Quick Definition
ἐφίστημι v. I stand by, am urgent, befall one, impend
Strong's Definition
from 1909 and 2476; to stand upon, i.e. be present (in various applications, friendly or otherwise, usually literal); --assault, come (in, to, unto, upon), be at hand (instant), present, stand (before, by, over).
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
verb | aor. ἐφέστην · subj. ἐπιστῶ · impv. ἐπίστηθι · ptc. ἐπιστάς · pf. ἐφέστηκα · ptc. ἐφεστώς | ἵστημι
17.5 · (ἐφίσταμαι[a] (and 2nd aorist perfect active)) · Stances and Events Related to Stances · Stand
to stand by, to stand at to stand at a particular place, often with the implication of suddenness For another interpretation of ἐφίσταμαι in LUK 24:4, see 85.13.
LUK 4:39 · LUK 10:40 · LUK 20:1 · LUK 24:4 · ACT 4:1 · ACT 10:17 · ACT 11:11 · ACT 12:7 · ACT 22:13 · ACT 23:11 · ACT 23:27
85.13 · (ἐφίσταμαι[b] (and 2nd aorist active)) · Existence in Space · Be in a Place
to be near, to be at, to be nearby to be in proximity to something For another interpretation of ἐφίσταμαι in LUK 24:4, see 17.5.
13.119 · (ἐφίσταμαι[c]) · Be, Become, Exist, Happen · Happen
to happen to, to come upon, to overtake to happen to someone or something, with the implication of an event which is undesirable
39.47 · (ἐφίσταμαι[d] (and 2nd aorist active)) · Hostility, Strife · Attack
to attack, to assault to use sudden physical force against someone as the outgrowth of a hostile attitude In a number of languages the equivalent of ‘to attack’ is simply ‘to start fighting against.’ In some languages, however, the equivalent is ‘to jump on’ or ‘to grab to do harm to.’
Although according to the Greek text the attack was made on the home of Jason, the actual objects of the attack were the persons in the home. The attack may very well have involved battering down the door, and in some languages it may be necessary to make explicit this aspect of the attack.
67.63 · (ἐφίσταμαι[e] (and perfect active)) · Time · A Point of Time with Reference to Other Points of Time: Before, Long Ago, Now, At the Same Time, When, About, After
imminent, impending to occur with high probability at a point of time just subsequent to another point of time
68.7 · (ἐφίσταμαι[f] (and perfect active)) · Aspect · Begin, Start
to begin, to commence to begin, with the focus upon the initial stages of an activity It is also possible to interpret ἐφίσταμαι in ACT 28:2 as meaning ‘to be imminent’ (see 67.63).
68.14 · (ἐφίσταμαι[g] (and 2nd aorist active)) · Aspect · Continue
to continue, to persist in to continue in an activity in spite of presumed opposition
1 It is possible that κατεφίσταμαι is somewhat stronger in meaning than ἐφίσταμαι[d], but it is impossible to be certain of such a distinction on the basis of NT contexts.
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
ἐφ-ίστημι: 2 aor. ἐπέστην, ptep. ἐπιστάς, impv. ἐπίστηθι; pf. ptep. ἐφεστώς; to place at, place upon, place over; in the N. T. only in the mid. [pres. indic. 3 pers. sing. ἐπίσταται (for ἐφίστ.), 1 Th. ν. 3 T Tr WH; see reff. s. v. apeidov] and the intrans. tenses of the act., viz. pf. and 2 aor. (see ἀνίστημι) ; to stand by, be present: Lk. ii. 38; Acts xxii. 20; ἐπάνω w-.gen.of pers. to stand over one, place one’s self above, Lk. iv. 39; used esp. of persons coming upon one suddenly: simply, Lk. x. 40; xx. 1; Acts vi. 12; xxii. 13; xxiii. 27; of an angel, Acts xii. 7; w. dat. of pers., Acts iv. 1; xxiii. 11; of the advent of angels, Lk. ii. 9; xxiv. 4, (of Hephaestus, Leian. dial. deor. 17,1; freq. of dreams, as Hom. Il. 10, 496; 23, 106; Hdt. 1, 34; al.); w. dat. of place, Acts xvii. 5; foll. by ἐπί with acc. of place, Acts x. 17; xi. 11; of evils coming upon one: w. dat. of pers., 1 Th. v. 3 [see above]; ἐπί twa, Lk. xxi. 34 (Sap. vi. 9; xix. 1; Soph. O. R. 777; Thue. 3, 82). 1. 4. to be at hand i.e. be ready: 2 Tim. iv. 2, οἵ. Leo ad loc. (Eur. Andr. 547; Dem. p. 245, 11). to be at hand 1. 6. impend: of time, 2 Tim. iv. 6. to come on, of rain, Acts xxviii. 2. [Comp.: κατ-, συν-εφίστημι.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
ἐφίστημι ephistēmi 21x
trans. to place upon, over, close by; intrans. to stand by or near, Lk. 2:38; 4:39; to come suddenly upon, Lk. 2:9; 24:4; to come upon, assault, Acts 6:12; 17:5; to come near, approach, Lk. 10:40; to impend, be instant, to be at hand, 1 Thess. 5:3; to be present, Acts 28:2; to be pressing, urgent, earnest, 2 Tim. 4:2
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
ἐφ-ίστημι
[in LXX for נָצַב ni., שִׁית, נָתַן, etc. ;]
causal in pres., impf., fut., 1 aor., to set upon or by, set up, etc. (Æsch., Hdt., Arist., al).
