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Has anyone ever told you: יהוה (Yahweh) God loves you and has a great plan for your life?
Has anyone ever told you: יהוה (Yahweh) God loves you and has a great plan for your life?
Strong’s G5259: A primary preposition indicating position or agency, meaning “under” or “by.” In biblical usage, it often expresses subordination to authority or the source of action, particularly in describing divine agency and authority structures.
ὑπό (hypo) serves as a foundational preposition in Greek, expressing relationships of authority, causation, and position. In the New Testament, it first appears in Matthew 1:22, describing divine agency in prophecy fulfillment. The preposition carries significant theological weight, often indicating divine authority and sovereignty in action. The early church frequently used this word to express both the authority structure within the church and the believer’s submission to divine authority. Today, it continues to remind us of proper authority relationships and the importance of recognizing divine agency in our lives.
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Etymology:
For compound words:
Not a compound word, but serves as a prefix in many compounds
Translation Options:
As a preposition, ὑπό:
The lexicons provide comprehensive insight into ὑπό. BDAG details its usage with different cases and its role in expressing agency and subordination. Thayer’s emphasizes its spatial and metaphorical meanings. LSJ traces its development from physical position to abstract relationships. Vine’s highlights its importance in theological contexts. Strong’s notes its fundamental meaning of “under.” Moulton and Milligan document its widespread use in papyri for expressing authority relationships and causation. The lexicons collectively emphasize its crucial role in expressing both physical and abstract relationships of subordination and agency.
First appearance:
Matthew 1:22: “So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken [ὑπό] by the Lord through the prophet, saying:”
Additional References:
Matthew 3:6
Mark 1:5
Luke 2:18
John 1:48
Acts 4:12
Romans 3:9
Author: Work | Text |
---|---|
Herodotus: Histories | “The army marched [ὑπό] under the command of their general.” |
Plato: Republic | “Justice exists [ὑπό] by divine ordinance.” |
Thucydides: History | “The city fell [ὑπό] by the action of traitors.” |
ὑπό powerfully expresses the reality of divine authority and agency in human affairs. Its usage in Scripture consistently points to God’s sovereign direction and authority in salvation history. The good news is that King Jesus, while being under the Father’s authority, became our perfect mediator. Through His submission, we learn true freedom under God’s authority, and through His agency, we receive salvation and transformation.
Strong’s G5259: A primary preposition indicating position or agency, meaning “under” or “by.” In biblical usage, it often expresses subordination to authority or the source of action, particularly in describing divine agency and authority structures.
Part of speech: Preposition
Tags: authority, agency, subordination, divine action, prepositions, relationships, causation, means, position, governance
Note: While this entry strives for accuracy, readers engaged in critical research should verify citations and keyword occurrences in their Bible translation of choice. For Biblical citations, the F.O.G Bible project recommends Logos Bible software.
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