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ἐπισκέπτομαι

episképtomai

G1980 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To closely examine, observe, or inspect; to visit someone for the purpose of care, attention, or oversight. In contexts, it can mean to look upon with concern, to pay a formal or sympathetic visit, or to exercise oversight (of persons or situations). Also used for visiting the sick or those in need, sometimes as an act of mercy or responsibility.

Semantic Range

to observe or inspect carefully, to look after or oversee, to visit with intent to help or care, to select after inspection, to examine a situation or person, to provide relief or attention

Root / Etymology

From the preposition ἐπί ('upon, over') and the middle-voice form of σκέπτομαι ('to look at, consider'). The verb thus carries the sense of 'to look upon' or 'oversee' as an active, intentional process.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἐπισκέπτομαι was used primarily for overseeing, inspecting, or examining matters or people, especially in administrative or official contexts. In the Septuagint, it often translates Hebrew verbs for divine or royal investigation or intervention, ranging from supervision or remembrance to acts of care. In the New Testament, its sense broadens: it frequently refers to visiting people in need, especially orphans and widows (see James 1:27), implying not only a social visit, but a purposeful attention with a view to provide help or oversight. The term can also indicate selection (choosing someone after investigation), as in Acts 6:3. English translations often narrow the term to 'visit', but this can miss its active dimension of caring oversight, concern, or responsibility. It does not simply mean 'to visit' in a social or casual sense, but rather emphasizes an engaged, purposeful presence.

Translation Consistency

primary "visit" 6 occurrences

Most natural and frequent rendering across occurrences; it covers both senses in the SILEX range — examining/inspecting with attention and physically going to someone to provide care or oversight. "Visit" is more idiomatic than "inspect" or "attend" and fits the common usage in biblical contexts (visiting, checking on, or caring for people).

Alternatives (5 occurrences):
"attend to" (1x) "inspect for yourselves" (1x) "look upon with care" (1x) "care for" (1x) "look after" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

middle voice from ἐπί and the base of σκοπός; to inspect, i.e. (by implication) to select; by extension, to go to see, relieve:--look out, visit.

Root Family

ἐπισκέπτομαι (episkeptomai) — observe, examine, oversee, visit with care

Root σκοπ- to observe, to look at, to examine, to oversee

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1980-02 ἐπεσκέψατο epeskepsato V AOR MID IND 3P SG has visited personally examined he personally visited 3
G1980-01 ἐπεσκέψασθέ epeskepsasthe V AOR MID IND 2P PL you visited you visited with care you visited with care 2
G1980-04 ἐπισκέψασθε episkepsasthe V AOR MID IMP 2P PL select Inspect for yourselves Inspect for yourselves 1
G1980-07 ἐπισκέπτῃ episkepte V PRS MID IND 2P SG you visit you are looking after you care for 1
G1980-03 ἐπισκέψασθαι episkepsasthai V AOR MID INF to visit to look upon with care to look upon with care 1
G1980-05 ἐπισκέψεται episkepsetai V FUT MID IND 3P SG will visit he will attend to he will attend to 1
G1980-08 ἐπισκέπτεσθαι episkeptesthai V PRS MID INF to visit to look upon with care to look after 1
G1980-06 ἐπισκεψώμεθα episkepsometha V AOR MID SUBJ 1P PL let us visit let us look after let us visit 1

Occurrences in Scripture

11 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1980-01 Matthew 25:36 ἐπεσκέψασθέ epeskepsasthe V AOR MID IND 2P PL you visited you visited with care you visited with care
G1980-01 Matthew 25:43 ἐπεσκέψασθέ epeskepsasthe V AOR MID IND 2P PL you visited you visited with care you visited with care
G1980-02 Luke 1:68 ἐπεσκέψατο epeskepsato V AOR MID IND 3P SG He has visited personally examined he personally visited
G1980-05 Luke 1:78 ἐπισκέψεται episkepsetai V FUT MID IND 3P SG will visit he will attend to he will attend to
G1980-02 Luke 7:16 ἐπεσκέψατο epeskepsato V AOR MID IND 3P SG has visited personally examined he personally visited
G1980-04 Acts 6:3 ἐπισκέψασθε episkepsasthe V AOR MID IMP 2P PL select Inspect for yourselves Inspect for yourselves
G1980-03 Acts 7:23 ἐπισκέψασθαι episkepsasthai V AOR MID INF to visit to look upon with care to look upon with care
G1980-02 Acts 15:14 ἐπεσκέψατο epeskepsato V AOR MID IND 3P SG visited personally examined he personally visited
G1980-06 Acts 15:36 ἐπισκεψώμεθα episkepsometha V AOR MID SUBJ 1P PL let us visit let us look after let us visit
G1980-07 Hebrews 2:6 ἐπισκέπτῃ episkepte V PRS MID IND 2P SG you visit you are looking after you care for
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