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ἀπέναντι

apénanti

G561 preposition

SILEX Entry

Definition

preposition and adverb indicating spatial or figurative position: directly opposite, facing, situated across from, or, in some contexts, in the presence of. In spatial context, designates physical position relative to another object or person (e.g., 'across from' or 'facing'). In figurative or legal contexts, refers to being present before someone or opposed to them.

Semantic Range

facing, directly opposite, across from, in front of, before (in spatial or social sense), over against, in the presence of (esp. in legal or formal context)

Root / Etymology

Formed from ἀπό ('from') and ἔναντι ('opposite, in front of'), combining their senses to denote position with respect to another reference point.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical and Hellenistic Greek, ἀπέναντι is used both as an adverb and as a preposition with the genitive. It primarily conveys the sense of being directly opposite or across from something. In the LXX and New Testament, it can denote spatial relationships (e.g., 'opposite' or 'across') and can extend to mean 'in the presence of' or 'before', especially in legal or formal situations. Standard English translations sometimes render it as 'over against,' 'in front of,' or 'before,' but the term often connotes a spatial directness or confrontation that can be lost in translation. It is distinct from similar prepositions like ἐναντίον, which more frequently carries adversative or antagonistic nuance. ἀπέναντι can be used figuratively for situations of confrontation or formal presence, but the essential idea remains one of placement facing or across from something or someone.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἀπό and ἔναντι; from in front, i.e. opposite, before or against:--before, contrary, over against, in the presence of.

Root Family

ἀπέναντι (apénanti) — opposite, across from, facing, in front of, in the presence of

Root ἀντι- (with prefix ἀπό-) in front of, opposite, across from, facing

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G561-01 ἀπέναντι apenanti PREP GEN before across from before 5

Occurrences in Scripture

5 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G561-01 Matthew 27:24 ἀπέναντι apenanti PREP GEN before across from before
G561-01 Matthew 27:61 ἀπέναντι apenanti PREP GEN opposite across from across from
G561-01 Acts 3:16 ἀπέναντι apenanti PREP GEN in the presence of across from in the presence of
G561-01 Acts 17:7 ἀπέναντι apenanti PREP GEN contrary to across from contrary to
G561-01 Romans 3:18 ἀπέναντι apenanti PREP GEN before across from before
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