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ἐπεκτείνομαι

epekteínomai

G1901 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

to stretch out towards, to extend oneself, especially with purposeful effort or striving; figuratively, to exert oneself in pursuit of a goal, to reach forward. Primary use relates to purposeful physical or metaphorical extension.

Semantic Range

to stretch forward, to extend oneself, to strain toward a goal, to reach forth, to make effort with purpose or intensity

Root / Etymology

Compound of ἐπί (upon, toward) and ἐκτείνω (to stretch out, extend). Middle voice form indicates the subject's involvement or benefit in the action. The base verb ἐκτείνω derives from ἐκ- ('out of') and τείνω ('to stretch').

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical and Hellenistic Greek, ἐπεκτείνομαι is rare and not attested in major literature outside later or technical writers. Its meaning is straightforwardly compositional: 'to stretch out upon or towards.' In the New Testament, notably in Philippians 3:13, it is used metaphorically for vigorous striving—Paul describes himself as 'stretching out toward' what lies ahead, invoking the image of an athlete leaning forward in a race. The middle voice emphasizes the subject's active self-involvement. English translations often render the verb as 'to reach forth,' 'to press on,' or 'to strain forward,' but may not fully convey the deliberate and strenuous extension implied in the Greek. The term carries strong connotations of intentionality and exertion, and is distinct from more neutral verbs of movement like προσερχομαι ('to come near'). Its use is characteristically Pauline in the New Testament, and does not appear in the Septuagint or earlier Greek literature in the same form.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

middle voice from ἐπί and ἐκτείνω; to stretch (oneself) forward upon:--reach forth.

Root Family

ἐπεκτείνομαι (epekteinomai) — to stretch, to extend, to strain toward, to exert oneself forward

Root τειν- to stretch, to extend

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1901-01 ἐπεκτεινόμενος epekteinomenos V PRS MID PTCP NOM M SG reaching forward stretching himself forward stretching himself forward 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1901-01 Philippians 3:13 ἐπεκτεινόμενος epekteinomenos V PRS MID PTCP NOM M SG reaching forward stretching himself forward stretching himself forward
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