Intrans. in mid, and in pf. and 2 aor. act.;
to stand upon;
to be set over;
to stand by, be present, be at hand, come on or upon: Lk 2:38 10:40 20:1, Ac 6:12 12:7 22:13, 20 23:27, II Ti 4:2; c. dat. pers., Lk 2:9 24:4, Ac 4:1 23:11; c. dat. loc., Ac 17:5; seq. έπί, c. acc, Ac 10:17 11:11; of rain, Ac 28:2; of evils impending, c. dat. pers., I Th 5:3; seq. έπί (Wi 6:9), Lk 21:34; of time, II Ti 4:6 (cf. κατ-, συν-εφίστημι).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
ἐφίστημι occurs = ‘‘delay,” ‘‘ check,” in P Petr II. 20 1:5 (8.6. 252) ἵνα οὖν μὴ ἡ Eaywy τοῦ σίτου ἐπισταθῆι, ‘that the transport of the wheat may not be delayed,” and in the € χθρα medical receipt, P Oxy VIII. 1088? (early i/a.D.) ἴσχαιμον" χαλκίτιδει Ana χρῶι καὶ εὐθέως ἐπιστήσει, ““styplic: use pounded rock-alum, and it will stop (the blood) at once” (Ed.). It is also common=“ put up,” ‘‘ fix,” of doors, as in PSI IV. 3968 (B.c. 241-0) θύραν τὴν ἐφεστηκνῖα[ν ἐπὶ τῆς προστάδος (‘‘ vestibule”), P Fay 110%? (A.D. 94) τὰς θύρας ἐπιστησάτωσαν οἱ τέκτονες : cf. P Oxy VI. 912? (A.D. 235) τὰς ἐφεστώσας τοῖς τόποις θύρας καὶ κλεῖδας, ‘the existing doors and keys” (Edd.). In the late P Hamb I. 23° (Α.Ὁ. 569) ἀμπελουργῶν ὁρμωμένων μὲν ἀπὸ κώμης. . - , ἐφεστὦτων δὲ ἐνταῦθα ἐπὶ τῆς α[ὐ]τῆς ᾿Αντινοέων πόλ(εως) the reference is to domicile: ‘‘ihre ἰδία (origo) ist das Dorf . , ihr Domizil Antinoupolis” (Ed.). The idea of hostile intent, as in 1 Th 5% (on form ém—, see WH Wores?, p- 151), appears in P Thead 217 (a.D. 318) τίνες κακοῦργοι ἐπιστάντες ἐκεῖσε διὰ νυκτὸς ἔνθα τὰ θρέμματα ἐβόσκετο καὶ ἀπεσύλησαν : cf., on the other hand, P Fay 2050 (ili/iv A.D.) προορᾶσθαι τῶν ἐθνῶν ols ἐφεστήκασι, “ providing for the interests of the peoples over whom they are placed” (Eda.). See also P Flor II. 2364 (A.D. 267) ἔπεμψα ᾿Απολλώνιον kal Κλαύδιον ἐπιστησομένους τῇ τρύγῃ τοῦ Χρυσοχόου, and P Oxy IX. 1220” (iii/A.D.) οὐδὲν ἠφάνισεν ὁ ἱπποποτάμις, # τι γάρ ἐστιν περιέργου, ἐφίσταμε αὐτῶν, “the hippopotamus has destroyed nothing, for if there is any superfluity, I watch over the place” (Ed.).
