Greek word · G1940
ἐπικαθίζω
epikathizō
to sit on
Intransitive: to sit down upon. Transitive: to set (someone) upon. This is its only New Testament occurrence. In the LXX it is used for setting a person on a mount (e.g., 2 Kings 9:28 LXX of carrying Ahaziah's body; compare 1 Kings 1:38 for setting Solomon on the mule, with related verbs).
Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·
What it means
From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).
In depth
From the study of Matthew 21:7
- Range of meaning
Intransitive: to sit down upon. Transitive: to set (someone) upon. This is its only New Testament occurrence. In the LXX it is used for setting a person on a mount (e.g., 2 Kings 9:28 LXX of carrying Ahaziah's body; compare 1 Kings 1:38 for setting Solomon on the mule, with related verbs).
- Against the English
BSB/WEB/most modern versions: "he sat on them." KJV: "they set him thereon," from the Textus Receptus plural ἐπεκάθισαν. In the main text Jesus is the one acting. In the KJV the disciples place him, the way attendants mount a king.
- Used elsewhere in the period
Solomon's enthronement: "they had Solomon ride on King David's mule" (1 Kings 1:38). Riding the king's own animal was itself a claim to his authority. Later rabbinic law said no one else might ride the king's horse (m. Sanhedrin 2:5).
Where it appears
Matthew · 1
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Matthew 21:7 ἐπεκάθισεν He sat
They brought the donkey and the colt and laid their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them.
Here: "He sat upon / took his seat on." The word can also mean "set someone on," which is why the plural variant reads "they set him on." Here the subject is singular, so Jesus himself sits down, in the posture of a rider and of one enthroned.
Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.