Greek word · G1973
ἐπιπόθητος
epipothētos
longed for
"Longed for, yearned for, much missed." It is a verbal adjective from epipotheō, "to long for, yearn after". The prefix epi- adds direction and intensity.
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 Philippians 4:1
- Range of meaning
"Longed for, yearned for, much missed." It is a verbal adjective from epipotheō, "to long for, yearn after". The prefix epi- adds direction and intensity.
- Against the English
BSB, NIV and ESV say "long for," which is accurate. NASB's "long to see" and NLT's "long to see you" narrow the longing to a wish to visit. That fits the situation but makes the word more specific than it is.
- Used elsewhere in the period
It occurs only here in the New Testament and is rare in Greek generally. Early Christian writers soon after used it, for example 1 Clement 65:1 (a "longed-for" peace) and, if the usual text is right, Barnabas 1:3. The related verb is frequent in Paul: Phil 1:8 "I long for you all with the deep affection of Christ Jesus"; 2:26, where Epaphroditus "was longing for you all"; Rom 1:11; 1 Thess 3:6.
Similar words
Where it appears
Philippians · 1
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Philippians 4:1 ἐπιπόθητοι, longed for,
Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you must stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.
Here: "Ones I yearn for." This word occurs only here in the New Testament. It picks up 1:8, where Paul says he yearns for them all, and it suits a prisoner who is cut off from friends he cannot visit.
Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.