Greek word · G2030
ἐπόπτης
epoptēs
eyewitness
One who looks upon something; an onlooker, eyewitness, or overseer. It was used of gods as all-seeing watchers. In the Eleusinian mysteries (secret Greek religious rites) it was also the title of initiates of the highest grade, who were allowed to see the sacred objects.
Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·
What it means
ἐπόπτης, -ου, ὁ
[in LXX (of God): Esther 5:1, 2Ma.3:39 2Mac 7:35, 3Ma.2:21 * ;]
1. an overseer (LXX, ll. with).
2. a spectator: 2 Peter 1:16 (of ἐ. as applied to God, see parallels in Inscr., MM, Exp., xiv; of the use of this term in the mysteries, see Mayor on 2Pe, l.with; Thayer, see word).†
(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 2 Peter 1:16
- Range of meaning
One who looks upon something; an onlooker, eyewitness, or overseer. It was used of gods as all-seeing watchers. In the Eleusinian mysteries (secret Greek religious rites) it was also the title of initiates of the highest grade, who were allowed to see the sacred objects.
- Against the English
Every major version has 'eyewitnesses'. That is right, though it may lose the sense of being admitted to see something holy.
- Used elsewhere in the period
Greek Old Testament: God is 'the all-seeing one' (epoptēs) in Esther 5:1 (Greek), 2 Maccabees 3:39 and 7:35. The related verb appears in 1 Peter 2:12 and 3:2 ('observing' good conduct). In the mysteries, the epopteia was the final stage of vision.
Similar words
Where it appears
2 Peter · 1
-
2 Peter 1:16 ἐπόπται eyewitnesses
For we did not follow cleverly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.
Here: People who looked on with their own eyes. The word was also used for those admitted to see sacred things, which fits the holy vision described in the next verses.
Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.