where L Tr, the second time, ἐν; (cf. Winer's Grammar, 389 (364) note)); Lk 4:4 (Deut 8:3 for עַל חָיָה; Plato, Alcib. 1, p. 105 c.; Plutarch, de cup. divit. 7, p. 526 d.; Alciphron, epistles 3, 7, etc.); συνιέναι ἐπί τοῖς ἄρτοις, to understand by reasoning built upon the loaves, Mk 6:52 (cf. Winers Grammar, 392 (367); Buttmann, 337 (290)). β. of that upon which anything rests (our upon): ἐπ' ἐλπίδι (see in ἐλπίς, 2), supported by hope, in hope (cf; Winer's Grammar, § 51, 2f.), Acts 2:26; Rom 4:18; 1 Cor 9:10 (differently in ε. below); to do anything ἐπί τῷ ὀνόματι τίνος, relying upon the name i. e. the authority of anyone (cf. Winer's Grammar, 393 (367)): ἐλεύσονται ἐπί τῷ ὀνόματι μου, appropriating to themselves the name of Messiah, which belongs to me, Mt 24:5; Mk 13:6; Lk 21:8 (in which passage λέγοντες, ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμί ὁ Χριστός is added by way of explanation); βαπτίζεσθαι ἐπί (L Tr WH ἐν) τῷ ὀνόματι Χριστοῦ, so as to repose your hope and confidence in his Messianic authority, Acts 2:38; δέχεσθαι τινα ἐπί τῷ ὀνόματι μου, to receive one because he bears my name, is devoted to my authority and instruction, Mt 18:5; Mk 9:37; Lk 9:48. to do anything upon the name of Christ, his name being introduced, appeal being made to his authority and command: as κηρύσσειν, διδάσκειν, etc., Lk 24:47; Acts 4:17, Acts 4:18; Acts 5:28, Acts 5:40; δύναμιν ποιεῖν, δαιμόνια ἐκβάλλειν, using his name as a formula of exorcism (cf. Winer's Grammar, 393 (367)), Mk 9:39; Lk 9:49 (WH Tr marginal reading ἐν). γ. of that upon which as a foundation any superstructure is reared: νομοθετεῖσθαι, Heb 7:11 (ἐπ' αὐτῇ, for which L T Tr WH have ἐπ' αὐτῆς); ; after verbs of trusting, believing, hoping, etc.: ἀρκεῖσθαι ἐπί τίνι, 3 Jn 1:10; παρρησιάζεσθαι, Acts 14:3; πεποιθέναι, Mt 27:43 L text WH marginal reading; Lk 11:22; Lk 18:9; Mk 10:24 (T WH omit; Tr marginal reading brackets the clause); 2 Cor 1:9; Heb 2:13; πιστεύειν, Lk 24:25; Rom 9:33; Rom 10:11, etc.; ἐλπίζειν (see ἐλπίζω) (cf. C. I. 2 g. α. below). δ. of the reason or motive underlying words and deeds, so that ἐπί is equivalent to for, on account of (Winers Grammar, 394 (368); Buttmann, 337 (290)): Mt 19:9 R G T Tr WH text; Lk 5:5 (ἐπί τῷ ῤήματι σου, at thy word, German auf; (cf. Winer's Grammar, § 48, c. d.; in reliance on)); Acts 3:16 (WH omit); Acts 4:9; (L Tr marginal reading have the genitive); ; 1 Cor 8:11 (ἀπολλυσθαι ἐπί τίνι, German zuGrundegehenüber etc. (cf. Winers Grammar, 394 (368) note, but L T Tr WH read ἐν)); Phm 3:9; after αἰνεῖν, Lk 2:20; δοξάζειν, Acts 4:21; 2 Cor 9:13 (cf. Winer's Grammar, 381 (357)); μαρτυρεῖν, Heb 11:4; εὐχαριστεῖν etc. to give thanks for, 1 Cor 1:4; 2 Cor 9:15; Phm 1:5; 1 Thess 3:9. ἐφ' ᾧ (equivalent to ἐπί τούτῳ, ὅτι for that, on the ground of this, that) because that, because, Rom 5:12 (on the various interpretations of this passage see Dietzsch, Adam und Christus. Bonn 1871, p. 50ff); 2 Cor 5:4 (Rec.st ἐπειδή); Phm 3:12 (ἐφ' ᾧ — ὁ σατανᾶς — οὐκ ἴσχυσε θανατῶσαι αὐτούς, Theophilus of Antioch ad Antol. 2, 29, p. 138, Otto edition; ἐφ' ᾧ Γενναδιον ἔγραψεν, for the reason that he had accused Gennadius, Synes. epistle 73; cf. Hermann ad Vig., p. 710; the better Greeks commonly used ἐφ' οἷς in the same sense, cf. Winers Grammar, 394 (368); (Fritzsche or Meyer on Romans, the passage cited; Ellicott on Philippians, the passage cited)). Used especially after verbs signifying a mental affection or emotion, where we also often say over (for examples from Greek writings see Passow, i. 2, p. 1039b; Krüger, § 68, 41, 6; (cf. Winers Grammar, 393 (368)
