Greek word · G1961

ἐπιμένω

epimenō

to remain/keep on

To stay on, remain at a place; to persist in, continue in a state or activity.

Appears 15 times in 15 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἐπι-μένω

[in LXX: Exodus 12:39 (מָהַהּ hith.)* ;]

to stay on, tarry or abide still: before έν, 1 Corinthians 16:8; αὐτοῦ, there, Acts 15:34 (WH, txt., RV, txt., omit) Acts 21:4; with dative, τ. σαρκί, Philippians 1:24; before παρά, with dative of person(s), Acts 28:14; πρός, with accusative of person(s), 1 Corinthians 16:7, Galatians 1:18; with accusative temp., Acts 10:48 21:4, 10 28:12, 14, 1 Corinthians 16:7. Metaphorical, to continue in a pursuit or state: with dative, τ. ἀμαρτίᾳ, Romans 6:1; τ. ὰπιστίᾳ, Romans 11:23; τ. πίστει, Colossians 1:23; αὐτοῖς (see CGT, in l), 1 Timothy 4:16; τ. χρηστότητι, Romans 11:22; with ptcp. (cf. Bl., § 73, 4; 76, 2), John 8:7, Acts 12:16.†

(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 Romans 11:22

Range of meaning

To stay on, remain at a place; to persist in, continue in a state or activity.

Against the English

'Continue in' (BSB, KJV, WEB, NIV, ESV), 'remain in' (YLT). NLT has 'continue to trust in', which interprets it with verse 20 and adds the word 'trust'.

How it drifted

Many readers hear 'continue in His kindness/goodness' as 'keep being kind/good', as though the condition were moral performance. The object, though, is God's kindness: a place to stay in, not a quality to produce.

Used elsewhere in the period

Paul uses it of staying in a city (1 Cor 16:7–8, Gal 1:18), of persisting in sin (Rom 6:1) and of continuing in the faith (Col 1:23, 'if indeed you continue in the faith'). Verse 23 uses the same verb for Israel: 'if they do not persist (epimenōsin) in unbelief.'

From the study of Acts 21:10

Range of meaning

To stay on or remain in a place, often longer than first planned or at someone's invitation. It can also mean to persist or continue in something, such as a state, a course of action or a teaching.

Against the English

BSB 'had been there', KJV 'tarried', WEB 'stayed', YLT 'remaining'. All are accurate. The KJV's 'tarried' is archaic but fits well, since it carries the sense of lingering.

Used elsewhere in the period

In Acts it is used repeatedly for Paul's group staying with believers along the route: seven days at Tyre (21:4), three days at Syracuse (28:12), seven days at Puteoli (28:14), and Peter staying at Cornelius's house in Caesarea (10:48). Paul uses the figurative sense in Romans 6:1 ('continue in sin') and Colossians 1:23. Common in papyri and literary Greek for staying on somewhere.

From the study of Acts 10:48

Range of meaning

To stay on, remain longer (in a place or with someone); figuratively, to persist or continue in something.

Against the English

"Stay" (BSB, WEB) and "tarry" (KJV) are accurate. Modern readers may miss the social weight of a Jew staying as a guest in a Gentile household.

Used elsewhere in the period

Acts 21:4, 10 and 28:12, 14 (staying days with hosts); 1 Cor 16:7-8; Gal 1:18 (Paul stayed fifteen days with Peter).

Where it appears

Acts · 6

  1. Acts 10:48 ἐπιμεῖναι to remain

    So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for a few days.

    Here: "To stay on" as a guest. For a Jew to lodge in a Gentile home meant sharing its table, which is exactly what Peter is criticized for in 11:3. The word quietly records that he accepted.

  2. Acts 12:16 ἐπέμενεν was continuing

    But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astounded.

  3. Acts 21:4 ἐπεμείναμεν we remained

    We sought out the disciples in Tyre and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they kept telling Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.

  4. Acts 21:10 Ἐπιμενόντων Remaining

    After we had been there several days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.

    Here: 'While (we) were staying on.' The present participle describes the stay as ongoing, the background against which Agabus arrives. The grammar (a 'genitive absolute', a side clause that sets the scene) leaves 'we' to be understood from context.

  5. Acts 28:12 ἐπεμείναμεν we stayed

    Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there three days.

  6. Acts 28:14 ἐπιμεῖναι to remain

    There we found some brothers who invited us to spend the week with them. And so we came to Rome.

Romans · 3

  1. Romans 6:1 ἐπιμένωμεν Shall we continue

    What then shall we say? Shall we continue in sin so that grace may increase?

    Here: A 'should we?' question: 'Should we stay on?' The verb means to stay in a place or state rather than leave it. It pictures sin as a place or condition someone could choose to stay in.

  2. Romans 11:22 ἐπιμένῃς you shall continue in

    Take notice, therefore, of the kindness and severity of God: severity to those who fell, but kindness to you, if you continue in His kindness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.

    Here: Present tense, describing ongoing action: 'if you keep on remaining.' You stay in the place God's kindness has put you; you do not wander off from it.

  3. Romans 11:23 ἐπιμένωσιν they shall continue

    And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.

1 Corinthians · 2

  1. 1 Corinthians 16:7 ἐπιμεῖναι to remain

    For I do not want to see you now only in passing; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits.

  2. 1 Corinthians 16:8 ἐπιμενῶ I will remain

    But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost,

Galatians · 1

  1. Galatians 1:18 ἐπέμεινα I remained

    Only after three years did I go up to Jerusalem to confer with Cephas, and I stayed with him fifteen days.

Philippians · 1

  1. Philippians 1:24 ἐπιμένειν to remain

    But it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.

    Here: "To stay on", like a traveller who extends a stay rather than leaving. The present tense pictures life continuing on and on, not a single moment of survival.

Colossians · 1

  1. Colossians 1:23 ἐπιμένετε you continue

    if indeed you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

    Here: Present tense: 'you keep on staying' in the faith. It describes ongoing persistence, not a single past decision. Compare Romans 11:22, 'if you continue in his kindness'.

1 Timothy · 1

  1. 1 Timothy 4:16 ἐπίμενε do continue

    Pay close attention to your life and to your teaching. Persevere in these things, for by so doing you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

    Here: Present command: keep staying in, don't drift off. It quietly echoes 1:3, where Timothy was asked to stay on in Ephesus.

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