ἐπιλύω
epilýō · G1956 · Greek · 2 occurrences
Meanings
-
to explain, meaning, explanation
To explain the meaning of something, with the implication that the text in question is difficult or complex
ExamplesMark 4:34 and He did not speak to them without a parable; but He was explaining everything privately to His own disciples.
-
(A figurative extension of meaning of ἐπιλύω ‘to untie, to loose,’ not occurring in the NT) To come to a conclusion concerning a presumably difficult or complex matter (to resolve (a dispute), to settle (a problem), to come to a decision)
ExamplesActs 19:39 “But if you want anything beyond this, it shall be settled in the lawful assembly.
How it’s used In 4 roles
Every occurrence, grouped by the words it is grammatically related to.
the word studied the word it goes with
Who or what does itSubject
2 occurrences in 1 groups
- Not stated: he, she or it 2
What it acts on, or what is saidObject
1 occurrences in 1 groups
- πᾶςall, every, each 1
To or for whomIndirect object
1 occurrences in 1 groups
- μαθητήςdisciple 1
With prepositionsPrepositional phrases
2 occurrences in 2 groups
- ἐνin+ ἐκκλησίαcongregation, church 1
- κατάaccording to, against, down+ ἴδιοςone’s own 1
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.
Near synonyms 1 word
- φράζω phrázō · G5419 · to explain, meaning, explanation
- The target term ἐπιλύω and φράζω (“to expound”) both belong to the domain of explanation, making something understood; ἐπιλύω carries a connotation of resolving or untangling a difficulty, while φράζω denotes straightforward declaration or explanation — a difference in nuance within the same core function of explaining.
Semantic domains 2 entries
- To resolve (a dispute), to settle (a problem), to come to a decision30.81
- In Acts 19:39, the town clerk tells the Ephesian mob that any further grievance “shall be settled in the lawful assembly,” ἐπιλύω marking the formal legal resolution of a civic dispute.
- To explain, meaning, explanation33.141
- Mark 4:34 says that privately with His disciples, Jesus “was explaining everything” about His parables, ἐπιλύω marking the act of unpacking and clarifying obscure teaching.
Word family 23 words
Words formed from the same root. They share a form, not always a meaning.
Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon : imperfect ἐπελυον; 1 future passive ἐπιλυθήσομαι; a. properly, to unloose, untie…
a. properly, to unloose, untie (German auflösen) anything knotted or bound or sealed up; (Xenophon, Theocr, Herodian).
b. to clear (a controversy), to decide, settle: Acts 19:39; to explain (what is obscure and hard to understand): Mk 4:34 (as in Gen 41:12 variant; Philo, vita contempl. § 10; de agricult. § 3; Sextus Empiricus, 2, 246; γριφους, Athen. 10, p. 449 e.; also in middle, Athen. 10, p. 450 f.; Josephus, Antiquities 8, 6, 5, and often by the Scholiasts).
Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (1889), public domain
Topical studies with this word 2 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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