ἀφικνέομαι
aphiknéomai
G864 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To arrive at, to reach a place or destination after travel or movement; in some contexts, to come to someone or something as a result or development. The primary lexical meaning is 'to arrive' or 'to come to.' Broader contextually extended uses may include 'to attain' a state or condition.
Semantic Range
to arrive at, to reach (a place, a person, or a state), to attain, to come to, to turn up, to come upon
Root / Etymology
Compound from ἀπό ('from') and the root ἱκνέομαι ('to come, to reach'). ἱκνέομαι is an older Greek verb meaning 'to arrive,' chiefly poetic, with ἀφικνέομαι as its Koine and Hellenistic-era counterpart.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, ἀφικνέομαι is a common verb for 'to arrive at' or 'to reach,' especially describing travel, arrival at a place, or metaphorically, attaining a certain state. The verb is frequent in Herodotus, Thucydides, and later Greek prose. In the Septuagint and New Testament, uses relate to arriving at a physical location or coming to a person. The sense of 'come abroad' in some translations reflects the notion of a person or message spreading to a particular area rather than the verb inherently meaning 'to be heard everywhere.' English translations such as 'come,' 'arrive,' or 'reach' most accurately reflect its range. There is no intrinsic nuance of rumor or message unless demanded by the context. ἱκνέομαι, without the prepositional prefix, is rare outside poetic Greek; ἀφικνέομαι became the standard Koine form. Compared to ἔρχομαι or ἥκω, which can denote 'coming' generally, ἀφικνέομαι often emphasizes arrival at a destination after a journey. Distinct from verbs of sending or spreading, like φημή or διαφημίζω.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἀπό and the base of ἱκανός; to go (i.e. spread) forth (by rumor):--come abroad.
Root Family
ἀφικνέομαι (aphikneomai) — to come, to arrive, to reach
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G864-01 |
ἀφίκετο | aphiketo | V AOR MID IND 3P SG |
has reached | arrived | has reached | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G864-01 |
Romans 16:19 | ἀφίκετο | aphiketo | V AOR MID IND 3P SG |
has reached | arrived | has reached |