Divine Encounters: ὑπαντάω (Strong’s G5221: hypantaō) Reveals Transformative Meetings

Strong’s G5221: A compound verb combining ὑπό (under/with) and ἀντάω (to meet), denoting purposeful encounters or meetings. Often used in the New Testament to describe significant encounters with Jesus, emphasizing the transformative nature of meeting the divine in person-to-person interaction.

U – Unveiling the Word

The verb ὑπαντάω carries profound significance in its description of meaningful encounters. As a compound word, it combines the sense of “under/with” (ὑπό) with the action of meeting (ἀντάω), suggesting an encounter that involves coming into someone’s presence with purpose or expectation. In the New Testament, this word often appears in contexts of people meeting Jesus, whether in hope of healing or in recognition of His authority. The early church saw special significance in these encounters as examples of how meeting the Messiah transforms lives. Today, this word continues to remind us of the life-changing nature of encountering Jesus, emphasizing that true meetings with Him are never casual but always purposeful and transformative.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: ὑπαντάω, hypantaō, /hy.pan.ta.ō/
• Detailed pronunciation: hü-pän-tä’-ō (where ü as in German über, ä as in father)
• Part of Speech: Verb

Etymology:

• Prefix: ὑπό (hypo) meaning “under/with”
• Root: ἀντάω (antaō) meaning “to meet”
• Combined meaning: “to come to meet with/under”

D – Defining Meanings

• To meet, encounter
• To come face to face with
• To go to meet someone
• To encounter with purpose

For compound words: The prefix ὑπό adds the notion of coming under or with someone, while ἀντάω provides the basic meaning of meeting, creating the sense of a purposeful encounter.

Translation Options:

• “to meet with” – emphasizes the personal interaction
• “to encounter” – captures the significance of the meeting
• “to come before” – highlights the intentional approach

E – Exploring Similar Words

• ἀπαντάω (apantaō) /a.pan.ta.ō/ – to meet away from – See G528
• συναντάω (synantaō) /syn.an.ta.ō/ – to meet together with – See G4876
• προσέρχομαι (proserchomai) /pro.ser.kho.mai/ – to come toward – See G4334

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Features of this verb:

• Tense: Present (base form)
• Voice: Active
• Mood: Indicative
• Person: First
• Number: Singular
• Aspect: Progressive/Continuous

Common forms include:

• ὑπαντάω – I meet
• ὑπήντησα – I met (aorist)
• ὑπαντῆσαι – to meet (infinitive)

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

The lexicons provide rich insight into ὑπαντάω’s usage and significance. BDAG emphasizes its frequent occurrence in contexts of significant encounters, particularly with Jesus. Thayer’s notes how it differs from simple meeting by implying purposeful approach. LSJ traces its classical usage, showing its development from basic meetings to more significant encounters. Vine’s highlights its use in describing divine-human encounters. Strong’s emphasizes the compound nature of the word and its implications of purposeful meeting. Moulton and Milligan document its use in everyday contexts, showing how it often carried the sense of official or important meetings.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
Matthew 8:28: “When He came to the other side into the country of the Gadarenes, two men who were demon-possessed met [ὑπαντάω] Him as they were coming out of the tombs.”

Additional References:
Matthew 28:9, Mark 5:2, Luke 8:27, John 4:51, John 11:20

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

The word ὑπαντάω beautifully captures the nature of divine encounters in Scripture. Whether it’s demon-possessed men meeting Jesus, Martha rushing to meet Him at Lazarus’s death, or the women meeting the risen Lord, each encounter proves transformative. This word reminds us that meeting Jesus is never a casual event but always a life-changing experience. The good news of King Jesus includes His willingness to meet us where we are, bringing transformation through His presence and power.

D – Did You Know?

• ὑπαντάω appears in several crucial Gospel narratives of healing and deliverance
• The word is used to describe both fearful and joyful encounters with Jesus
• It appears in post-resurrection accounts, emphasizing continued divine encounters

Strong’s G5221: A compound verb combining ὑπό (under/with) and ἀντάω (to meet), denoting purposeful encounters or meetings. Often used in the New Testament to describe significant encounters with Jesus, emphasizing the transformative nature of meeting the divine in person-to-person interaction.

Part of speech: Verb

Tags: encounter, meeting, divine presence, transformation, Gospel narratives, biblical Greek, New Testament Greek, Jesus’ ministry, spiritual encounters, personal interaction​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​