Greek word · G2713

κατέναντι

katenanti

before

"Opposite, in front of, in the presence of." With God as the object it means acting under God's direct gaze. It often carries the idea of being accountable to a judge or witness.

Appears 8 times in 8 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

κατέναντι

adv., [in LXX chiefly for נֶגֶד, פָּנִים, Genesis 7:1, etc. ;]

over against, opposite, before: ἡ, κ. κώμη, Luke 19:30; as prep., with genitive, Matthew 21:2 27:24 (ἀπ-, WH, mg.), Mark 11:2 12:41 (ἀπ-, WH, mg.) Mark 13:3; metaphorically, before, before θεοῦ, Romans 4:17, 2 Corinthians 2:17 12:19.†

(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 Corinthians 2:17

Range of meaning

"Opposite, in front of, in the presence of." With God as the object it means acting under God's direct gaze. It often carries the idea of being accountable to a judge or witness.

Against the English

"Before God" (BSB) and "in the sight of God" (KJV, WEB, ESV) are both accurate. "Before" can be misheard as "earlier than God", but the context prevents that.

Used elsewhere in the period

Paul repeats the whole formula in 2 Cor 12:19: "before God in Christ we speak" (κατέναντι θεοῦ ἐν Χριστῷ λαλοῦμεν). In the Septuagint, phrases like "before the LORD" mark actions done in God's presence as witness (e.g. Gen 6:11; Sir 50:19). See also 2 Cor 4:2 ("before God") and 5:10 ("the judgment seat of Christ").

From the study of 2 Corinthians 12:19

Range of meaning

Katenanti means 'opposite, facing, in front of.' With a person it means 'in the presence of' or 'in the sight of,' often with the idea of being watched and judged by that person.

Against the English

'Before God' (BSB, KJV, YLT) and 'in the sight of God' (WEB) are both accurate. NLT's 'with God as our witness' captures the idea of accountability but changes the picture from God as judge to God as witness.

Used elsewhere in the period

The Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint) uses katenanti and related words for 'before/opposite,' including in phrases that echo the Hebrew 'before the LORD.' Paul uses the same formula earlier in this letter: 'as from God, before God (katenanti theou), in Christ we speak' (2 Cor 2:17). In Romans 4:17 Abraham stands 'before God' (katenanti… theou), in whom he believed.

From the study of Mark 11:2

Range of meaning

Opposite, facing, across from; also 'before, in the presence of'.

Against the English

KJV/YLT 'over against you' and WEB 'opposite you' are literal. BSB 'ahead of you' and similar modern renderings suggest a village further along the road, which the Greek does not require.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Septuagint and the New Testament it is used for one place facing another (e.g. Mark 12:41, Jesus sitting 'opposite' the treasury; Mark 13:3, the Mount of Olives 'opposite' the temple).

Where it appears

Matthew · 1

  1. Matthew 21:2 κατέναντι in front

    saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt beside her. Untie them and bring them to Me.

    Here: In plain sight across from where they stand. It says where the village lies, not that it is far off or that they must go 'on ahead.'

Mark · 3

  1. Mark 11:2 κατέναντι before

    and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as soon as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here.

    Here: Literally 'right across from' or 'facing'. The village is in sight across the slope, not necessarily 'ahead' along the road.

  2. Mark 12:41 κατέναντι opposite

    As Jesus was sitting opposite the treasury, He watched the crowd putting money into it. And many rich people put in large amounts.

    Here: 'Directly facing.' Jesus sits where he can see the offering receptacles head-on. Mark uses the same word in 13:3, where Jesus sits 'opposite the temple' on the Mount of Olives and foretells its destruction.

  3. Mark 13:3 κατέναντι opposite

    While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately,

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 19:30 κατέναντι ahead

    saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here.

Romans · 1

  1. Romans 4:17 κατέναντι before

    As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the presence of God, in whom he believed, the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not yet exist.

    Here: 'Before the face of' God, meaning in God's sight and by his reckoning. Abraham's fatherhood of many peoples is real in God's presence before it can be seen on earth.

2 Corinthians · 2

  1. 2 Corinthians 2:17 κατέναντι before

    For we are not like so many others, who peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as men sent from God.

    Here: "Face to face with": God stands as the onlooker and judge of how the message is handled. It suggests accountability, like speaking in a courtroom with the judge watching.

  2. 2 Corinthians 12:19 κατέναντι before

    Have you been thinking all along that we were making a defense to you? We speak before God in Christ, and all of this, beloved, is to build you up.

    Here: 'Right in front of' and in the presence of God. God is the real audience and judge of what Paul says.

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