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ἐπειδή

epeidḗ

G1894 subordinating conjunction

SILEX Entry

Root επειδη- to explain cause, to mark time sequence

Definition

Conjunction expressing causal or temporal connection: since, because, inasmuch as, or after, when. Primarily introduces clauses explaining the grounds for an action, statement, or inference, often highlighting a reason that is now apparent or an event that has taken place. Secondary sense: indicates a point of time from which something follows.

Semantic Range

since, because, inasmuch as, seeing that (causal); after, when (temporal)

Root / Etymology

Formed from ἐπεί (when, since) and δή (now, indeed, certainly); functions as a strengthened or more emphatic form of ἐπεί. The morphology reflects the combination of causal/temporal particle ἐπεί with the affirmative/enclitic particle δή.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical and Hellenistic Greek, ἐπειδή serves to introduce clauses with causal (since, because) or temporal (after, when) meaning. In the Septuagint and New Testament, it is almost always causal, equivalent to 'since' or 'because', marking the reason or motivation for a statement or action (e.g., Luke 1:34, Acts 4:21). Occasionally it can have a temporal nuance, indicating that one event follows another. Compared with simple ἐπεί, ἐπειδή is more emphatic and often adds a sense of immediacy or obviousness (because now it is clear that...; since it is the case that...). In non-biblical Koine sources, the word is also attested in both causal and temporal senses, but the causal ('since, because') predominates. English translations frequently render ἐπειδή as 'since', 'because', or 'inasmuch as', but sometimes obscure the temporal nuance. Rarely ever indicates a strong logical cause, but rather a circumstance or fact which prompts the next statement or action. There is no significant shift in usage or meaning between Septuagint and New Testament Greek.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἐπεί and δή; since now, i.e. (of time) when, or (of cause) whereas:--after that, because, for (that, -asmuch as), seeing, since.

Root Family

ἐπειδή (epeidē) — since, because, after, when; causal explanation, temporal sequence

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G1894-01 ἐπειδὴ epeide CONJ.S since since 10

Occurrences in Scripture

10 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G1894-01 Luke 7:1 ἐπειδὴ epeide CONJ.S When since
G1894-01 Luke 11:6 ἐπειδὴ epeide CONJ.S because since
G1894-01 Acts 13:46 ἐπειδὴ epeide CONJ.S since since
G1894-01 Acts 14:12 ἐπειδὴ epeide CONJ.S because since
G1894-01 Acts 15:24 ἐπειδὴ epeide CONJ.S Since since
G1894-01 1 Corinthians 1:21 ἐπειδὴ epeide CONJ.S For since since
G1894-01 1 Corinthians 1:22 ἐπειδὴ epeide CONJ.S For indeed since
G1894-01 1 Corinthians 14:16 ἐπειδὴ epeide CONJ.S since since
G1894-01 1 Corinthians 15:21 ἐπειδὴ epeide CONJ.S For since since
G1894-01 Philippians 2:26 ἐπειδὴ epeide CONJ.S since since
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