ἐγγύς
near
Definition
The Greek word ἐγγύς primarily means 'near' in terms of spatial proximity, as when Jesus says the kingdom of heaven is 'near' (Matthew 4:17). It also conveys temporal nearness, indicating something is about to happen soon, such as the summer being 'near' when the fig tree's leaves appear (Matthew 24:32-33). In a relational or spiritual sense, it describes closeness to God, as in Ephesians 2:13, which states believers who were once far off have been brought 'near' by the blood of Christ.
Biblical Usage
ἐγγύς is used 30 times in the New Testament, appearing in the Gospels, Acts, and the Pauline epistles. In the Gospels, it often describes the nearness of the kingdom of God (e.g., Matthew 3:2) or a forthcoming event (e.g., Luke 21:31). Paul uses it to express the new relational closeness to God achieved through Christ (Ephesians 2:13) and the imminence of the Lord's return (Philippians 4:5).
Etymology
Derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *h₁engʰ-, meaning 'narrow' or 'close,' it is a native Greek adverb. It is cognate with the Latin 'angustus' (narrow) and is related to the Greek adjective ἐγγύτερος, the comparative form meaning 'nearer.' Its meaning consistently centers on closeness in space, time, or relationship.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it captures the core message of the gospel: through Jesus Christ, humanity is brought from a state of alienation to being 'near' to God (Ephesians 2:13). It underscores the immanence of God's kingdom and the promised return of Christ, encouraging believers to live with expectancy and hope. Understanding its dual spatial and temporal senses enriches readings about salvation and eschatology.
In the Greco-Roman world, 'nearness' often carried legal and relational weight, implying obligation and intimacy. For Jewish readers influenced by the Septuagint, the term would recall passages about drawing near to God in worship (e.g., Psalm 145:18). This background deepens its New Testament use to describe the revolutionary new access to God through Jesus.
πλησίον (plēsion, G4139) — emphasizes immediate proximity, often translated 'neighbor'. ἐγγύτερος (engyteros, G1452) — the comparative form, meaning 'nearer'.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, a concise public-domain resource suitable for introductory word study. Brief glosses are supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). For advanced research, standard scholarly references include BDAG (Danker, 3rd ed.) and LSJ.
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