ἔναντι G1725
in the presence of, before; used of position in someone's sight or awareness
This preposition (taking the genitive) denotes presence before someone, especially in contexts of worship or divine awareness. Zechariah serves as priest before God (Luke 1:8), while Peter declares that Simon's heart is not right before God (Acts 8:21). Though less common than similar prepositions, it carries a formal or solemn tone, emphasizing standing in the presence or sight of someone. The Septuagint usage influenced its appearance in Luke's more Hebraic Greek style.
Senses
1. sense 1 — In the presence of, before (with genitive). In Luke 1:8, Zechariah performs priestly service before God (ἔναντι τοῦ θεοῦ). In Acts 8:21, Peter tells Simon his heart is not right before God. The lexical background in the LXX and later Greek emphasizes standing in the presence or sight of someone. Translations preserve the formal, positional sense: Spanish 'delante', French 'devant', suggesting standing before in awareness or judgment. 2×
AR["أَمَامَ"]·ben["সামনে"]·DE["ἔναντι"]·EN["before"]·FR["devant"]·heb["לִפְנֵי"]·HI["-के-सामने", "सामने"]·ID["di-hadapan"]·IT["davanti", "enanti"]·jav["ing-ngarsanipun", "wonten-ngarsanipun"]·KO["앞-에서"]·PT["diante"]·RU["перед-", "пред"]·ES["delante"]·SW["mbele-ya", "mbele-ya-"]·TR["önünde"]·urd["سامنے"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἔναντι, adverb in the presence of, with genitive, LXX+2nd c.BC+; compare ἴναντι.