Keraia
Lexicon

ἐπί

epiupon/to/againstHow to read Greek
greekNew TestamentPreposition890 occurrences26 books781 verses

Definition

ἐπί (before a smooth breathing ἐπ᾽, before a rough breathing ἐφ᾽),

prep. with genitive, dative, accusative (accusative most frequently in NT),

with primary sense of superposition, on, upon.

I. C. genitive,

1. of place, answering the question, where?

(a) of the place on which, on, upon: ἐπὶ (τ.) γῆς, Matthew 6:10, 19, al.; τ. κεφαλῆς, 1 Corinthians 11:10; τ. νεφελῶν, Matthew 24:3o, al.; like ἐν, in constr. praegn. after verbs of motion: βάλλειν, Mark 4:26; σπείρειν, ib. 31; ἔρχεσθαι, Hebrews 6:7, al.; figuratively, ἐπ᾽ ἀληθείας (MM, see word ἀ.); of the subject of thought or speech, Galatians 3:16; of power or authority, over, πάντων, Rom.9.5: τ. γάζης, Acts 8:27; ἐξουσία, Revelation 2:26; 20:6;

(b) of vicinity, at, by: τ. θαλάσσης, John 6:9; τ. ὁδοῦ, Matthew 21:19; τοῦ βάτου, Mark 12:26 (see Swete, in l.); with genitive of person(s), in the presence of, before, Matthew 28:14, Acts 23:30, 1 Corinthians 6:1, al.

2. Of time,

(a) with genitive of person(s), in the time of: ἐπὶ Ἐλισαίου, Luke 4:27; ἐπὶ Κλαυδίου, Acts 11:28; ἐπὶ Ἀβιάθαρ ἀρχιερέως, when A. was high priest, Mark 2:26;

(b) with genitive of thing(s), at, at the time of: Matthew 1:11, Hebrews 1:2, 2 Peter 3:3; ἐπὶ τ. προσευχῶν, Romans 1:10, Ephesians 1:16, 1 Thessalonians 1:2, Phm 4.

II. C. dative, of place, answering the question, where?

(a) lit., on, upon: Matthew 9:16; 14:8, al.; after verbs of motion (see supr., I, 1, (a)), Matthew 9:16, Acts 8:16; above, Luke 23:38; at, by, Mark 13:29, John 5:2, Acts 5:9, al.;

(b) metaphorically, upon, on the ground of, Luke 4:4 (LXX); in the matter of, Mark 6:52 (see Swete, in l.); upon, of, concerning, Acts 5:35, 40; of the ground, reason or motive (Bl., §38, 2; 43, 3), Matthew 18:3; 19:9, Romans 12:12, al.; ἐφ᾽ ᾧ, for the reason that, because, Romans 5:12, 2 Corinthians 5:4; after verbs of motion, over, Matthew 18:13, Romans 16:19, al.; of a condition (cl.), Romans 8:20, 1 Corinthians 9:10; ἐπὶ δυσὶ μάρτυσιν (see Westc. on Hebrews 9:10), Hebrews 10:28; of purpose or aim, Ephesians 2:10, Philippians 4:10; of authority, over, Matthew 24:47, Luke 12:44; of hostility, with dative of person(s) (cl.), against, Luke 12:52; in addition to (cl.), 2 Corinthians 7:13; of an adjunct, in, at, on, Philippians 1:3; 2:17.

III. C. accusative,

1. of place of motion upon or over, answering the question, whither?

