Brief Overview of ἀπέναντι (Strong’s G561:)

Meaning and Usage:

• General Definition: The Greek word ἀπέναντι (apenantī) means “opposite” or “in front of.” It indicates a position directly across from or facing something.
• Contextual Application: This term is used to describe spatial relationships, where one object or location is directly across from or facing another. It can also imply opposition or contrast in certain contexts.

Detailed Overview with Additional Concordances

Etymology and Lexicon References:

1. Strong’s Concordance (G561): According to Strong’s, ἀπέναντι is translated as “opposite” or “before” and refers to being in front of or facing something. The term is straightforward and primarily used to denote position in relation to another object.
2. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon: Thayer’s elaborates that ἀπέναντι means “opposite” or “before” in a spatial sense. It is used to describe something located directly across from or facing another entity, emphasizing its position in relation to the observer.
3. BDAG (Bauer-Danker-Arndt-Gingrich): BDAG confirms that ἀπέναντι means “opposite” or “in front of.” It provides examples from ancient texts where this term describes relative positioning, both physically and metaphorically.
4. LSJ (Liddell-Scott-Jones): The LSJ Greek-English Lexicon defines ἀπέναντι as “opposite” or “in front of.” It reflects the term’s use in classical and Koine Greek to indicate spatial relationships or opposition.

Biblical Context:

• Usage in Scripture: ἀπέναντι is used in the New Testament to describe the relative position of objects or people. For instance, in Matthew 21:17, the term is used to describe the location of Jesus in relation to the city of Bethany, illustrating his position “opposite” or “before” the city.

In summary, ἀπέναντι (G561) is a Greek term meaning “opposite” or “in front of,” used to describe spatial relationships and positioning. Its definitions are consistently supported by major Greek lexicons, indicating its role in describing relative locations in both physical and metaphorical contexts.