Greek word · G1894

ἐπειδή

epeidē

since

ἐπειδή is a causal conjunction: 'since, inasmuch as, seeing that'. It often opens official and literary sentences.

Appears 10 times in 10 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated October 25, 2026

What it means

ἐπει-δή

conj.;

1. of time, when now, after that: Luke 7:1 (WH, txt.).

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

Range of meaning: ἐπειδή is a causal conjunction: 'since, inasmuch as, seeing that'. It often opens official and literary sentences.
Against the English: KJV's 'Forasmuch as' keeps the formal sound. BSB's 'It has come to our attention' is a good modern equivalent of the official tone.
Used elsewhere in the period: Greek civic decrees typically run: 'Whereas [epeidē] … it seemed good [edoxe] to the council and people…'. Acts 15:24–25 follows exactly this pattern: 'Since we heard … it seemed good to us.' Luke's own preface does the same: 'Since many [epeidēper polloi] … it seemed good to me also' (Luke 1:1–3).

Luke · 2

Luke 7:1 Ἐπειδὴ And since

When Jesus had concluded His discourse in the hearing of the people, He went to Capernaum.
Luke 11:6 ἐπειδὴ since

because a friend of mine has come to me on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him.’

Acts · 3

Acts 13:46 ἐπειδὴ but since

Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “It was necessary to speak the word of God to you first. But since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.

Here: A causal "since." The turn that follows is presented as the result of what the hearers are doing.
Acts 14:12 ἐπειδὴ because

Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.
Acts 15:24 Ἐπειδὴ Inasmuch as

It has come to our attention that some went out from us without our authorization and unsettled you, troubling your minds by what they said.

Here: Opens a formal 'whereas' clause, the way official decrees began in the Greek world. It gives the reason for the decision announced in verse 25 ('it seemed good to us').

1 Corinthians · 4

1 Corinthians 1:21 ἐπειδὴ Since

For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.

Here: Introduces the reason for God's action in the second half: because the world's wisdom failed, God took another route. It looks back to the question in v.20 ('Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?').
1 Corinthians 1:22 ἐπειδὴ Seeing that

Jews demand signs and Greeks search for wisdom,

Here: Picks up the 'since' that opens verse 21 and starts a clause that leads into verse 23: 'Since Jews ask… and Greeks seek…, we on the other hand preach Christ crucified.' It sets up the human expectations that Paul's message refuses to meet.
1 Corinthians 14:16 ἐπειδὴ since

Otherwise, if you speak a blessing in spirit, how can someone who is uninstructed say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?

Here: Gives the reason the outsider cannot say Amen.
1 Corinthians 15:21 Ἐπειδὴ Since

For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.

Here: Gives a reason, not a time: "seeing that" or "because". It puts forward something Paul expects his readers already accept (death came through Adam) so he can argue from it.

Philippians · 1

Philippians 2:26 ἐπειδὴ since

For he has been longing for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill.

Here: Picks up from v. 25: Paul thought it necessary to send Epaphroditus back *since* this was his state of mind. It gives the reason for the sending, not just a loose aside.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.