c.)): as ἀγαλλιαν, Lk 1:47; χαίρειν, Mt 18:13; Lk 1:14; Lk 13:17; Rom 16:19, etc.; χαρά ἔσται, Lk 15:7; χαράν (Rec. χάριν) ἔχω, Phm 1:7; παρακαλεῖν, παρακαλεῖσθαι, 2 Cor 1:4; 2 Cor 7:13; 1 Thess 3:7; κλαίειν, Lk 19:41 R G; κοπετόν ποιεῖν, Acts 8:2; κόπτεσθαι, Rev 18:9 (T Tr WH text the accusative); ὀδύνασθαι, Acts 20:38; ὀλολύζειν, Jas 5:1; στυγνάζειν, Mk 10:22; συλλυπεῖσθαι, Mk 3:5; μετανοεῖν ἐπί, to grieve over, repent of, 2 Cor 12:21; σπλαγχνίζεσθαι, Mt 14:14 G L T Tr WH; Mk 6:34 R G; Lk 7:13 (Tdf. the accusative); μακροθύμειν, Mt 18:26 (Tr the accusative), 29 (L Tr the accusative); Lk 18:7 (see μακροθυμέω, 2); Jas 5:7; ὀργίζεσθαι, Rev 12:17 (Lachmann omits ἐπἰ; ἐκπλήσσεσθαι, Mt 7:28; Mk 1:22; Lk 4:32; Acts 13:12; διαταράσσεσθαι, Lk 1:29; ἐξίστασθαι, Lk 2:47; θαμβεῖσθαι, Mk 10:24; θάμβος, Lk 5:9; Acts 3:10; θαυμάζειν, Mk 12:17; Lk 2:33; Lk 4:22; Lk 9:43; Lk 20:26; Acts 3:12; καυχᾶσθαι, Rom 5:2; ἐπαισχύνεσθαι, Rom 6:21; παραζηλουν and παροργίζειν τινα ἐπί τίνι, Rom 10:19. ε. of the rule, or condition (Winers Grammar, 394 (368)
d.): ἐπ' ἐλπίδι, a hope being held out or given, Rom 8:20; Tit 1:2 (differently in β. above); ἐπί δυσίν... μάρτυσιν, on condition that two witnesses testify to the matter in question (at (the mouth of) two etc.; cf. Winer's Grammar, 392 (367)), Heb 10:28; ἐπί νεκροῖς, equivalent to ὄντων νεκρῶν (in the case of the dead), if anyone has died, Heb 9:17. ζ. of the purpose and end (unto, for; Winers Grammar, 394 (368)
e.): ἐπ' ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ, to worship and profess his name, Acts 15:14 Rec.; καλεῖν τινα ἐπί τίνι, Latinadaliquid, Gal 5:13; 1 Thess 4:7 (ἐπί ξένια, Xenophon, an. 7, 6, 3; cf. Winer's Grammar, as above); κτισθεντε ἐπί ἔργοις ἀγαθοῖς, Eph 2:10; φρονεῖν ἐπί τίνι to take thought for a thing, Phm 4:10; ἐφ' ᾧ (by a later Greek impropriety for ἐπί τίνι, cf. Winers Grammar, § 24, 4; (Buttmann, § 139, 59; but on the extreme doubtfulness of this alleged use of ὅς in direct questions, see present T. D. Woolsey in the Bibliotheca Sacra for Apr. 1874, p. 314ff)) πάρει; for what purpose art thou come? Vulg.adquid (others,quod)venisti? Mt 26:50 R (but G L T Tr WH ἐφ' ὁ, see C. I. 2 g. γ. αα. below) (Theoph. ἐπί ποιῶ σκόπω; cf. Herodotus 7, 146 πυθόμενος, ἐπ' ὁισι ἦλθον; (but the view of many ancient expositors which explains the passage by an aposiopesis: that for which thou hast come — do is thoroughly established by Dr. Woolsey, as above)). of the issue or undesigned result: λογομαχεῖν ἐπί καταστροφή τῶν ἀκουόντων, 2 Tim 2:14; (τοῖς ἐπί ὠφέλεια πεποιημενοις ἐπί βλάβη χρῆσθαι, Xenophon, mem. 2, 3, 19). εε. of the pattern or standard (A. V. after; Winer's Grammar, 394 (368) f.): καλεῖν τινα ἐπί τῷ ὀνόματι τίνος, to call one after the name of another, Lk 1:59 (Neh 7:63 (Winer's Grammar, 410 (382))); ἐπί τῷ ὁμοιώματι τίνος after the likeness of a thing, Rom 5:14.
