ἐπεί G1894
Since, because, seeing that (causal conjunction); also used temporally as 'when, after that.'
A conjunction that overwhelmingly serves a causal function in the New Testament, introducing the reason or ground for what follows. Paul declares that 'since' the world through its wisdom did not know God, it pleased God to save through the foolishness of preaching (1 Cor 1:21). Spanish 'puesto que' and German 'da ja' reinforce the logical-causal force throughout. A single temporal occurrence surfaces in Luke 7:1, where it introduces a time clause -- 'when' Jesus had finished his sayings -- and here Spanish shifts to 'después que' (after), signaling the move from reason to temporal sequence.
Senses
1. since — Causal conjunction meaning 'since,' 'because,' 'seeing that' -- introducing a reason or explanatory ground for the main clause. Accounts for nine of ten NT occurrences. Paul uses it to ground theological arguments (1 Cor 1:21-22; 14:16), and it introduces practical reasoning in narrative (Luke 11:6; Acts 13:46; 15:24). Spanish 'puesto que,' French 'puisque,' and German 'da ja' all converge on the causal register, marking the logical basis for what follows. 9×
AR["إذ", "إذْ", "إِذْ", "بِما-أَنَّ", "لأَنَّ"]·ben["যেহেতু"]·DE["da-ja", "ἐπειδὴ"]·EN["Since", "since"]·FR["puisque", "puisque-"]·heb["מִכֵּיוָן", "מִפְּנֵי-שֶׁ", "מֵאַחַר", "מֵאַחַר-שֶׁ-", "שָׁמַעְנוּ"]·HI["क्योंकि", "क्योंकि-जब", "क्योनकि", "चूँकि", "चूंकि", "जब-कि"]·ID["Karena", "karena", "sebab"]·IT["poiche", "poiché"]·jav["Sareng", "amargi", "awit", "sareng"]·KO["-이기에", "왜냐하면", "이제"]·PT["Porquanto", "Visto-que", "porquanto", "visto-que"]·RU["Поскольку", "поскольку", "потому-что"]·ES["Puesto-que", "puesto-que"]·SW["Kwa-maana-kwa-kuwa", "Kwa-sababu-", "kwa-kuwa", "kwa-sababu", "kwa-sababu-"]·TR["beri-", "cunku", "Çünkü", "çünkü"]·urd["چونکہ", "کیونکہ"]
2. When — Temporal conjunction meaning 'when' or 'after that,' introducing a time clause marking the completion of a preceding event. Occurs once at Luke 7:1, transitioning from the Sermon on the Plain to the centurion's servant narrative. The Spanish shift from 'puesto que' (causal) to 'después que' (after) in this verse clearly marks the temporal rather than logical function, aligning with the classical Greek temporal usage documented in the lexicon. 1×
AR["بَعدَما"]·ben["যখন"]·DE["da-ja"]·EN["When"]·FR["puisque"]·heb["כַּאֲשֶׁר"]·HI["जब"]·ID["Setelah"]·IT["poiché"]·jav["Sasampunipun"]·KO["~후에"]·PT["Depois-que"]·RU["Когда"]·ES["después-que"]·SW["Baada-ya"]·TR["Sonra"]·urd["جب"]
Related Senses
G3588 1. definite article (18298×)H0853 1. definite direct object marker (10915×)G2532 1. (8312×)H3068 1. YHWH (the divine name) (6522×)H0834a 1. relative pronoun (who/which/that) (4839×)H3588a 1. causal: because, for (3498×)G1161 1. and (2806×)H3478 1. Israel (proper name and nation) (2507×)H3117 1. day, specific time (2231×)G4771 1. you (plural address) (1853×)H1931 1. personal pronoun he/she/it (1431×)H5704 1. until, unto, as far as (1238×)G3739 1. relative pronoun who/which/that (1149×)H1732 1. David (proper name) (1075×)H2088 1. this, this one (demonstrative) (1059×)G1063 1. (1047×)G3778 1. this thing, these things (1003×)H???? 2. (1002×)G2424 1. (924×)G3754 1. that (content clause) (881×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἐπεί, conjunction, both temporal and causal; also ἐπειδή, ἐπείτε. OF TIME (ἐπειδή is more frequently in this sense in Prose), after that, since, when, from Refs 8th c.BC+ __I with Ind., __I.1 of a definite occurrence in past time, mostly with aorist, ἐπεί π᾽ εὔξαντο after they had prayed, Refs 8th c.BC+after Refs 5th c.BC+: rarely with imperfect, ἐπειδὴ εἱστιώμεθ᾽ Refs 5th c.BC+pluperfect, ἐπειδὴ…