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. Hebrews 7:11ἐπ’ · on
    Now if perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on this basis the people received the law), why was there still need for another priest to appear—one in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron?
  2. Hebrews 7:13Ἐφ’ · [He] of
    He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.
  3. Hebrews 8:1ἐπὶ · of
    The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,
  4. Hebrews 8:4ἐπὶ · on
    Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are already priests who offer gifts according to the law.
  5. Hebrews 8:6ἐπὶ · on
    Now, however, Jesus has received a much more excellent ministry, just as the covenant He mediates is better and is founded on better promises.
  6. Hebrews 8:8ἐπὶ · with; ἐπὶ · with
    But God found fault with the people and said: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.
  7. Hebrews 8:10ἐπὶ · on
    For this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord. I will put My laws in their minds and inscribe them on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people.
  8. Hebrews 9:10ἐπὶ · in
    They consist only in food and drink and special washings—external regulations imposed until the time of reform.
  9. Hebrews 9:15ἐπὶ · under
    Therefore Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, now that He has died to redeem them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.
  10. Hebrews 9:17ἐπὶ · until
    …because a will does not take effect until the one who made it has died; it cannot be executed while he is still alive.
  11. Hebrews 9:26ἐπὶ · at
    Otherwise, Christ would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But now He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
  12. Hebrews 10:16ἐπὶ · in; ἐπὶ · on
    “This is the covenant I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord. I will put My laws in their hearts and inscribe them on their minds.”
  13. Hebrews 10:21ἐπὶ · over
    …and since we have a great priest over the house of God,
  14. Hebrews 10:28ἐπὶ · on [the testimony of]
    Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
  15. Hebrews 11:4ἐπὶ · to
    By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.
  16. Hebrews 11:13ἐπὶ · on
    All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
  17. Hebrews 11:21ἐπὶ · [as he leaned] on
    By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
  18. Hebrews 11:30ἐπὶ · for
    By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.
  19. Hebrews 11:38ἐπὶ · in
    The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and hid in caves and holes in the ground.
  20. Hebrews 12:10ἐπὶ · for
    Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness.
  21. Hebrews 12:25ἐπὶ · on
    See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if the people did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject Him who warns us from heaven?
  22. James 2:3ἐπὶ · on
    If you lavish attention on the man in fine clothes and say, “Here is a seat of honor,” but say to the poor man, “You must stand” or “Sit at my feet,”
  23. James 2:7ἐφ’ · by which
    Are they not the ones who blaspheme the noble name by which you have been called?
  24. James 2:21ἐπὶ · on
    Was not our father Abraham justified by what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
  25. James 5:1ἐπὶ · over
    Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail over the misery to come upon you.
  26. James 5:5ἐπὶ · {You have lived} on
    You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in the day of slaughter.
  27. James 5:7ἐπ’ · for
    Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer awaits the precious fruit of the soil—how patient he is for the fall and spring rains.
  28. James 5:14ἐπ’ · over
    Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.
  29. James 5:17ἐπὶ · on
    Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.
  30. 1 Peter 1:13ἐπὶ · on
    Therefore prepare your minds for action. Be sober-minded. Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
  31. 1 Peter 1:20ἐπ’ · in
    He was known before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in the last times for your sake.
  32. 1 Peter 2:6ἐπ’ · in
    For it stands in Scripture: “See, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”
  33. 1 Peter 2:24ἐπὶ · on
    He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. “By His stripes you are healed.”
  34. 1 Peter 2:25ἐπὶ · to
    For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
  35. 1 Peter 3:12ἐπὶ · [are] on; ἐπὶ · [is] against
    For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
  36. 1 Peter 4:14ἐφ’ · on
    If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
  37. 1 Peter 5:7ἐπ’ · on
    Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
  38. 2 Peter 1:13ἐφ’ · as
    I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of my body,
  39. 2 Peter 2:22ἐπὶ · to
    Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.”
  40. 2 Peter 3:3ἐπ’ · in
    Most importantly, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.
  41. 1 John 3:3ἐπ’ · in
    And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as Christ is pure.
  42. 3 John 1:10ἐπὶ · with
    So if I come, I will call attention to his malicious slander against us. And unsatisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers and forbids those who want to do so, even putting them out of the church.
  43. Jude 1:18Ἐπ’ · In
    …when they said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow after their own ungodly desires.”
  44. Revelation 1:7ἐπ’ · because of
    Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him—even those who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. So shall it be! Amen.
  45. Revelation 1:17ἐπ’ · on
    When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. But He placed His right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last,
  46. Revelation 1:20ἐπὶ · in
    This is the mystery of the seven stars you saw in My right hand and of the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
  47. Revelation 2:17ἐπὶ
    He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will give the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone inscribed with a new name, known only to the one who receives it.