b. of that over which one is placed, for its care or administration: ἐπί τοῖς ὑπάρχουσι τινα καθιστάναι, Lk 12:44 (cf. A. I. 1 d. above (also C. I. 2 e. below); Lob. ad Phryn., p. 474f; Bernhardy (1829), p. 249; (Winers Grammar, 393 (367)
a.)).
e. used of a hostile aim, against (for examples from Greek writings from Homer down, see Passow, i. 2, p. 1036a; (cf. Liddell and Scott, under the word, B. I. 1 c.; Winers Grammar, 392 (367); Buttmann, 337 (290))): Lk 12:52f; θλῖψις γενομένη ἐπί Στεφάνῳ (Στεφάνου, L Tr marginal reading), Acts 11:19 (A. V. about).
d. of that to which anything is added (so that it is, as it were, upon it); in addition to; over and above (Winers Grammar, 393 (367f)
b.): 2 Cor 7:13 (L T Tr WH ἐπί δέ τῇ παρακλήσει ὑμῶν (but L T Tr WH ἡμῶν) περισσοτέρως κτλ., but in addition to the comfort given (us) by you, we rejoiced the more exceedingly etc. (A. V. in etc. (of condition))); κερδαίνειν τί ἐπί τίνι, Mt 25:20, Mt 25:22 R G; ἔχειν λύπην ἐπί λύπη, Phm 2:27 Rec. (Euripides, Iph. T. 197 φόνος ἐπί φόνῳ, Troad. 596 ἐπί δ' ἀλγεσιν ἀλγεα, Sophocles O. C. 544 ἐπί νόσῳ νόσον; (cf. Meyer on Philippians, the passage cited; but G L T Tr WH give the accusative, see C. I. 2 e. below)); προστιθεναι ἐπί, Lk 3:20; ἐπί πᾶσι τούτοις, besides all this, Lk 16:26 (L marginal reading T Tr marginal reading WH ἐν; see ἐν, I. 5 e., p. 211a); Eph 6:16 (L text T Tr WH ἐν (and there is no τούτοις); see ἐν, as above); Col 3:14 (Sir. 37:15; 1 Macc. 10:42; (classic examples in Wetstein (1752) on Luke, the passage cited)); add also Heb 8:1 (see Lünem. at the passage); Heb 9:10; 1 Cor 14:16.
e. of that which is connected as an adjunct (especially of time) with the principal matter under consideration (in German generallybei, i. e. at, on, etc.) (Winer's Grammar, 392 (367)): ἐυχαριστο τῷ Θεῷ μου ἐπί πάσῃ τῇ μνεία ὑμῶν, at every mention of you, as often as I call you to mind, Phm 1:3 (but see Meyer, Ellicott, Lightfoot at the passage, and under the word πᾶς, I. 2); σπένδομαι ἐπί τῇ θυσία, while engaged in (busied over) the sacrifice, Phm 2:17; ἐπί συντέλεια τῶν αἰώνων, Heb 9:26; ἐπί τῇ πρώτη διαθήκη, Phm 2:15; σπείρειν and θερίζειν ἐπ' εὐλογίαις, so that blessings attend, i. e. bountifully, freely, 2 Cor 9:6; ἐπί πάσῃ τῇ ἀνάγκη, 1 Thess 3:7; ἐπί τῷ παροργισμῷ ὑμῶν while your anger lasts, Eph 4:26; ἐπί τούτῳ meanwhile, i. e. while this was going on ((?), upon this), Jn 4:27.
f. of the object of an action, and α. where the German usesan (English on (nearly equivalent to to)): πράσσειν τί ἐπί τίνι, Acts 5:35 (like δραν τί ἐπί τίνι, Herodotus 3, 14; Aelian n. an. 11, 11); cf. Bernhardy (1829), p. 250 bottom; (but see Buttmann, 337 (290)); ὁ γέγονεν ἐπ' αὐτῇ, Mk 5:33 (T Tr WH omit; L brackets ἐπί); ἀναπληροῦσθαι, Mt 13:14 Rec. β. where the German saysüber, (English upon, of, concerning), after verbs of writing, speaking, thinking: γεγραμμένα ἐπ' αὐτῷ, Jn 12:16 (Herodotus 1, 66); προφητεύειν, Rev 10:11; μαρτυρεῖν, R G T Tr text WH text (see μαρτυρέω, a.) (δόξα ἐπί τῇ εὐσέβεια, an opinion about, on, piety, 4 Macc. 5:17 (18)).
