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ἐπίκειμαι

epíkeimai

G1945 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To lie or rest upon something (literally: be set or placed on top of); by extension, to be imposed upon, encumber, or press heavily (either physically or figuratively) upon someone or something; in some contexts, to be imminent, threatening, or pressing (of times, situations, or duties). The primary sense is spatial: to be situated upon. Extended uses include burdens, requirements, or circumstances resting or encroaching upon a person or group.

Semantic Range

to lie upon (physically), to rest or be set upon, to press upon or encumber (figuratively), to be imposed upon (as a duty or burden), to be imminent or threatening, to beset or overwhelm

Root / Etymology

From ἐπί (on, upon) and κεῖμαι (to lie, to be situated); a compound verb meaning 'to lie upon' or 'to be placed upon.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Classical Greek, ἐπίκειμαι is primarily used in a spatial sense: for persons or objects physically positioned on top of another object (e.g., a lid on a jar, an army besieging or lying upon a city). In the Hellenistic and Koine periods (including the Septuagint and New Testament), the term is frequently extended metaphorically to describe non-physical burdens, impositions, or circumstances pressing upon individuals, such as laws, duties, or threats. For example, in the New Testament (Luke 5:1; 23:23; John 11:38; Acts 27:20), ἐπίκειμαι can describe crowds pressing upon a person, a stone lying upon a tomb, or an obligation/burden placed on someone, and imminent peril. The figurative sense of something being 'imposed' or 'pressing' is well-attested in Koine literature but is not as prominent in earlier Greek usage. Standard translations like 'impose,' 'press upon,' or 'be instant' reflect these metaphorical extensions but may not always sufficiently capture the nuance of burden or imminence carried in the Greek. In some contexts, ἐπίκειμαι may overlap with verbs like ἐπιβάλλω (to throw/cast upon), but the sense of abiding or continuing 'lying upon' distinguishes ἐπίκειμαι.

Translation Consistency

primary "rest" 1 occurrence

The primary sense is spatial — to be set or situated on top of something — and "rest" naturally covers that literal meaning while also fitting extended senses (a burden, duty, or threat "resting on/upon" someone). It is neutral and idiomatic in both physical and figurative contexts, avoiding the ambiguity of "lie" (falsehood) or the forcefulness of "press."

Alternatives (6 occurrences):
"pressing upon" (2x) "lying" (1x) "threatening" (1x) "laid upon" (1x) "imposed" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἐπί and κεῖμαι; to rest upon (literally or figuratively):--impose, be instant, (be) laid (there-, up-)on, (when) lay (on), lie (on), press upon.

Root Family

ἐπίκειμαι (epikeimai) — to lie upon, to rest upon, to press upon

Root κειμ- to lie, to be placed, to rest

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1945-06 ἐπικεῖσθαι epikeisthai V PRS MID INF pressing to be lying upon pressing upon 1
G1945-04 ἐπικείμενον epikeimenon V PRS MID PTCP ACC N SG placed on it resting upon resting upon 1
G1945-03 ἐπικείμενα epikeimena V PRS MID PTCP NOM N PL imposed lying upon being imposed 1
G1945-07 ἐπίκειται epikeitai V PRS MID IND 3P SG is laid upon lies upon is laid upon 1
G1945-02 ἐπέκειτο epekeito V IMPF MID IND 3P SG was lying was lying upon was lying 1
G1945-01 ἐπέκειντο epekeinto V IMPF MID IND 3P PL were insisting they were lying upon they were pressing upon 1
G1945-05 ἐπικειμένου epikeimenou V PRS MID PTCP GEN M SG lay of one lying upon threatening 1

Occurrences in Scripture

7 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1945-06 Luke 5:1 ἐπικεῖσθαι epikeisthai V PRS MID INF pressing to be lying upon pressing upon
G1945-01 Luke 23:23 ἐπέκειντο epekeinto V IMPF MID IND 3P PL were insisting they were lying upon they were pressing upon
G1945-02 John 11:38 ἐπέκειτο epekeito V IMPF MID IND 3P SG was lying was lying upon was lying
G1945-04 John 21:9 ἐπικείμενον epikeimenon V PRS MID PTCP ACC N SG placed on it resting upon resting upon
G1945-05 Acts 27:20 ἐπικειμένου epikeimenou V PRS MID PTCP GEN M SG lay of one lying upon threatening
G1945-07 1 Corinthians 9:16 ἐπίκειται epikeitai V PRS MID IND 3P SG is laid upon lies upon is laid upon
G1945-03 Hebrews 9:10 ἐπικείμενα epikeimena V PRS MID PTCP NOM N PL imposed lying upon being imposed
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