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
ἐφίστημι (ephistēmi) — to approach. 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, [Refs 2nd c.BC+] __A.II.2 bring in, ἡ τύχη ἐπιστήσασα Ῥωμαίους [Refs 2nd c.BC+]; Φίλιππον ἐ. τοῖς πράγμασι to let him have a hand in the business, [Refs 4th c.BC+] __A.II.3 bring in, cause, occasion, κατάπληξίν τισι [Refs 1st c.BC+]; κίνδυνον, ἀγῶνά τινι, [Refs 2nd c.BC+] __A.III set up, establish, ἀγῶνα [Refs 5th c.BC+]: with accusative et infinitive, ordain, prescribe, ὁ νόμος ἐφίστησι τὰ λοιπὰ κρίνειν τοὺς ἄρχοντας [Refs 4th c.BC+]; ἐπιστήσατε quid facere debeamus, [Refs 1st c.AD+] __A.IV set by or near to, ἐπιστήσαντες κύκλῳ τὸ σῆμα ἱππέας [Refs 5th c.BC+]; especially place in rear, of troops, τὴν φάλαγγα τούτοις κατόπιν ἐ. [Refs 2nd c.BC+] __A.V stop, cause to halt, ἐπιστῆσαι τὸ στράτευμα [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὴν ὁδόν, τὴν πορείαν, [Refs 1st c.BC+]; ἐ. τὴν ὁρμήν check it, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]; τὴν διήγησιν interrupt it, [Refs]; check, ἔμμηνα [Refs 1st c.AD+] having halted, [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—passive, to be checked, stopped, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; ἐὰν ἐφίστηται ἡ κοιλία [Refs 2nd c.AD+] __A.VI ἐφίστημι τὴν διάνοιαν κατά τι, περί τινος, fix one's mind upon it, attend to it, [Refs 5th c.BC+] absolutely, give attention, τούτοις ἐπιστήσαντες [Refs 2nd c.BC+]; ἐπιστήσασι μᾶλλον λεκτέον one must speak with more care and accuracy, [Refs 4th c.BC+]ad Them.265b; ὅτι.. [Refs 2nd c.AD+] __A.VI.2 with accusative person, arrest the attention of, [Refs 1st c.AD+]; ἐπιστῆσαί τινα ἐπί τι call his attention to, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]; τοῦ καιροῦ τοῦ κατὰ τὴν διήγησιν ἐφεστακότος ἡμᾶς ἐπί τι having led us to.., [Refs]: hence, object, [Refs 3rd c.AD+] __B intransitive in middle and passive, ἐφίσταμαι, aorist 1 ἐπεστάθην [[Refs 5th c.BC+], with perfect, pluperfect (Aeolic dialect pluperfect 3rd.pers. singular ἐπήστᾱκε [Refs 2nd c.BC+]pluperfect 3rd.pers. plural ἐφεστάκεον [ᾱ] [Refs 4th c.BC+], and aorist 2 active: (the causal tenses are not found in [Refs 8th c.BC+], the middle or passive only in imperfect ἐφίστατο [Refs 8th c.BC+]; elsewhere always aorist 2 or perfect active with Epic dialect infinitive ἐφεστάμεναι [Refs 8th c.BC+]:—stand upon, τεῖχος.. ῥύατ᾽ ἐφεσταότες [Refs 8th c.BC+] __B.2 to be imposed upon, μόχθων τῶν ἐφεστώτων ἐμοί [Refs 5th c.BC+] __B.3 stand on the top or surface, τὸ ἐπιστάμενον [τοῦ γάλακτος], i. e. cream, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐ. καθάπερ ὀρρὸς [γάλακτι] [Refs 1st c.AD+]; of vapour, form, [Refs 4th c.BC+] __B.II to be set over, ἐφίσταται πύλαις [Refs 5th c.BC+]participle, ὁ ἐφεστηκώς the person in authority, the officer in command, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οἱ ἐφεστῶτες, Ionic dialect οἱ ἐπεστεῶτες, [Refs 5th c.BC+] __B.III stand by or near, ὣς πυκνοὶ ἐφέστασαν ἀλλήλοισιν [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἐπὶ τὰς πύλας, ἐπὶ τὰς θύρας, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; especially of dreams or visions, appear to, εὕδοντι ἐπέστη ὄνειρος [NT+8th c.BC+]: absolutely, stand by, [NT+5th c.BC+]; without hostile sense, ἐπέστης [NT+5th c.BC+]; of troops, to be posted after or behind, κατόπιν ἐ. τοῖς θηρίοις [Refs 2nd c.BC+] __B.III.2 in hostile sense, stand against, τὰ φρονέοντες ἐφέστασαν ἀλλήλοισιν [Refs 8th c.BC+]; appear before, of an army, ἐπὶ τῇ πόλι [Refs 5th c.BC+]; come upon suddenly or by surprise, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; so of events, etc., αἰφνίδιος αὐτοῖς ἐ. ὄλεθρος [NT+2nd c.BC+] __B.III.3 metaphorically, of events, spring upon one, occur, πρίν μοι τύχη τοιάδ᾽ ἐπέστη [Refs 5th c.BC+]; in perfect, impend, be at hand, τὸν ἐφεστηκότα κίνδυνον τῇ πόλει [NT+4th c.BC+]; of a more remote future, to be in store, lie in wait for, κῆρες ἐφεστᾶσιν θανάτοιο [Refs 8th c.BC+] __B.IV halt, stop, as in a march, ἄλλοτε καὶ ἄλλοτε ἐφιστάμενος [Refs 5th c.BC+] __B.V fix one's mind on, give one's attention to, σφαγῇ [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐπί τι [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐπιστάς absolutely (i.e. τοῖς πράγμασι), [Refs] __C aorist 1 middle in causal sense, set up, τὰς θύρας [Refs 5th c.BC+]; set, post, φρουροὺς ἐπεστησάμην [Refs]; τέλος ἐπιστήσασθαι, Latin finem imponere, [Refs 5th c.BC+]present is once so used, τοῦ με τήνδ᾽ ἐφίστασαι βάσι; why dost thou cause me to halt? [Refs 5th c.BC+] __C.2 ἐπιστησάμενος, intransitive, having been ἐπιστάτης, [Refs]