C. with the accusative (Winers Grammar, § 49,1.; Buttmann, 337f (290f));
I. of place;
1. properly;
a. of the place above, over, which, our up on, on to: after verbs signifying motion and continuance, ἐλθεῖν, περιπατεῖν ἐπί τά ὕδατα, Mt 14:28f; ἐπί τήν θάλασσαν, Mt 14:25 L T Tr WH, 26 R G (πλεῖν ἐπί Πόντον, Homer, Odyssey 1, 183); ἀναπεσεῖν ἐπί τήν γῆν, Mt 15:35; ἐπί τό στῆθος τίνος, Jn 21:20; ἀνακλιθῆναι ἐπί τούς χόρτους, Mt 14:19 R G; κατοικεῖν ἐπί πᾶν τό πρόσωπον (L T Tr WH παντός προσώπου (cf. πᾶς, I. 1 c.)) τῆς γῆς, Acts 17:26; καθῆσθαι, Lk 21:35; ἦλθε λιμός ἐφ' ὅλην τήν γῆν, Acts 7:11; σκότος ἐγένετο ἐπί πᾶσαν τήν γῆν, Mt 27:45. over i. e. along: εἱστήκει ἐπί τόν αἰγιαλόν, Mt 13:2 (Winers Grammar, 408 (380); differently in d. below).
b. of motion to a place whose surface is occupied or touched (German auf with the accusative), upon, unto, etc.; after verbs of going, coming, ascending, descending, falling, etc.: πορεύεσθαι ἐπί τήν ὁδόν, Acts 8:26; Acts 9:11; ἐπί τάς διεξόδους, Mt 22:9; προέρχεσθαι, Acts 20:13 (here Tr WH marginal reading προσέρχεσθαι); φεύγειν, Mt 24:16 (where L Tr WH text εἰς); ἐξέρχεσθαι, Lk 8:27; ἐξιέναι, Acts 27:43; ἐπιβαίνειν, Mt 21:5; ἀναβαίνειν, Lk 5:19; Lk 19:4; Acts 10:9; Rev 20:9; καταβαίνειν, Lk 22:44 (L brackets WH reject the passage); Rev 16:21; ἀπέρχεσθαι, Lk 23:33 (L Tr WH ἔρχεσθαι); πίπτειν ἐπί τούς πόδας, Acts 10:25; ἐπί πρόσωπον, to fall upon the face, Mt 17:6; Mt 26:39; Lk 5:12; Lk 17:16; 1 Cor 14:25; Rev 7:11. After verbs of placing, leading, bringing, building, laying, throwing, etc.: τιθέναι, Mt 5:15; Lk 11:33; ἐπιτιθεναι, Mt 23:4; Lk 15:5; Acts 15:10, etc.; τιθέναι τά γόνατα ἐπί, Acts 21:5; οἰκοδομεῖν, Mt 7:24, Mt 7:26; Lk 6:49; Rom 15:20; ἐποικοδόμειν, 1 Cor 3:12; θεμελιοῦν, Lk 6:48; βάλλειν, Jn 8:59; Rev 2:24; Rev 14:16; Rev 18:19; ἐπιβάλλειν, Lk 5:36 (ἐπιβάλλειν ἐπί τίνι, Mt 9:16); ἐπιβάλλειν τάς χεῖρας ἐπί τινα, Mt 26:50, etc. (see ἐπιβάλλω, 1 a.); ἐπιρρίπτειν, Lk 19:35 and tropically 1 Pet 5:7; ῥαπίζειν, Mt 5:39 (L T Tr text WH εἰς); τύπτειν, Lk 6:29 (Tdf. εἰς); ἀναβιβάζειν, Mt 13:48 (not Lachmann text); ἐπιβιβάζειν, Lk 10:34; κατάγειν, Lk 5:11; σωρεύειν, Rom 12:20; διδόναι, Lk 7:44; Lk 19:23; Rev 8:3; ἀναφέρειν, 1 Pet 2:24; κρεμαν, Mt 18:6 (L T Tr WH περί); γράφειν, Rev 2:17; Rev 3:12; Rev 19:16; ἐπιγράφειν, Heb 8:10. After verbs which include another verb signifying motion, or transfer, or entrance into (where German usesauf orüber; our on, to, etc.): ἀνατέλλειν, Mt 5:45; βρέχειν, ibid.; πνεηιν, Rev 7:1 (here we see the difference between ἐπί with the genitive to blow over a thing, German über, and ἐπί with the according to blow on a thing, to come blowing upon it, German einenanwehen,wehendaufeinenkommen); (apparently nearly the same view of the distinction between the cases is take, by Thiersch § 274, 6; Hermann on Euripides, Alcest. 