Greek word · G495

ἀντιπέραν

antiperan

opposite

Opposite, over against, on the far side facing something.

Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἀντί-περα (Rec. ἀντιπέραν, LTr. ἀντιπέρα) adv., = cl. ἀντιπέρας (MM, VGT, 49),

on the opposite side: with genitive, Luke 8:26.†

(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 8:26

Range of meaning

Opposite, over against, on the far side facing something.

Against the English

KJV says 'over against', which to a modern reader can sound like opposition or hostility, though it only meant 'facing'. ESV, NASB and WEB say 'opposite'. BSB and NIV say 'across the lake from', which spells out the geography.

How it drifted

'Over against' is archaic English for 'facing, across from'. Today 'against' mainly suggests conflict.

Used elsewhere in the period

Found in Greek historians such as Polybius for places facing each other across water or a river. It appears only here in the New Testament.

Where it appears

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 8:26 ἀντιπέρα opposite

    Then they sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, across the lake from Galilee.

    Here: 'Across from, facing.' The district lies on the far shore, facing Galilee across the water. Also the only place this word appears in the New Testament.

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