Brief Overview of ἀντικαθίστημι (Strong’s G478)

The Greek verb ἀντικαθίστημι (antikathistēmi) means “to replace” or “to put in the place of.” It is derived from the prefix ἀντί (anti), meaning “against” or “instead of,” and the verb καθίστημι (kathistēmi), meaning “to set” or “to appoint.” Thus, the term involves the act of setting one thing in the place of another, implying a replacement or substitution.

Detailed Overview

1. Strong’s Concordance: Strong’s defines ἀντικαθίστημι as “to replace” or “to set up in the place of,” highlighting its meaning as placing something in place of something else. It implies an act of substitution or replacement in a given context.
2. Bauer-Danker-Arndt-Gingrich (BDAG) Greek-English Lexicon: BDAG provides a more nuanced definition, describing ἀντικαθίστημι as “to place or set something in the place of another.” BDAG emphasizes its use in contexts where one element is substituted or replaced by another, often with an implication of change or transition.
3. Liddell-Scott-Jones (LSJ) Greek-English Lexicon: LSJ defines ἀντικαθίστημι as “to put in the place of,” focusing on the idea of substitution or replacement. It reflects the term’s use in classical Greek to denote the act of replacing one thing with another.
4. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon: Thayer’s lexicon describes ἀντικαθίστημι as “to set in place of” or “to replace.” It highlights the concept of placing one thing in the place of another, often involving a change or substitution.

In summary, ἀντικαθίστημι (antikathistēmi) involves the act of replacing or substituting one thing for another. Strong’s provides a basic definition of replacement, while BDAG, LSJ, and Thayer’s offer additional insights into its application in various contexts of substitution and change.