845. But Krüger (sec. 68, 40, 3), Kühner, (ii. § 438, L 1 b.), others, regard ἐπί with the accusative as denoting merely movement toward a place, while ἐπί with the genitive involves the idea of actual or intended arrival; cf. Liddell and Scott, under the word, A. I. 1. Still others hold the two expressions to be substantially synonymous: e. g. Alexander Buttmann (1873) Gram. § 147 (p. 417 English translation); Matthiae, § 584; Passow, p. 1034a; — especially in the N. T., see Winers Grammar, 409f (382); 408 (381) note; Buttmann, 338 (291). On the variations of case with this preposition in the Rev. cf. Alford on ); διασωθῆναι ἐπί τήν γῆν, Acts 27:44.
c. It is used of persons over whom anything is done, that thereby some benefit may accrue to them (German über with the dative) (Winer's Grammar, 408 (381) note): ὀνομάζειν τό ὄνομα Ἰησοῦ ἐπί τινα, to name the name of Jesus (as a spell, a magic formula) over one, namely, that help may come to him from that name, Acts 19:13; προσεύχεσθαι ἐπί τινα, Jas 5:14.
d. As εἰς (which see C. 2, p. 186a), so ἐπί also stands after verbs of rest and continuance (Buttmann, 337f (290f); Winer's Grammar, § 49, 50:1): καθεύδειν ἐπί τί, Mk 4:38; στῆναι, Rev 11:11; σταθῆναι ἐπί τί, Revelation 12:18 (Rev 13:1); ἑστηκεναι, Jn 21:4 (ἐπί τόν αἰγιαλόν L T Tr marginal reading WH marginal reading; otherwise where many are spoken of; see a. at the end, above); Rev 14:1; καθῆσθαι, Jn 12:15; Rev 4:4; Rev 6:2 (Rec. dative); Rev 11:16; Rev 14:14, Rev 14:16 (L T Tr WH text genitive); Rev 17:3; ; κεκαθικεναι, καθίσαι, Mk 11:2; Lk 19:30; Jn 12:14; Rev 20:4; καθίσεσθαι, Mt 19:28; σκηνουν, Rev 7:15; κεῖσθαι, 2 Cor 3:15; κατακεῖσθαι, Lk 5:25 T Tr WH; εἶναι ἐπί τό αὐτό, to be together, assembled, in the same place: Lk 17:35; Acts 1:15; Acts 2:1, Acts 2:44 — to come together, of sexual intercourse, 1 Cor 7:5 G L T Tr WH; συνελθεῖν ἐπί τό αὐτό have convened, come together, to the same place, 1 Cor 14:23 (L text ἐλθεῖν); simply ἐπί τό αὐτό namely, ὄντες, together, Acts 3:1 (but L T Tr WH (so R. V.) connect ἐπί τήν α. here with Acts 2:47); 2 Sam 2:13 (cf. Buttmann, 338 (291)).
e. used of motion or arrival into the vicinity of a place (not to the place itself); near; to, as far as; (German an,bei,zu,hin...zu): ἐπί τό μνημεῖον (or μνῆμα), Mk 16:2; Lk 24:12 (L Tr brackets; T omits; WH reject the verse), 22,24; ἐπί τούς ἀναβαθμούς, Acts 21:35; ἔρχεσθαι ἐπί τί ὕδωρ, Acts 8:36; ἐπί τήν πύλην, Acts 12:10; ἐπιστηναι ἐπί τόν πυλῶνα, Acts 10:17; καταβαίνειν ἐπί τήν θάλασσαν, Jn 6:16, etc., etc.; with the accusative of a person to, near to one: Jn 19:33; Acts 25:12; 2 Thess 2:1; Rev 16:14; especially to judges, kings, etc., equivalent to to their tribunal: Mt 10:18; Lk 12:58; Lk 21:12; Lk 23:1; Acts 9:21; Acts 16:19. also in pregnant construction after verbs of sitting, standing, etc.: καθῆσθαι ἐπί τό τελώνιον, Mt 9:9; Mk 2:14; ἑστηκεναι ἐπί, Rev 3:20; Rev 15:2; ἐπιστηναι ἐπί, Acts 10:17; Acts 11:11; ἐπί τήν δεξιάν on the right hand, Rev 5:1.
