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ἐπιτίθημι

epitíthēmi

G2007 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

to place or lay upon something (literally or figuratively); to put or apply (an object, a name, a burden, etc.) onto or upon another person or thing. The primary lexical meaning is 'to place upon' (physical placement or imposition). In extended contexts, can mean to inflict (as in wounds), to assign or give (as in names or responsibilities), or to impose (as in burdens or penalties).

Semantic Range

to place upon, lay upon, put on, inflict (a wound), impose (a burden, penalty), assign (a name), add to, set upon (in hostility or attack)

Root / Etymology

Compound of the preposition ἐπί ('upon, on') and the verb τίθημι ('to place, put, set'). Thus, etymologically, 'to place upon.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

First attested in classical Greek (e.g., Homer) with the basic meaning of 'to lay upon.' In the Septuagint and New Testament, the verb often carries both concrete and metaphorical senses: in healing narratives, it describes laying hands upon someone (for healing or blessing); in juridical or ceremonial contexts, it can mean assigning a name or imposing a penalty. In military or hostile contexts, it can mean to attack (impose force upon) or inflict wounds. The verb can also refer to naming practices (adding a surname or designation "upon" someone). In Greek literature beyond the biblical corpus, the semantic range is similar, encompassing physical, relational, and figurative placing or imposing. English translations tend to split the senses across several verbs (lay, put, impose, inflict, assign), sometimes missing the underlying image of superimposition implied by the Greek. The nuance between friendly/supportive (blessing, healing, giving a name) and hostile/oppressive (inflict, impose burdens) uses should be determined by context. Related terms: τιθέναι ('to place, set'), ἀνατίθημι ('to set up, dedicate'), προστίθημι ('to add, join to'), with ἐπιτίθημι emphasizing the spatial notion of agency upon a target.

Translation Consistency

primary "place" 31 occurrences

The primary lexical sense of ἐπιτίθημι is literally ‘to place upon.’ ‘Place’ is a natural, simple verb that covers physical laying (place hands on), figurative imposition (place a burden on), assignment (place a name on), and addition. It matches the common P2 renderings (e.g. “placed”) while remaining broad and natural enough to serve as a single, consistent base verb for all forms.

Alternatives (8 occurrences):
"lay upon" (2x) "gave" (1x) "lay" (1x) "having inflicted upon" (1x) "laying upon" (1x) "put" (1x) "add" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἐπί and τίθημι; to impose (in a friendly or hostile sense):--add unto, lade, lay upon, put (up) on, set on (up), + surname, X wound.

Root Family

ἐπιτίθημι (epitithēmi) — to put, to place, to set upon

Root τιθ- to put, to place, to set

Word Forms

20 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2007-01 ἐπέθηκαν epethekan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL they put they placed upon they placed upon 6
G2007-02 ἐπέθηκεν epetheken V AOR ACT IND 3P SG He laid he placed upon he placed upon 5
G2007-07 ἐπιθεὶς epitheis V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG having laid having placed upon having placed upon 5
G2007-05 ἐπιθῇ epithe V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG he might lay may place upon he may place upon 3
G2007-09 ἐπιθέντες epithentes V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL having laid having placed upon having placed upon 3
G2007-10 ἐπιθέντος epithentos V AOR ACT PTCP GEN M SG had laid of having placed upon having placed upon 2
G2007-11 ἐπίθες epithes V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG lay Place upon! place upon 2
G2007-17 ἐπιτίθει epitithei V PRS ACT IMP 2P SG lay place upon place upon 1
G2007-18 ἐπιτιθεὶς epititheis V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG laying placing upon placing upon 1
G2007-13 ἐπιθήσεταί epithesetai V FUT MID IND 3P SG will attack will lay upon will lay upon 1

Occurrences in Scripture

39 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2007-11 Matthew 9:18 ἐπίθες epithes V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG lay Place upon! place upon
G2007-05 Matthew 19:13 ἐπιθῇ epithe V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG he might lay may place upon he may place upon
G2007-07 Matthew 19:15 ἐπιθεὶς epitheis V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG having laid having placed upon having placed upon
G2007-01 Matthew 21:7 ἐπέθηκαν epethekan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL they put they placed upon they placed upon
G2007-16 Matthew 23:4 ἐπιτιθέασιν epititheasin V PRS ACT IND 3P PL they lay they place upon they place upon
G2007-01 Matthew 27:29 ἐπέθηκαν epethekan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL they put they placed upon they placed upon
G2007-01 Matthew 27:37 ἐπέθηκαν epethekan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL they put they placed upon they placed upon
G2007-02 Mark 3:16 ἐπέθηκεν epetheken V AOR ACT IND 3P SG he gave he placed upon he gave
G2007-02 Mark 3:17 ἐπέθηκεν epetheken V AOR ACT IND 3P SG he put on he placed upon he placed upon
G2007-11 Mark 5:23 ἐπιθῇς epithes V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P SG lay Place upon! place upon
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