Brief Overview of ἐπίστασις (Strong’s G1999: epístasis)

Introduction

Understanding Greek words in Biblical studies is essential for interpreting the New Testament and appreciating the cultural and intellectual background of ancient Greek society. The word ἐπίστασις (Strong’s G1999: epístasis) is particularly significant because it denotes an “oppression,” “pressure,” or “urgency.” This noun is key for understanding the intensity and emotional weight in contexts where it appears in the New Testament, providing insight into the language of emotion and pressure in ancient Greek thought and literature.

Key Information

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• The Greek Word: ἐπίστασις (epístasis) [eh-PIS-ta-sis]
• Etymology: Derived from the preposition ἐπί (epi), meaning “upon” or “over,” and the verb ἵστημι (hístēmi), meaning “to stand” or “to set.” Together, they suggest “to place upon” or “to press upon,” indicating a state of pressure or urgency.
• Part of Speech: Noun; feminine; third declension.
• The F.O.G Word Choice: Coming Soon.

Primary Meanings

• Pressure or burden.
• Urgency or intensity.
• An oppressive presence or force.

Similar Words: θλῖψις (thlípsis) [THLEEP-sis] also conveys the idea of “pressure” or “affliction,” but it is often used more specifically to describe external tribulation or suffering. While epístasis suggests a broader sense of pressing or urgency, thlípsis is focused on the experience of distress and hardship.

Further Insights: The noun ἐπίστασις is part of the third declension in Greek, characterized by a more complex set of endings that vary depending on case and number. This noun is less frequently encountered in the New Testament, giving it a particular weight when it does appear, emphasizing situations of great pressure or urgency.

Click here for a beginner’s guide to reading Greek: Understanding Greek Grammar: A Beginner’s Guide.

Lexicon Insights

BDAG:
ἐπίστασις is defined as “pressure” or “urgency,” particularly in contexts where there is a sense of intense demand or force. It can be used both literally and metaphorically to describe situations of great tension or stress.

Thayer’s Lexicon:
Describes epístasis as “a pressure” or “an insistence,” highlighting its use in passages where an oppressive situation or urgent circumstance is emphasized. The term is often connected to emotional or psychological pressure.

Vine’s Expository Dictionary:
Notes that epístasis conveys the idea of something being placed upon or weighing down, metaphorically referring to the pressure or urgency placed upon a person or situation.

LSJ (Liddell-Scott-Jones):
Highlights that epístasis can mean “pressure” or “oppressive insistence” and is used in various classical Greek contexts to denote a forceful or demanding presence, whether in a physical or metaphorical sense.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance:
Defines epístasis as “a pressure” or “urgency,” focusing on its usage in the New Testament to denote situations where intense force or insistence is at play, whether physical, emotional, or situational.

Related Scripture References

• Acts 24:12: “And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city: neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me, concerning this pressure [ἐπίστασιν (epístasin)].”

Classical Usage

Summary of ἐπίστασις (G1999: epístasis)

The Greek word ἐπίστασις (epístasis), meaning “pressure,” “burden,” or “urgency,” is a noun that captures the concept of intense demand or insistence, whether physical, emotional, or situational. In the New Testament, it is used to describe situations that involve a pressing or urgent matter, reflecting the stress or tension experienced by individuals or communities. The word also appears in classical Greek literature and the Septuagint, where it often denotes an oppressive force or demand. Understanding epístasis provides valuable insights into the emotional and psychological dynamics of both Biblical narratives and ancient Greek literature, where it is used to convey the weight of pressing circumstances.

Did You Know?

Did you know that ἐπίστασις comes from a combination of words meaning “to stand upon,” which metaphorically illustrates how pressure or urgency can feel like a weight upon someone? This etymology highlights how ancient Greeks used language to convey vivid imagery of emotional and physical experiences, giving us deeper insights into their perceptions of stress and insistence.