ἐπισκοπ-ή G1984
visitation (divine inspection or judgment); office of overseer, bishopric
Derived from episkopos ('overseer, bishop'), this noun carries two distinct senses in the NT. In Luke 19:44 and 1 Peter 2:12, it refers to God's 'visitation' — a moment of divine inspection that brings either judgment or mercy. In Acts 1:20 (quoting Psalm 109:8) and 1 Timothy 3:1, it denotes the office or position of an overseer in the early church. The dual meaning bridges the theological concept of God visiting his people and the practical reality of church leadership.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Divine visitation — God's act of coming near to inspect, judge, or show mercy. In Luke 19:44 Jesus weeps over Jerusalem because the city 'did not recognize the time of your visitation' (Spanish 'de-visitación,' French 'visitation'), signifying the moment of God's gracious arrival. First Peter 2:12 similarly anticipates a 'day of visitation' when outsiders will glorify God. The term evokes the Hebrew Bible pattern of God 'visiting' (paqad) his people for blessing or reckoning. 4×
AR["الأُسْقُفِيَّةَ", "الافتِقادِ", "الاِفتِقادِ", "وَظِيفَتَهُ"]·ben["তত্ত্বাবধানের", "তত্ত্বাবধায়কের-পদ", "পরিদর্শনের"]·DE["ἐπισκοπὴν", "ἐπισκοπῆς"]·EN["of-overseership", "of-visitation", "office", "visitation"]·FR["visitation", "épiscopat"]·heb["פְּקֻדָּה"]·HI["अधयकशतअ", "देखभाल-के"]·ID["jabatan", "jabatan-penilik", "penghakiman", "peninjauanmu"]·IT["episkopes", "episkopēs", "sorveglianza"]·jav["kalungguhan-pangwasa", "kang-rawuh.", "penilik", "rawuhipun"]·KO["감독직을", "돌보심의", "직분-을"]·PT["cargo", "da-visitação.", "episcopado", "visitação"]·RU["Епископство", "епископства", "посещения", "посещения."]·ES["cargo", "de-supervisión", "de-visitación", "visitación"]·SW["kujiliwa", "uangalizi", "ya-kujiliwa"]·TR["gözetmenlik", "onun", "ziyaret", "ziyaretin"]·urd["عہدہ", "نظر-کرمی-کے", "نگرانی-کی", "نگرانی-کے۔"]
Related Senses
G2962 1. Lord (divine title) (661×)H0136 1. Lord (divine title) (440×)H0113 1. lord, human superior (249×)G1849 1. authority, power (91×)H6485a 2. Qal: punish, bring judgment (63×)H8198 1. maidservant, female slave (63×)G2962 2. master, lord (human authority) (61×)H0034 1. needy, poor, destitute (61×)H0519 1. female servant, maidservant (56×)H6041 1. poor, needy person (55×)H0113 2. master, owner of servants (49×)H4910 1. Qal: to have dominion, exercise power over (44×)H1800 1. poor, needy (socioeconomic) (38×)H3515 1. heavy, severe, grievous (36×)G4434 1. (34×)G5092 1. honor, esteem, respect (33×)H6485a 4. Qal: visit, attend to, care for (32×)H3513 1. honor / show respect (Piel) (30×)H4910 2. Qal: to rule, govern (administrative authority) (27×)H4513 1. withhold, restrain, hold back (25×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἐπισκοπ-ή, ἡ, watching over, visitation, of God, LXX+NT __II. office of ἐπίσκοπος, NT: generally, office, LXX __II.2. ={ἐπίσκεψις}LXX