ἐγγύς G1451
Near, close by; denoting spatial proximity or temporal imminence, often with eschatological overtones.
An adverb and preposition of proximity, engys signals that something is spatially close or temporally imminent. Jesus declares 'the kingdom of God is near' (Mark 1:15, Luke 21:31), and Paul writes 'the Lord is near' (Phil 4:5). It also functions in mundane spatial senses: 'the city was near' (John 11:18), 'the feast was near' (John 6:4). Spanish 'cerca,' French 'pres,' and German 'nahe' all confirm a single unified sense of nearness. In eschatological contexts, engys carries urgency—what is near demands immediate response, whether repentance or readiness.
Senses
1. near, close (spatial or temporal proximity) — Nearness in space or time, used as adverb or preposition to express proximity. Spatially, it locates places or persons close at hand (John 11:18, 19:20). Temporally, it signals imminence—festivals approaching (John 6:4, 11:55) or eschatological fulfillment at hand (Matt 24:32-33, Rom 13:11). The fig-tree parable (Matt 24:32) pivots on engys: when the signs appear, 'know that it is near, at the very gates.' All multilingual renderings converge on a single proximity sense. 30×
AR["قَريبًا", "قَريبٌ", "قَرِيبًا", "قَرِيبٌ", "قَرِيبَةً", "قَرِيبَةِ"]·ben["কাছে", "নিকটে"]·DE["nahe"]·EN["near"]·FR["près"]·heb["קָרוֹב"]·HI["निकट", "पर"]·ID["dekat"]·IT["eggus", "vicino"]·jav["celak"]·KO["가까웠다", "가까이", "가까이에", "가깝다", "이다"]·PT["perto", "perto-de"]·RU["близ", "близ-", "близко"]·ES["cerca"]·SW["-", "karibu", "karibu-na", "mlangoni", "umekaribia"]·TR["yakın", "yakındı", "yakınında"]·urd["-ال", "قریب", "قریب-", "نزدیک"]
Matt 24:32, Matt 24:33, Matt 26:18, Mark 13:28, Mark 13:29, Luke 19:11, Luke 21:30, Luke 21:31, John 2:13, John 3:23, John 6:4, John 6:19 (+18 more)
Related Senses
H8033 1. There (locative adverb) (835×)H7760a 1. put, place, set physically (444×)H8064 1. heavens / sky (329×)H5439 1. around, all around (spatial) (319×)H4057b 1. wilderness, desert region (270×)H3220 1. sea, body of water (269×)H0520a 1. cubit (unit of length) (246×)H0127 1. ground, land (territory) (210×)H3383 1. Jordan River (proper noun) (183×)G1093 1. earth, the world (176×)H5800a 1. forsake, abandon (Qal active) (166×)H8121 1. sun (celestial body) (133×)H7126 1. offer, present sacrificially (122×)H6828 1. north, cardinal direction (120×)H2351 1. outside, exterior space (119×)H5104 1. river, stream (119×)H7341 1. width, breadth (101×)G1563 1. there (95×)H7126 2. draw near, approach (95×)G2281 1. sea, large body of water (91×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἐγγύς [ῠ], adverb, comparative ἐγγυτέρω (-τέρῳRefs 5th c.BC+ or -ύτατα (first in Refs 5th c.BC+; also ἔγγῑον, ἔγγιστα (see. ἐγγίων). __I of Place, near, nigh, at hand: frequently in Refs 8th c.BC+: with genitive, hard by, near to; so λύπας ἐγγυτέρω nearer to grief, Refs 8th c.BC+; ἐγγὺς ὁδῷ uncertain in Refs 5th c.BC+ __II of Time, nigh at hand, Refs 8th c.BC+ __III of Numbers, etc., nearly,…