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ἔσχατος

éschatos

G2078 determiner

SILEX Entry

Definition

Primary meaning: farthest, most remote, last in a series (spatially, temporally, or in degree). The term can refer to that which is at the end or outermost boundary, the final element in a sequence, or the ultimate (in time, position, or significance). Contextually, it may denote the end-point of a period, the last member in a hierarchy, or something at the extreme limit of a range.

Semantic Range

last (in time), farthest (in space), lowest (in rank or degree), uttermost, at the end, final, least, at the extreme, ultimate

Root / Etymology

From the Greek root ἔχ- (echo), 'to have, hold,' with the superlative suffix -ατος, forming a superlative adjective; thus, 'that which is held farthest' or 'extreme.' Cognate with Latin 'extremus.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἔσχατος was used for both spatial and temporal extremes—'farthest away', 'last in a sequence', 'final'. In the Septuagint, the term frequently translates Hebrew אחרון ('acharon', last, latter) and is used for the 'last days,' 'uttermost parts,' or other ends/things. In the New Testament, ἔσχατος appears in eschatological contexts ('last day', 'last things', 'the end of the age') and for social hierarchies ('the last shall be first'). It does not inherently carry the theological overtones of later 'eschatology' but refers more generally to what is at the extreme end (temporally, spatially, or by rank). English translations usually render it as 'last,' 'end,' 'uttermost,' or 'least,' but these can obscure the word's metaphorical uses, particularly where 'lowest in rank' or 'final in time' blend together. Contrast with πρῶτος (prōtos, 'first'), which marks the opposite boundary of a sequence.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a superlative probably from ἔχω (in the sense of contiguity); farthest, final (of place or time):--ends of, last, latter end, lowest, uttermost.

Root Family

ἔσχατος (eschatos) — last, farthest, extreme, final, lowest

Root ἔσχ- to be far, to be distant, to be last

Word Forms

10 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2078-04 ἐσχάτη eschate DET NOM F SG last the farthest/last (feminine singular) last 11
G2078-06 ἔσχατοι eschatoi ADJ.P NOM M PL last the farthest ones the last ones 9
G2078-07 ἔσχατον eschaton DET ACC M SG last the last (masculine singular accusative) last 8
G2078-08 ἔσχατος eschatos ADJ.S NOM M SG last at the extreme last 6
G2078-09 ἐσχάτου eschatou ADJ.S GEN N SG last of the farthest last 5
G2078-01 ἔσχατα eschata ADJ.S NOM N PL last the final things last things 4
G2078-02 ἐσχάταις eschatais DET DAT F PL last to the farthest (feminine plural) last 3
G2078-05 ἐσχάτῳ eschato ADJ.S DAT M SG last to the farthest one at the last 2
G2078-03 ἐσχάτας eschatas DET ACC F PL last the farthest (feminine plural) last 1
G2078-10 ἐσχάτους eschatous ADJ.S ACC M PL last the farthest ones the last ones 1

Occurrences in Scripture

50 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2078-07 Matthew 5:26 ἔσχατον eschaton DET ACC M SG last the last (masculine singular accusative) last
G2078-01 Matthew 12:45 ἔσχατα eschata ADJ.S NOM N PL last the final things last things
G2078-06 Matthew 19:30 ἔσχατοι eschatoi ADJ.P NOM M PL last the farthest ones the last ones
G2078-06 Matthew 19:30 ἔσχατοι eschatoi-2 ADJ.S NOM M PL last the farthest ones the last ones
G2078-07 Matthew 20:8 ἐσχάτων eschaton ADJ.S GEN M PL last the last (masculine singular accusative) last
G2078-06 Matthew 20:12 ἔσχατοι eschatoi ADJ.S NOM M PL last the farthest ones the last ones
G2078-05 Matthew 20:14 ἐσχάτῳ eschato ADJ.S DAT M SG last to the farthest one last
G2078-06 Matthew 20:16 ἔσχατοι eschatoi ADJ.S NOM M PL last the farthest ones the last ones
G2078-06 Matthew 20:16 ἔσχατοι eschatoi-2 ADJ.P NOM M PL last the farthest ones the last ones
G2078-04 Matthew 27:64 ἐσχάτη eschate DET NOM F SG last the farthest/last (feminine singular) last
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