ἔναντι
énanti
G1725 preposition
SILEX Entry
Definition
Primarily, 'opposite, in front of, before (in place or position)'; signifies a spatial or figurative orientation that locates one thing as facing or positioned before another. In extended or figurative uses, can mean 'in the presence of,' denoting before someone (especially an authority or significant figure), or 'in view of' as acknowledging the regard or consideration of someone or something.
Semantic Range
opposite, in front of, before (spatial), before (figurative: in the presence of), in view of, in the sight of
Root / Etymology
Formed from the preposition ἐν ('in') and ἀντί ('opposite; instead of'); originally a compound preposition expressing spatial opposition or face-to-face proximity.
Historical & Contextual Notes
ἔναντι appears in classical, Hellenistic, and Koine Greek both as a preposition and, less commonly, as an adverb. As a preposition, it governs the genitive, indicating position 'opposite,' 'before,' or 'in front of' both physically (such as standing before an altar or person) and metaphorically (in the sense of 'before' someone's presence, i.e., in their judgment or acknowledgment). In the Septuagint, ἔναντι translates Hebrew prepositions like לִפְנֵי (lifne, 'before, in front of') or נֶגֶד (neged, 'opposite, in the presence of'), transferring the sense of being positioned spatially or situationally before someone or something. In the New Testament, it most often marks someone's presence or acknowledgment before God or people; English translations often use 'before (God),' 'in the sight of,' or 'in the presence of,' but can obscure the sense of a face-to-face or oppositional orientation inherent in the term. The broader semantic scope can include settings of judgment, witness, or relational proximity. It is related to, but more spatially specific than, the simple preposition 'ἐνώπιον' (in the presence of, before), though they can sometimes overlap in meaning. Over time, ἔναντι retained its spatial core meaning but expanded its range to figurative or ceremonial contexts as Greek prose evolved.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἐν and ἀντί; in front (i.e. figuratively, presence) of:--before.
Root Family
ἔναντι (enanti) — opposite, facing, before (spatially or positionally)
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1725-01 |
ἔναντι | enanti | PREP GEN |
before | in front of | before | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences