Greek word · G1945

ἐπίκειμαι

epikeimai

to lay on

Literally 'to lie upon' or 'be placed on' (a stone on a tomb, fish laid on coals). Figuratively, 'to press upon, bear down on, be urgent, insist': used of storms, of necessity, of crowds, and of people demanding something.

Appears 7 times in 7 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἐπι-κείμαι

[in LXX: Exodus 39:31 (נָתַן), Job 19:3 (הָכַר hi.) Job 21:27 (חָמַס), 1Ma.6:57, 2Ma.1:21, 3Ma.1:22 * ;]

to be placed, lie on: John 21:9; before ἐπί, with dative, John 11:38; figuratively, Hebrews 9:10; ἀνάγκη, 1 Corinthians 9:16; χειμῶν, to threaten, come on: Acts 27:20; of persons, to press upon: Luke 5:1 23:23.†

(AS)

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 Luke 5:1

Range of meaning

Literally 'to lie upon' or 'be placed on' (a stone on a tomb, fish laid on coals). Figuratively, 'to press upon, bear down on, be urgent, insist': used of storms, of necessity, of crowds, and of people demanding something.

Against the English

English 'pressing in' (BSB, ESV) and 'pressed upon' (KJV, YLT) keep the physical weight well. 'Crowding around' (NIV, NASB) is accurate but gentler. It loses the sense of bodies leaning on Jesus.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the New Testament: John 11:38 (a stone lying on Lazarus' tomb); John 21:9 (fish lying on the coals); Acts 27:20 (a storm 'lying upon' the ship); 1 Cor 9:16 (necessity 'laid upon' Paul); Luke 23:23 (the crowd 'were insistent' with loud voices demanding crucifixion). Classical and Hellenistic Greek uses it of enemies pressing an attack (LSJ, BDAG).

From the study of Hebrews 9:10

Range of meaning

To lie on, rest on; to press upon (Luke 5:1, the crowd pressing on Jesus); to be laid on as a duty or necessity (1 Cor 9:16, 'necessity is laid on me'); to be imposed or in force.

Against the English

KJV, BSB, ESV and NASB say 'imposed', NIV 'applying'. 'Imposed' keeps the picture of a duty laid on someone. 'Applying' is flatter.

Used elsewhere in the period

In Greek literature generally it is used of penalties or obligations 'laid upon' people. In John 11:38 a stone 'lay upon' the tomb. In Acts 27:20 a storm 'lay upon' the ship.

Where it appears

Luke · 2

  1. Luke 5:1 ἐπικεῖσθαι pressing on

    On one occasion, while Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret with the crowd pressing in on Him to hear the word of God,

    Here: Literally 'to be lying on' someone. It is a vivid picture of bodies crowding against Jesus at the water's edge. The present tense pictures the pressure going on and on, and it explains why he gets into a boat in verse 3.

  2. Luke 23:23 ἐπέκειντο they were urgent

    But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices for Jesus to be crucified. And their clamor prevailed.

John · 2

  1. John 11:38 ἐπέκειτο was lying

    Jesus, once again deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance.

    Here: An imperfect: the stone was lying there and had stayed there, sealing the grave since the burial four days earlier.

  2. John 21:9 ἐπικείμενον lying on [it]

    When they landed, they saw a charcoal fire there with fish on it, and some bread.

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 27:20 ἐπικειμένου afflicted [us]

    When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the great storm continued to batter us, we abandoned all hope of being saved.

1 Corinthians · 1

  1. 1 Corinthians 9:16 ἐπίκειται· is laid upon;

    Yet when I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am obligated to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

    Here: Pictures a weight or yoke lying on him. Present tense: it presses on him all the time, not only at his call.

Hebrews · 1

  1. Hebrews 9:10 ἐπικείμενα.¶ being imposed.

    They consist only in food and drink and special washings—external regulations imposed until the time of reform.

    Here: 'Lying upon, imposed'. The present participle pictures the regulations resting on the worshipers as obligations that stay in force until the appointed time. It can suggest something laid on like a weight, but the main idea is binding force.

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