ἐφίστημι G2186
To stand by, come upon suddenly, be present or imminent; also to press on urgently or to attack with hostile intent.
Built on the compound ἐπί + ἵστημι ('stand upon'), this verb carries a vivid spatial sense that branches into several distinct uses. In the Gospels it often describes angels or messengers who suddenly appear beside someone, as when the two men in dazzling garments 'stood by' the women at the empty tomb (Luke 24:4). The German 'steht-dabei' (stands-alongside) captures the proximity well. It can also shade into urgency — Paul's charge to Timothy to 'be ready in season and out of season' (2 Tim 4:2) — or even hostile approach, as when the mob in Thessalonica 'set upon' Jason's house (Acts 17:5).
Senses
1. stand by or near — To position oneself beside or near someone, standing in close proximity. This is the most common NT use, seen when the angel 'stood by' the shepherds (Luke 2:9) or when the men in white 'stood beside' the apostles at the Ascension. The Spanish 'habiéndose-presentado' (having presented oneself) and German 'steht-dabei' both emphasize the nearness and readiness implied. The sense suggests calm, deliberate presence rather than sudden intrusion. 10×
AR["جاءَ","وَاقِفًا","وَقَفا","وَقَفَ","وَقَفَ-عَلَيْهِمْ","وَقَفَ-عِنْدَهُ","وَقَفُوا"]·ben["উপস্থিত-হলেন","দাঁড়াইয়া","দাঁড়াল","দাঁড়ালেন","দাঁড়িয়ে","পাশে-দাঁড়ানো","পাশে-দাঁড়িয়ে","সঙ্গে"]·DE["steht-dabei"]·EN["came-upon","having-stood-by","having-stood-near","having-stood-over","standing-by","stood","stood-by"]·FR["se-présenter"]·heb["עָמְדוּ","עָמַד","עוֹמֵד"]·HI["आ-खड़ा","आ-खड़ा-हुआ","आ-खड़े-हुए","खड़ा-हुआ","खड़े-हुए","खड़े-हो-गए","खड़े-होकर","खड़ेहोकर","झुककर"]·ID["berdiri","berdiri,","berdiri-di-atas","datang"]·IT["presentarsi","stare-vicino"]·jav["jumeneng","jumeneng,","ngadeg-ing-sandhingipun","rawuh","sami-rawuh"]·KO["나타나서","나타났다","다가왔다","도착했다","서-있었다","서-있으며","서서"]·PT["aproximaram-se","aproximou-se"]·RU["встали","представ","предстал","предстали","став","стоящий"]·ES["habiendo-se-inclinado","habiéndose-presentado","llegaron","presente","presentándose","se-presentaron","se-presentó"]·SW["akasimama","akasimama,","akawasimamia","akisimama-karibu","nimesimama-karibu","wakasimama","walikuja","walisimama-karibu-na"]·TR["durarak","durdular","gelip","göründü","orada-duran","yaklaştılar"]·urd["آ-کھڑا-ہوا","آ-کھڑے-ہوئے","جھک-کر","کھڑا-ہوا","کھڑے-ہو-کر","کھڑے-ہو-گئے"]
2. come upon suddenly, appear — To come upon someone unexpectedly or to appear suddenly, with an element of surprise. Luke especially favors this use: Martha is 'stood upon' by the demands of serving (Luke 10:40), and the end-times day 'comes upon' the unprepared (Luke 21:34). The Spanish 'habiendo-venido-sobre' (having come upon) highlights the overtaking quality. In Acts 4:1 and 6:12, religious authorities descend upon the apostles without warning. 7×
AR["قائِمَةً","هَجَمُوا","وَقَفَ","وَقَفَتْ-عَلَيْهِمْ","وَقَفْتُ-عَلَيْهِ","يَأْتيَ","يَقَعُ"]·ben["আসিয়া","আসে","উপস্থিত-হয়ে","এগিয়ে-এসে","এলেন","এসে","এসে-পড়ে"]·DE["steht-dabei","ἐφίσταται"]·EN["came-upon","come-upon","having-approached","having-come-up","having-come-upon","stands-upon"]·FR["se-présenter"]·heb["בָּא","הִתְנַפְּלוּ","יָבוֹא","עָמְדָה","עָמְדוּ-עַל","עָמַדְתִּי","קָרְבָה"]·HI["-याजक","अअत-है","आ-जाए","आकर","आकर-खड़ी-होकर","खड़ी-होकर"]·ID["berdiri","datang","datang-tiba-tiba","itu","menghampiri","menyerbu,"]·IT["ephistatai","presentarsi","stare-vicino"]·jav["jumeneng","ndhateng,","nimbrung","nyedhak","rawuh","rawuh,"]·KO["갑자기-다가와서","나타나서","다가서","다가와서","다가왔다","임하라","임한다"]·PT["sobrevenha","sobrevieram","sobrevém","tendo-chegado"]·RU["напав","настигает","подойдя","постигнет","предстали","придя"]·ES["acercándose","habiendo-venido-sobre","habiéndome-presentado","presentándose","sobreviene","venga-repentinamente","vinieron-sobre"]·SW["akisimama","ikawajia","ile-ile","inawajia","nikija","wakimjia","waliwajia"]·TR["durarak","geldi-üzerine","gelerek","gelip-üzerine","gelmesin","ulaşır"]·urd["آ-پڑ-کر","آ-پڑتی-ہے","آ-کھڑی-ہوکر","آ-کھڑے-ہوئے","اچانک-آ-پڑے","حملہ-کر-کر","پاس-آ-کر"]
3. be present, be at hand — To be present, at hand, or imminent as a state rather than an action. Paul writes that his 'departure has come' (2 Tim 4:6), using the perfect to indicate a condition now fully upon him. In Acts 28:2, the rain 'had set in' — a weather event already established. This stative use differs from senses 1-2 in that arrival is complete and the emphasis falls on the resulting condition. 2×
AR["حاضِرِ","حَضَرَ"]·ben["উপস্থিত-হয়েছে।","চাপিতেছিল"]·DE["steht-dabei","ἐφέστηκεν"]·EN["has-come","having-set-in"]·FR["se-présenter"]·heb["הִגִּיעָה","עוֹמֵד"]·HI["अअ-पहुनच.","आई-हुई,"]·ID["sudah-dekat","yang-ada,"]·IT["ephestēken","stare-vicino"]·jav["ingkang-tumiba,","sampun-cedhak."]·KO["다가왔다","닥친"]·PT["que-sobrevinha,"]·RU["надвигающегося,","настало"]·ES["ha-llegado","que-estaba-sobre"]·SW["iliyokuwepo","umefika"]·TR["yaklaştı"]·urd["آ-گیا-ہے","ہوئی"]
4. be urgent, press on — To be urgent, persistent, or pressing in carrying out a duty. In 2 Timothy 4:2, Paul charges Timothy to 'be ready' (ἐπίστηθι) — be at your post, press on whether the moment seems convenient or not. The Spanish 'insiste' (insist, persist) captures the force well. This sense extends the spatial 'standing over' into figurative vigilance and relentless readiness. 1×
AR["اثْبُتْ"]·ben["প্রস্তুত-থাক"]·DE["ἐπίστηθι"]·EN["be-ready"]·FR["se-présenter"]·heb["הִתְיַצֵּב"]·HI["तैयअर-रह"]·ID["siap-sedialah"]·IT["epistēthi"]·jav["tansah-samekta"]·KO["힘써라"]·RU["будь-готов"]·ES["insiste"]·SW["kuwa-tayari"]·TR["hazır-ol"]·urd["تیار-رہ"]
5. attack, assault — To come upon with hostile intent, to rush upon or assault. In Acts 17:5, the jealous mob 'set upon' Jason's house seeking Paul and Silas. The Greek 'having attacked' (ἐπιστάντες) and Spanish 'presentándose-ante' show the shift from mere appearance to aggressive confrontation. This martial use draws on the compound's sense of imposing oneself forcibly upon another. 1×
AR["هاجَموا"]·ben["দাঁড়িয়ে"]·DE["steht-dabei"]·EN["having-attacked"]·FR["se-présenter"]·heb["עוֹמְדִים-עַל"]·HI["आकर"]·ID["menyerang"]·IT["stare-vicino"]·jav["ngadeg"]·KO["습격하여"]·RU["напав"]·ES["presentándose-ante"]·SW["wakishambulia"]·TR["saldırarak"]·urd["آ-کر"]
Related Senses
H0776 1. land, country, territory (2323×)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×)G3772 1. heaven, sky, heavens (278×)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×)G2889 1. world (185×)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×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἐφίστημι, Ionic dialect ἐπ-: __A causal in present, imperfect, future, and aorist 1 (also in the later perfect and pluperfect ἐφέστᾰκα, ἐφεστάκειν [ᾰ], see below 11.1, VI. 2): __A.I set, place upon, τεῖχος τείχει Refs 5th c.BC+ __A.II set over, μ᾽ Ἀπόλλων τῷδ᾽ ἐπέστησεν τέλει Refs 5th c.BC+: with infinitive, βουλὴν ἐπιμελεῖσθαι τῆς εὐκοσμίας Refs 5th c.BC+:—passive, to be appointed, instituted,…