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ἐπέκεινα

epékeina

G1900 preposition

SILEX Entry

Definition

Positioned on the far side (of a marker or boundary), further than or beyond (a specified point, place, or object); used primarily as an adverb or preposition to indicate relative location that exceeds or extends past a reference point. The term can function as 'beyond,' 'on the yonder side,' or 'further away (than).'

Semantic Range

beyond, on the farther side of, further than, on the yonder side, surpassing (limits), outside the boundary

Root / Etymology

Formed from the preposition ἐπί ('upon, on') and the accusative neuter plural of ἐκεῖνος ('that one, those'), giving a sense of 'upon those (places/things) over there.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

Attested in classical and Hellenistic Greek literature, ἐπέκεινα most commonly functions to point past or 'beyond' a physical or conceptual limit. It appears sparingly in the Greek Bible (Septuagint), e.g., in Genesis 50:10, marking a position spatially further than a known landmark. In philosophical and literary Greek, it may also express metaphysical extension, e.g., 'beyond being' in Plato or subsequent philosophical texts. The word always marks a relation of surpassing or exceeding a limit, rather than proximity. English translations usually render it as 'beyond,' which generally captures the spatial or figurative sense, though the precise spatial-relational nuance occasionally depends on the context. Unlike related terms such as πέραν ('beyond' as well), ἐπέκεινα often has a more formal or literary tone, and seldom implies movement across the boundary—mostly describing a state or position relative to it.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἐπί and (the accusative case plural neuter of) ἐκεῖνος; upon those parts of, i.e. on the further side of:--beyond.

Root Family

ἐπέκεινα (epekeina) — beyond, on the farther side, over there, outside a boundary

Root ἐπ-εκείν- to be over, to be upon, to be beyond

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1900-01 ἐπέκεινα epekeina PREP GEN beyond beyond the farther side of beyond 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1900-01 Acts 7:43 ἐπέκεινα epekeina PREP GEN beyond beyond the farther side of beyond
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