f. of mere direction toward a terminus (so that the terminus itself is not reached): πορεύεσθαι ἐπί τό ἀπολωλός, to recover it (where we say after), Lk 15:4; ἐκτείνειν τάς χεῖρας ἐπί, against one, to take him, Lk 22:53; toward one, in pointing him out, Mt 12:49; ἐξέρχεσθαι ἐπί λῃστήν, to take a robber, Mt 26:55; Mk 14:48; Lk 22:52, cf. Lk 14:31.
2. It is used metaphorically,
a. with the accusative of a person after verbs of coming, falling, bringing, etc. α. of evils befalling (falling 'upon') one, and of perturbations coming upon the mind: τό αἷμα τίνος (the penalty for slaying him) ἥκει or ἔρχεται ἐπί τινα, Mt 23:35; Mt 27:25; ἐπάγειν τό αἷμα τίνος ἐπί τινα, Acts 5:28; ἔρχεσθαι and ἥκειν ἐπί τινα, of other evils, Jn 18:4; Eph 5:6; Rev 3:3; after γίνεσθαι, Lk 1:65; Lk 4:36; Acts 5:5; ἐπέρχεσθαι (ἐπεισέρχεσθαι L T Tr WH), Lk 21:35; ἐπιπίπτειν, Lk 1:12; Acts 13:11 (L T Tr WH πίπτειν); (L Tr πίπτειν); Rom 15:3 (from Ps 68:10); Rev 11:11 (Rec. πίπτειν); ἐπιστηναι, Lk 21:34. β. of blessings coming upon one: after ἐρχεσται, Mt 10:13; ἐπιπίπτειν, of a trance, Acts 10:10 (L T Tr WH γίνεσθαι); ἐπισκηνουν, 2 Cor 12:9; ἔφθασεν and ἤγγικεν, ἐφ' ὑμᾶς (upon you namely, from heaven (cf. Winer's Grammar, 407 (380) note)) ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ Θεοῦ, Mt 12:28; Lk 10:9; Lk 11:20. the Holy Spirit is said at one time ἐπί τινα ἐκχεῖσθαι, Acts 2:17; Acts 10:45; Tit 3:6; at another, ἀποστέλλεσθαι (or ἐξαποστέλλεσθαι T Tr WH), Lk 24:49; again, ἐπέρχεσθαι, Acts 1:8; once more, καταβαίνειν, Mk 1:10 (L text T Tr WH εἰς); Lk 3:22; Jn 1:33; ἔπεσεν ὁ κλῆρος ἐπί τινα, Acts 1:26; after words of rest and continuance: χάρις ἦν ἐπί τινα, Lk 2:40; Acts 4:33; ἐπαναπαύεσθαι, Lk 10:6; the Holy Spirit is said at one time ἐπί τινα μένειν, descending upon one to remain on him, Jn 1:32f (Buttmann, 338 (291)); and again ἀναπαύεσθαι, 1 Pet 4:14.
b. of one upon whom anything is imposed, as a burden, office, duty, etc.: τήν μέριμναν ἐπιρρίπτειν ἐπί Θεόν, 1 Pet 5:7; συντελεῖν διαθήκην ἐπί τινα, to put a covenant UPON one, to be kept by him, Heb 8:8, (in Ps 82:6 פ עַל בְּרִית כָּרַת... is to make a covenant AGAINST one).
c. of that to which anything is added (English upon (nearly equivalent to after)): λύπη ἐπί λύπην, Phm 2:27 G L T Tr WH (Ps 68:27; Ezek 7:26; (especially Isa 28:10, Isa 28:13; cf. Latinsuper in Livy 1, 50; 22, 54 etc.); see above, B. 2 d.); (so some take οἶκος ἐπ' οἶκον, Lk 11:17, Buttmann, 338 (291); see οἶκος, 2); ἐπικάλειν ὄνομα ἐπί τινα (see ἐπικαλέω, 2 (and Buttmann, 338 (291))), to call (put) a name upon one, Acts 15:17; Jas 2:7.
