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ἐφίστημι

ephístēmi

G2186 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To stand over, to come up to, or to approach with emphasis or immediacy. In its primary sense, ἐφίστημι denotes the act of standing at or by someone or something, often with the implication of arrival, imminent action, or attentive presence. Contextually, it can mean to come upon suddenly (often with a sense of confrontation or surprise), to appear before (in a neutral or official capacity), or to stand by (in a supportive or observant manner). In military, judicial, or narrative contexts, it may specifically refer to approaching, confronting, attacking, or presenting oneself before a person or group.

Semantic Range

to stand over, to be present, to approach, to appear suddenly, to confront, to attack, to stand by, to be at hand, to present oneself

Root / Etymology

From the preposition ἐπί (on, upon) and the verb ἵστημι (to stand); thus, 'to stand upon' or 'stand near/over.' The compound form intensifies the idea of physical or metaphorical nearness or confrontation.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Classical and Hellenistic Greek, ἐφίστημι commonly described someone physically standing over or beside another, often with a sense of authority, urgency, or suddenness. In the Septuagint and the New Testament, the sense of imminence or intervention is heightened, as with the sudden approach of an angel (Luke 2:9) or onset of an event (Acts 12:7). The verb can function literally (bodily presence) or metaphorically (an event or time at hand). In military or hostile contexts, it may denote attacking or confronting. English translations such as 'be present,' 'stand by,' or 'come upon' capture portions of its sense, but may understate the urgency or initiative often implied in the original Greek. The word is related in nuance to προσίστημι ('approach, appear before') but ἐφίστημι emphasizes the aspect of being placed upon or being present with immediacy or authority.

Translation Consistency

primary "come" 8 occurrences

ἐφίστημι primarily carries the idea of approaching, coming up to, or appearing before someone or something (sometimes suddenly or confrontationally). The simple verb “come” naturally covers arrival/approach, appearing, coming upon/against, and being at hand, and reads naturally in English when inflected for tense and aspect across the full range of contexts.

Alternatives (13 occurrences):
"having stood over" (3x) "stood over" (2x) "stood" (2x) "approached" (1x) "stand over" (1x) "stood by" (1x) "standing by" (1x) "impending" (1x) "ready" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἐπί and ἵστημι; to stand upon, i.e. be present (in various applications, friendly or otherwise, usually literal); --assault, come (in, to, unto, upon), be at hand (instant), present, stand (before, by, over).

Root Family

ἐφίστημι (ephistēmi) — to stand over, to approach, to be present, to confront

Root ἵστημι to stand, to set, to place

Word Forms

11 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2186-02 ἐπέστησαν epestesan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL came upon they stood over stood 5
G2186-08 ἐπιστὰς epistas V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG stood having stood over having stood over 4
G2186-07 ἐπιστάντες epistantes V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL attacking having come upon having come upon 2
G2186-09 ἐπιστᾶσα epistasa V AOR ACT PTCP NOM F SG came up having stood over she, having come up 2
G2186-01 ἐπέστη epeste V AOR ACT IND 3P SG stood by stood over stood over 2
G2186-06 ἐφίσταται ephistatai V PRS MID IND 3P SG comes stands over comes 1
G2186-05 ἐφεστῶτα ephestota V PRF ACT PTCP ACC M SG impending having stood near impending 1
G2186-11 ἐπίστηθι epistethi V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG be ready Stand over! be ready 1
G2186-10 ἐπιστῇ episte V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG come may stand over may stand over 1
G2186-04 ἐφεστὼς ephestos V PRF ACT PTCP NOM M SG standing by having stood over standing by 1

Occurrences in Scripture

21 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2186-01 Luke 2:9 ἐπέστη epeste V AOR ACT IND 3P SG stood by stood over stood over
G2186-09 Luke 2:38 ἐπιστᾶσα epistasa V AOR ACT PTCP NOM F SG coming up having stood over she, having come up
G2186-08 Luke 4:39 ἐπιστὰς epistas V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG standing having stood over having stood over
G2186-09 Luke 10:40 ἐπιστᾶσα epistasa V AOR ACT PTCP NOM F SG came up having stood over she, having come up
G2186-02 Luke 20:1 ἐπέστησαν epestesan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL came upon they stood over they approached
G2186-10 Luke 21:34 ἐπιστῇ episte V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG come may stand over may stand over
G2186-02 Luke 24:4 ἐπέστησαν epestesan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL stood by they stood over stood by
G2186-02 Acts 4:1 ἐπέστησαν epestesan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL came upon they stood over they came upon
G2186-07 Acts 6:12 ἐπιστάντες epistantes V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL came upon having come upon having come upon
G2186-02 Acts 10:17 ἐπέστησαν epestesan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL stood they stood over stood
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