ESTUDIO DE LA PALABRA GRIEGA
Epi (ἐπί) — Meaning & Usage in the Bible
ἐπί is a versatile Greek preposition governing the genitive, dative, or accusative case to express position (on, upon), rest (at), or direction (toward, against) in both literal and figurative contexts.
Significado de la palabra
ἐπί (epí) is a primary Greek preposition whose core idea is superimposition — something resting on, moving toward, or extending over a surface, person, or sphere. Because Greek cases convey grammatical relationship, ἐπί is used with all three cases, each adding a different shade: with the genitive it tends toward distribution or reference ('over, upon, in the time of'); with the dative it tends toward rest or basis ('at, on, on the ground of'); with the accusative it tends toward direction or goal ('toward, upon, against'). The NT uses the accusative construction most often.
The dative use (II) frequently conveys the basis or ground of an action — for example, ἐφ᾽ � ('for the reason that,' Rom. 5:12) or authority over a household (Mat. 24:47). The accusative use (III) is the most semantically wide, covering purpose ('for,' Mat. 3:7), hostility ('against,' Mat. 24:7), extent of time ('for, during,' Act. 13:31), reference ('concerning,' Mrk. 9:12), and the measure or degree of an action ('thrice,' Act. 10:16; 'the more,' Act. 4:17).
In composition (IV) ἐπί adds the senses 'up,' 'upon,' 'toward,' 'over (superintendence),' 'again,' and 'against' to verbs it prefixes, as seen in ἐπαίρω (to lift up), ἐπιβλέπω (to look toward), ἐπιστάτης (overseer), and ἐπιβουλή (conspiracy against). This compositional range shows that the lexical core of 'motion or rest upon' underlies even its figurative combinations.
Uso en las Escrituras
Across the Gospels, ἐπί marks locations and movements central to Jesus' ministry. In Matthew 4:5–6 the devil sets Christ ἐπὶ the temple pinnacle and later tempts him to cast himself down, while Matthew 4:4 anchors the reply in dependence ἐπ᾽ every word proceeding from God's mouth. Matthew 5:23 frames reconciliation as remembering 'at the altar,' and Matthew 6:19 warns against treasuring things ἐπὶ the earth. The same verse cluster shows how a single Greek preposition carries spatial, temporal, and relational weight.
In Acts and the Epistles, ἐπί extends into ecclesiastical, eschatological, and theological contexts. Acts 10:16 repeats the thrice-fold vision (ἐπὶ τρίς) signaling the Gentile mission, Acts 13:31 speaks of Christ's appearing ἐπὶ many days to witnesses, and Romans 5:12 uses ἐφ᾽ ᾧ to introduce the doctrine of sin entering through one man. The preposition thus becomes a structural connective for time, basis, and scope — not merely physical placement.
La palabra en detalle
- G1909 ἐπί is not a noun or verb but a preposition; its meaning is determined by the case it governs. In the genitive it leans toward reference and distribution (over, in the time of); in the dative toward rest and basis (at, on, on the ground of); in the accusative — the most common NT construction — toward direction, extent, purpose, hostility, and reference. Always identify the case of the following noun to determine which sense is active.
Versículos de ejemplo
- Matthew 4:4 Here ἐπί with the dative grounds Israel's sustenance: life comes not on bread alone but on every word proceeding from God's mouth. The preposition marks the basis or sphere on which true life rests.
- Matthew 4:5 ἐπί with the genitive gives the literal location — 'on the pinnacle of the temple' — opening the temptation scene. The genitive here answers the question 'where?' rather than 'whither?'
- Matthew 4:6 �πί reappears in the devil's appeal, this time expressing reference or sphere — 'concerning you' (his angels' charge) and 'on their hands' (the mode of bearing). One verse shows multiple case-governed uses of the same preposition.
- Matthew 5:23 With the genitive, ἐπί marks the sacred place where reconciliation must begin: 'at the altar,' where worship and memory of a brother intersect.
Preguntas frecuentes
Why does ἐπί take three different cases?
Greek prepositions originally conveyed concrete spatial relations; the case indicated whether the noun was the point of rest (dative), the point from which or over which (genitive), or the goal toward which (accusative). Greek then extended these spatial distinctions into temporal, causal, and purposive senses, which is why a single preposition now covers 'on,' 'at,' 'over,' 'toward,' and 'against.'
Which case of ἐπί is most common in the New Testament?
The accusative construction is most frequent in the NT, reflecting the preposition's broad directional, purposive, and referential uses. The genitive and dative remain common but cover narrower ranges — chiefly spatial reference and basis/rest respectively.
How do I tell which sense of ἐπί is active in a verse?
Identify the case of the noun following ἐπί — genitive suggests reference or distribution, dative suggests rest or basis, accusative suggests direction, purpose, or extent. Then test the English glosses ('over,' 'at,' 'toward,' 'against,' 'during') against the verse's syntax and context. When in doubt, the lexicon's three-part case outline is the most reliable guide.