d. of the number or degree reached; Latinusquead (Winer's Grammar, § 49, 50:3 a.): ἐπί σταδίους δώδεκα, Rev 21:16 (Rst T Tr WH text, genitive) (Xenophon, mem. 1, 4, 17; an. 1, 7, 15; Polybius 3, 54, 7; Song of the Three 23); ἐπί τρίς, Vulg.perter, for three times, thrice: Acts 10:16; Acts 11:10 (so εἰς τρίς, Herodotus 1, 86; Xenophon, an. 6, 4, 16. 19; Cyril 7, 1, 4 etc. (cf. Winer's Grammar, 422 (394))); ἐπί πλεῖον more widely, to a greater degree, further, the more (differently below, II. 1): Acts 4:17; (Acts 20:9 WH marginal reading); 2 Tim 2:16; 2 Tim 3:9; ἐφ' ὅσον, forasmuch as, inasmuch as, (differently II. 1 below): Mt 25:40, Mt 25:45; Rom 11:13.
e. of care, power, control over anything (German über with the accusative) (Winer's Grammar, § 49, 1. 3 b.) (cf. above, A. I. 1 d. and B. 2 b.): βασιλεύειν ἐπί τινα (Hebrew עַל מָשַׁל), Lk 1:33; Lk 19:14, Lk 19:27; Rom 5:14; ἡγούμενον ἐπ' Αἴγυπτον, Acts 7:10; καθίστημι, Heb 2:7 R ((from Ps 8:7), L Tr WH brackets); ἐπί τόν οἶκον αὐτοῦ namely, ἐστι, Heb 3:6; ἱερέα μέγαν ἐπί τόν οἶκον τοῦ Θεοῦ namely, καθεστηκοτα, Heb 10:21; κατιησταναι δικαστήν ἐπί, Lk 12:14 (ἄρχοντα, Xenophon, Cyril 4, 5 at the end); ἐξουσία, Lk 10:19; Rev 6:8; Rev 16:9; Rev 22:14; φυλάσσειν φυλακάς, Lk 2:8; of usurped dignity: ὑπεραίρεσθαι ἐπί πάντα λεγόμενον Θεόν, 2 Thess 2:4 cf. Dan 11:36f (others refer the use in Thessalonians, the passage cited to g. γ. ββ. below). Akin to this is the expression πιστός ἐπί τί (because fidelity is as it were spread over the things intrusted to its care), Mt 25:21.
f. of the end which the mind reaches or to which it is led; Latinad, to, unto: ἐπιστρέφειν, ἐπιστρέφεσθαι ἐπί τινα, especially to God, Lk 1:17; Acts 9:35; Acts 11:21; Acts 14:15; Acts 26:20; Gal 4:9; 1 Pet 2:25.
g. of direction toward a person or a thing; α. after verbs of trusting and hoping (German auf, upon; see above, B. 2 a. γ.): after ἐλπίζειν, 1 Pet 1:13; 1 Pet 3:5 R G; 1 Tim 5:5 (and often in the Sept.); πιστεύειν, Acts 9:42; Acts 11:17; Acts 16:31; Acts 22:19; Rom 4:24; πιστός, Heb 6:1; πεποιθέναι, Mt 27:43 (where L text WH marginal reading ἐπί with the dative).β. of the feelings, affections, emotions, German über, over: κόπτομαι, Rev 1:7; Rev 18:9 (R G L WH marginal reading with the dative); κλαίω, Lk 23:28; Rev 18:9; εὐφραίνεσθαι, Rev 18:20 (G L T Tr WH with the dative). unto, toward, Latinerga: σπλαγχνίζομαι, Mt 15:32; Mk 8:2; Mk 9:22; (μακροθυμέω, Mt 18:26 Tr, 29 L Tr); χρηστός, Lk 6:35; χρηστότης, Rom 11:22; Eph 2:7. γ. of the direction of the will and action; αα. of purpose and end (Winer's Grammar, § 49, l. 3 d.): ἐπί τό βάπτισμα αὐτοῦ, to receive his baptism, Mt 3:7; ἐπί θεωρίαν ταύτην, Lk 23:48; ἐφ' ὁ πάρει, Mt 26:50 G L T Tr WH (see above, B. 2 a. ζ.); where aim and result coalesce: ἐπί τό συμφέρον, Heb 12:10. ββ. of things done with hostility; against: after ἀποτομία, Rom 11:22; ἀναστῆναι, Mk 3:26; ἐγείρεσθαι, Mt 24:7; Mk 13:8; Lk 21:10; ἐπεγείρειν διωγμόν, Acts 13:50; μερισθῆναι, Mt 12:26; Mk 3:24f; ἐπαίρειν τί ἐπί, Jn 13:18; μάρτυρ, 2 Cor 1:23; μαρτύριον, Lk 9:5; ἀσχημονεῖν, 1 Cor 7:36 (εἰς τινα, Dionysius Halicarnassus, 2, 26); μοιχᾶσθαι, Mk 10:11; τολμᾶν, 2 Cor 10:2; βρύχειν ὀδόντας, Acts 7:54. γγ. of that to which one refers in writing or speaking (cf. Winer's Grammar, § 49, 50 l. d.): after λέγειν, Heb 7:13; ὁ οὖν μακαρισμός... ἀκροβυστίαν, namely, λέγεται (Winers Grammar, 587 (546), cf. Buttmann, 394 (338)), Rom 4:9; προφητεία, 1 Tim 1:18; on Mk 9:12f see γράφω, 2 c. δδ. upon, i. e. in reference to; for: after βάλλειν κλῆρον, Mk 15:24; Jn 19:24; cf. Fritzsche on Mark, p. 686 (who compares Psalm 21:19, and remarks that an Attic writer would have said ἐπί τίνι).