(a) lit., upon, over: Matthew 14:28, 29, Luke 5:19, al. mult.; in NT also, answering the question, where? (as with genitive, dative), Mark 4:38; 11:2, Luke 2:25, John 1:32; ἐπὶ τ. αὐτό, Acts 1:15; 2:1, al.; of motion to a vicinity, to, Mark 16:2, Acts 8:36, al.;

(b) metaphorically (in wh. "the accusative is more widely prevalent than it strictly should be," Bl., §43, 1); of blessings, evils, etc., coming upon one, with accusative of person(s), Matthew 10:13; 12:28, Acts 2:17, John 18:4, Ephesians 5:6, al.; of addition (dative in cl.), λύπη ἐπὶ λύπην, Philippians 2:27; ἐπικαλεῖν ὄνομα ἐπί (see: ἐπικαλέω), Acts 15:17, James 2:7; καλεῖν ἐπί, to call after, Luke 1:59; of number or degree: ἐπὶ τρίς (cl. εἰς τ.), thrice, Acts 10:16; 11:10; ἐπὶ πλεῖον, the more, further, Acts 4:17, 2 Timothy 2:16; 3:9 (see also infr., 2, (a)); ἐφ᾽ ὅσον (see infr., ib.), forasmuch as, Matthew 25:40, 45, Romans 11:13; of power, authority, control, Luke 1:33, Acts 7:10, Romans 5:14, Hebrews 3:6, al.; of the direction of thoughts and feelings, unto, towards, Luke 1:17; 23:28, Acts 9:35, 42, Romans 11:22, Galatians 4:9, Ephesians 2:7, 1 Timothy 5:5, al.; of purpose, for, Matthew 3:7, Luke 23:48; ἐφ᾽ ὅ πάρει (Rec. ἐφ᾽ ᾧ, Matthew 26:50; of hostility, against, Matthew 24:7, Mark 3:24-26; 10:11; 13:8, Luke 9:5, John 13:18, Acts 7:54, 1 Corinthians 7:36, 2 Corinthians 1:23; Of reference, concerning, for (cl. usually dative), Mark 9:12; 15:24, John 19:24, Romans 4:9.

2. Of time,

(a) during, for: Luke 4:25 (WH, txt., omits ἐπί), Acts 13:31; 16:18, Hebrews 11:30, al.; ἐφ᾽ ὅσον (χρόνον), as long as, for so long time as, Mark 9:15, Romans 7:1, al. (for ἐφ᾽ ὅ in another sense, see supr., 1, (b)); ἐφ᾽ ἱκανόν (see: ἱ), Acts 20:11; ἐπὶ πλεῖον (see supr., 1, (b)), yet longer, further, Acts 20:9; 24:4;

(b) on, about, towards (cl. εἰς): Luke 10:35, Acts 3:1; 4:5.

IV. In composition, ἐπί signifies: up, ἐπαίρω; upon, ἐπίγειος, ἐπιδημέω, ὠπικαθίζω; towards, επιβλέπω, ὠπεκτείνω; over (of superintendence), ἐπιστάτης; again, in addition, ἐπαιτέω; against, ἐπιορκέω, ἐπιβουλή.

Hebrew words it translates

The Hebrew words that the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament renders as ἐπί:

Usage patterns

Old TestamentNew Testament

Occurrences

890 total
  1. 1 Corinthians 8:5ἐπὶ · on
    For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many so-called gods and lords),
  2. 1 Corinthians 9:10ἐπ’; ἐπ’
    Isn’t He actually speaking on our behalf? Indeed, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they should also expect to share in the harvest.
  3. 1 Corinthians 11:10ἐπὶ · on
    For this reason a woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head, because of the angels.
  4. 1 Corinthians 11:20ἐπὶ
    Now then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat.
  5. 1 Corinthians 13:6ἐπὶ · in
    Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth.
  6. 1 Corinthians 14:16ἐπὶ · to
    Otherwise, if you speak a blessing in spirit, how can someone who is uninstructed say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?
  7. 1 Corinthians 14:23ἐπὶ · together
    So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who are uninstructed or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds?
  8. 1 Corinthians 14:25ἐπὶ
    …and the secrets of his heart will be made known. So he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, “God is truly among you!”
  9. 1 Corinthians 16:17ἐπὶ
    I am glad that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus have arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you.
  10. 2 Corinthians 1:4ἐπὶ · in
    …who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
  11. 2 Corinthians 1:9ἐφ’ · in; ἐπὶ · in
    Indeed, we felt we were under the sentence of death, in order that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God, who raises the dead.
  12. 2 Corinthians 1:23ἐπὶ · as
    I call God as my witness that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth.
  13. 2 Corinthians 2:3ἐπὶ · in
    I wrote as I did so that on my arrival I would not be grieved by those who ought to make me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would share my joy.
  14. 2 Corinthians 3:13ἐπὶ · over
    We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at the end of what was fading away.
  15. 2 Corinthians 3:14ἐπὶ · at
    But their minds were closed. For to this day the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant. It has not been lifted, because only in Christ can it be removed.
  16. 2 Corinthians 3:15ἐπὶ
    And even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts.
  17. 2 Corinthians 5:4ἐφ’ · because
    For while we are in this tent, we groan under our burdens, because we do not wish to be unclothed but clothed, so that our mortality may be swallowed up by life.
  18. 2 Corinthians 7:4ἐπὶ · in
    Great is my confidence in you; great is my pride in you; I am filled with encouragement; in all our troubles my joy overflows.
  19. 2 Corinthians 7:7ἐφ’ · from
    …and not only by his arrival, but also by the comfort he had received from you. He told us about your longing, your mourning, and your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced all the more.
  20. 2 Corinthians 7:13Ἐπὶ · In addition to; ἐπὶ · by
    On account of this, we are encouraged. In addition to our own encouragement, we were even more delighted by the joy of Titus. For his spirit has been refreshed by all of you.
  21. 2 Corinthians 7:14ἐπὶ · to
    Indeed, I was not embarrassed by anything I had boasted to him about you. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting to Titus has proved to be true as well.
  22. 2 Corinthians 9:6ἐπ’; ἐπ’
    Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
  23. 2 Corinthians 9:13ἐπὶ · for
    Because of the proof this ministry provides, the saints will glorify God for your obedient confession of the gospel of Christ, and for the generosity of your contribution to them and to all the others.
  24. 2 Corinthians 9:14ἐφ’ · [has given]
    And their prayers for you will express their affection for you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.
  25. 2 Corinthians 9:15ἐπὶ · for
    Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
  26. 2 Corinthians 10:2ἐπί · toward
    I beg you that when I come I may not need to be as bold as I expect toward those who presume that we live according to the flesh.
  27. 2 Corinthians 10:7ἐφ’
    You are looking at outward appearances. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should remind himself that we belong to Christ just as much as he does.
  28. 2 Corinthians 12:9ἐπ’ · on
    But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.
  29. 2 Corinthians 12:21ἐπὶ · of
    I am afraid that when I come again, my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of their acts of impurity, sexual immorality, and debauchery.
  30. 2 Corinthians 13:1Ἐπὶ · by
    This is the third time I am coming to you. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”
  31. Galatians 3:13ἐπὶ · on
    Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”
  32. Galatians 3:16ἐπὶ · meaning; ἐφ’ · meaning
    The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,” meaning One, who is Christ.
  33. Galatians 4:1ἐφ’ · as long as
    What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he is the owner of everything.
  34. Galatians 4:9ἐπὶ · to
    But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?
  35. Galatians 5:13ἐπ’ · to
    For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.
  36. Galatians 6:16ἐπ’ · to; ἐπὶ · to
    Peace and mercy to all who walk by this rule, even to the Israel of God.
  37. Ephesians 1:10ἐπὶ · in; ἐπὶ · on
    …as a plan for the fullness of time, to bring all things in heaven and on earth together in Christ.
  38. Ephesians 1:16ἐπὶ · in
    I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,
  39. Ephesians 2:7ἐφ’ · to
    …in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
  40. Ephesians 2:10ἐπὶ · to do
    For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.
  41. Ephesians 2:20ἐπὶ · on
    …built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.
  42. Ephesians 3:15ἐπὶ · on
    …from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.
  43. Ephesians 4:6ἐπὶ · over
    …one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.