Quick Definition
I exercise oversight, care for
Strong's Definition
to oversee; by implication, to beware
Derivation: from G1909 (ἐπί) and G4648 (σκοπέω);
KJV Usage: look diligently, take the oversight
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
ἐπισκοπέω, ἐπισκόπω; to look upon, inspect, oversee, look after, care for: spoken of the care of the church which rested upon the presbyters, 1Pe_5:2 (T WH omit) (with τήν ἐκκλησίαν added, Ignatius ad Rom_9:1-33; Rom_1:1-32 [ET]); followed by μή (which see II. 1 a.) equivalent to Latincaveo, to look carefully, beware: Heb_12:15. (Often by Greek writings from Aeschylus down.)
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
ἐπισκοπέω episkopeō 2x
to look at, inspect; met. to be circumspect, heedful, Heb_12:15 ; to oversee, to exercise the office of ἐπίσκοπος , 1Pe_5:2
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
ἐπι -σκοπέω , -ῶ
[in LXX for H6485 ni ., etc.;]
1. to look upon, observe, examine: seq . μή , Heb_12:16 .
2. As ἐπισκέπτομαι in LXX , NT, to visit, care for: 1Pe_5:2 ( R , txt .; WH cm.; Cremer , 527).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
ἐπισκοπέω [page 244]
The NT ( Heb_12:15 ) connotation of this word exercise oversight or care may be illustrated by its common use as an epistolary formula in the closing salutations of letters, e.g. P Revill Mel p. 295 .12 (B.C. 131 0) (= Witkowski Epp. .2 . p. 96) ἐπισκοποῦ <δ [ὲ ]> καὶ τὰς ἀδελφὰς . . καὶ Πέλοπα κτλ ., P Lips I. 104 .18 ( c. B.C. 96 5) ἐπισκοπεῖτ [α ]ι ὑμᾶς Ἀλμέντ̣ι̣ς , Ψενοσῖρις κτλ ., P Oxy IV. 743 .43 (B.C. 2) ἐπισκοπ (οῦ ) τοὺς σοὺς πάντε (ς ), ib. II. 294 .31 (A.D. 22) ἐπισκωποῦ Δημητροῦ [ν ] καὶ Δωρίωνα [τὸν πατ ]έρα , P Giss I. 12 .7 ἐπισκοποῦμαι τὴν σὴν σύνβιον καὶ τοὺς φιλοῦντάς σε πάντας . For the verb = inspect see P Lille I. 1 verso .27 (B.C. 259 8) ὕστερον δὲ ἐπισκοπούμενος τὸ περίχωμα συνέκρινεν τὰ χώματα ποῆσαι , P Tebt I. 30 .25 (B.C. 115) ἐπισκοποῦντες διὰ τοῦ ἀπολογισμοῦ τοῦ ἐδάφους , on examining the land-register (Edd.). From the inscrr. we may cite Syll 802 .82 (iii/B.C.) ἀνῶιξε τὸγ γυλιὸ [ν ] κα [ὶ ἐ ]πεσκόπει τὰ συντετριμμένα σ [κε ]ύη .
Liddell-Scott — Intermediate Greek Lexicon
ἐπισκοπέω fut. -σκέψομαι later -σκοπήσω aor.1 -εσκεψάμην perf. ἐπέσκεμμαι "to look upon or at, inspect, observe, examine, regard", Hdt. , Eur. : "to watch over", of tutelary gods, Soph. , Eur. "to visit", Soph. , Xen. , etc.:—Pass., εὐνὴν ὀνείροις οὐκ ἐπισκοπουμένην "visited" not by dreams, i. e. sleepless, Aesch. of a general, "to inspect, review", Xen. "to consider, reflect", Soph. , Xen. :—Mid. "to examine with oneself, meditate", Plat.
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon
ἐπι-σκοπέω, -ῶ
[in LXX for פָּקַד ni., etc. ;]
__1. to look upon, observe, examine: before μή, Heb.12:16.
__2. As ἐπισκέπτομαι in LXX, NT, to visit, care for: 1Pe.5:2 (R, txt.; WH cm.; Cremer, 527).†
(AS)
📖 In-Depth Word Study
Oversight (1983) episkopeo
Exercising oversight (1983) (episkopeo from epà = upon or intensifying already existing idea in verb + skopeo = regard, give attention to, look at, contemplate) means literally to look upon, and thus to observe, to examine the state of affairs of something, to look after or to oversee. In the NT, episkopeo is used only in Hebrews 12:15 and 1 Peter 5:2, the latter used to describe the work of shepherding the flock. It expresses careful regard of those in position of responsibility.
The writer of Hebrews exhorts his readers to be
exercising oversight (episkopeo) [over yourselves] lest anyone be falling away from the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springing up be troubling you, and through this the many be defiled (Hebrews 12:15) (Eerdmans)
Episkopeo describes one who is literally a "watchman" "upon" (prefix "epi-" = upon) the sheep. This verb is in the present tense which pictures these men as constantly, diligently, actively and responsibly overseeing the care of the sheep in their flock. They are constantly examining them for "spiritual parasites" and are ever on the lookout for the ravenous wolves in sheep's clothing (see discussion on Matthew 7:15). Oversight is not the only duty of shepherding, but it is the one Peter mentions here in the situation of suffering.
Episkopeo is made up of two words in Greek just like it is in English - "over" and "sight". Elder-shepherds exercise oversight. They are "overseers". They look out over the flock. God holds them accountable for seeing the big picture and acting for the good of the whole flock.
Vine writes that “exercising” is the right rendering; the word does not imply the entrance upon such responsibility, but the fulfilment of it. It is not a matter of assuming a position, but of the discharge of the duties.
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