II. of Time (Winer's Grammar, § 49, l. 2);
1. of time during or for (`for the space of') which (German auf,während): ἐπί ἔτη τρία, Lk 4:25 (R G T WH marginal reading); ἐπί ἡμέρας πλείους, Acts 13:31; add also Acts 16:18; Acts 17:2; Acts 18:20; Acts 19:10; Heb 11:30, etc., and often in Greek writings from Homer down; cf. Passow, under the word, p. 1044 (Liddell and Scott, under the word C. II.); ἐφ' ὅσον χρόνον for so long time as, Rom 7:1; 1 Cor 7:39; Gal 4:1; and simply ἐφ' ὅσον as long as (differently in I. 2 d. above), Mt 9:15; 2 Pet 1:13; ἐφ' ἱκανόν long enough, for a considerable time, Acts 20:11; ἐπί πλεῖον somewhat long, too long (differently in I. 2 d. above): Acts 20:9 (not WH marginal reading, see as above); .
2. about, toward (German gegen): ἐπί τήν αὔριον on the morrow, Lk 10:35; Acts 4:5; ἐπί τήν ὥραν τῆς προσευχῆς, Acts 3:1; ἐπί τό πρωιMk 15:1</ref> (R G); rarely so in Greek writings, as Arrian exp. Al. 3, 18, 11 (7) ἐπί (others ὑπό) τήν ἕω.
D. In Composition ἐπί denotes:
1. continuance, rest, influence upon or over any person or thing: ἐπίγειος, ἐπουράνιος, ἐπιδημέω, ἀπαναπαύομαι, etc.
2. motion, approach, direction toward or to anything: ἐπακούω, ἐπιβοάω, ἐπιβλέπω, ἐπεκτείνω, etc.
3. imposition: ἐπικαθίζω, ἐπιτίθημι, ἐπιβιβάζω, ἐπιβαρέω, ἐπιγράφω, ἐπιρρίπτω, ἐπιτάσσω, etc.
4. accumulation, increase, addition: ἐπεισαγωγή, ἐπισυνάγω, ἐπισωρεύω, ἐπικαλέω (by a cognomen), etc.
5. repetition: ἐπαιτέω, ἐπαναμιμνῄσκω, etc.
6. up, upward: ἐπαίρω, ἐπανάγω, ἐπαφρίζω, etc.
7. against: ἐπιβουλή, ἐπανίστημι, ἐπίορκος, ἐπιορκέω, etc.
8. superintendence: ἐπιστάτης.
Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (1889), public domain
Topical studies with this word 24 entries
Meanings adapted from the UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament, © United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0 and the UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew (from the Semantic Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew), © United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0; MACULA Greek Linguistic Datasets, available at https://github.com/Clear-Bible/macula-greek/, licensed CC BY 4.0; MACULA Hebrew Linguistic Datasets © 2022-2024 by Biblica, Inc., CC BY 4.0. Westminster Leningrad Codex (tanach.us). OpenScriptures Hebrew Bible morphology (hb.openscriptures.org), CC BY 4.0.
Sources
eRhema lexical overview, based on the UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew and the UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament (© United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0) and Macula Hebrew and Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0); released under CC BY-SA 4.0
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