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ἐπέρχομαι

epérchomai

G1904 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To come upon, to approach, to occur (often with a sense of something coming after, over, or upon someone or something else). The core meaning pertains to the movement or approach toward a place, person, or state, frequently with an implication of suddenness, unexpectedness, or intensity. In various contexts, it can denote: arriving (physically or metaphorically), impending (about to happen), befalling (especially of events or consequences), or assailing/attacking (when used in military or hostile contexts). Figuratively, it can refer to influences or effects coming upon a person or group.

Semantic Range

to come upon, to approach, to arrive, to befall, to impend, to attack, to overtake, to occur, to influence

Root / Etymology

From the preposition ἐπί ('upon, on') and the verb ἔρχομαι ('to come, to go'). Compound verb form indicating directional movement toward or upon.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Classical Greek, ἐπέρχομαι frequently denotes the act of coming or going upon or toward someone or something, especially with a sense of succession or supervention (as when something happens after or as a result of another event). The Septuagint uses ἐπέρχομαι often to translate Hebrew verbs conveying coming upon, overtaking, or sudden arrival (e.g., calamity or divine visitation). In the New Testament, the word is used both literally (approaching or coming upon a location or person) and figuratively (events, trials, wrath, or even spiritual influences 'coming upon' someone or a group). English translations sometimes render it as 'come upon,' 'befall,' 'attack,' or 'approach,' and occasionally these fail to capture the nuance of impendingness or supervening action present in the Greek. Not to be confused with similar verbs like προσέρχομαι (to come toward) or ἐσέρχομαι (to come into), which lack the overtone of something happening 'over' or 'upon.'

Translation Consistency

primary "come" 9 occurrences

"Come" is the most natural, flexible English verb that covers arrival/approach and events coming upon someone (becoming imminent or befalling). It fits physical and figurative uses of ἐπέρχομαι (approach, arrive, impend, come upon) and will read naturally across contexts while allowing inflection or particles to mark suddenness or hostility where needed.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἐπί and ἔρχομαι; to supervene, i.e. arrive, occur, impend, attack, (figuratively) influence:--come (in, upon).

Root Family

ἐπέρχομαι (eperchomai) — to come, to approach, to move upon, to overtake

Root ἐπ-ἔρχ to come, to go, to approach, to move upon

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1904-03 ἐπέλθῃ epelthe V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG come upon may come upon it may come upon 2
G1904-08 ἐπερχομένων eperchomenon V PRS MID PTCP GEN N PL coming of things coming upon things coming upon 1
G1904-04 ἐπελθὼν epelthon V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG shall come upon having come upon having come upon 1
G1904-07 ἐπερχομένοις eperchomenois V PRS MID PTCP DAT M PL to come to those coming upon coming upon 1
G1904-02 ἐπῆλθαν epelthan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL came they were coming upon they came upon 1
G1904-05 ἐπελθόντος epelthontos V AOR ACT PTCP GEN N SG has come of having come upon of having come upon 1
G1904-06 ἐπερχομέναις eperchomenais V PRS MID PTCP DAT F PL coming to the coming upon coming upon 1
G1904-01 ἐπελεύσεται epeleusetai V FUT MID IND 3P SG will come upon will come upon will come upon 1

Occurrences in Scripture

9 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1904-01 Luke 1:35 ἐπελεύσεται epeleusetai V FUT MID IND 3P SG will come upon will come upon will come upon
G1904-04 Luke 11:22 ἐπελθὼν epelthon V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG shall come upon having come upon having come upon
G1904-08 Luke 21:26 ἐπερχομένων eperchomenon V PRS MID PTCP GEN N PL coming of things coming upon things coming upon
G1904-05 Acts 1:8 ἐπελθόντος epelthontos V AOR ACT PTCP GEN N SG has come of having come upon of having come upon
G1904-03 Acts 8:24 ἐπέλθῃ epelthe V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG may come may come upon it may come upon
G1904-03 Acts 13:40 ἐπέλθῃ epelthe V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG come upon may come upon it may come upon
G1904-02 Acts 14:19 ἐπῆλθαν epelthan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL came they were coming upon they came upon
G1904-07 Ephesians 2:7 ἐπερχομένοις eperchomenois V PRS MID PTCP DAT M PL to come to those coming upon coming upon
G1904-06 James 5:1 ἐπερχομέναις eperchomenais V PRS MID PTCP DAT F PL coming to the coming upon coming upon
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