Quick Definition
before the face of
Strong's Definition
directly in front of
Derivation: from G2596 (κατά) and G1799 (ἐνώπιον);
KJV Usage: before (the presence of), in the sight of
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
κατενώπιον, adverb, not met with in secular authors ((Winers Grammar, 102 (97)) see ἐνώπιον), over against, opposite, before the face of, before the presence of, in the sight of, before: followed by the genitive (Buttmann, 319 (273f); cf. Winers Grammar, § 54,6);
a. properly, of place, Jud_1:24 (Lev_4:17; Jos_1:5; Jos_3:7; Jos_23:9).
b. metaphorically, having one as it were before the eyes, before one as witness: τοῦ Θεοῦ, Rec. in 2Co_2:17; 2Co_12:19 (see κατέναντι); before God as judge, Eph_1:4; Col_1:22 (cf. Lightfoot, in the place cited; also Buttmann, 173, 180, 188).
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
κατενώπιον katenōpion 3x
can function as an improper prep., in the presence of, in the sight of, before; Eph_1:4 ; Col_1:22 ; Jud_1:24
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
† κατενώπιον ,
adv.
( = Hom ., κατένωπα ),
[in LXX : Psa_44:15 , al. ;]
over against, before: c . gen ., τ . δόξης , Jud_1:24 ; metaph . ( cf. κατέναντι , and v. Lft ., Col., l.c .), τ . θεοῦ , Eph_1:4 , Col_1:22 .†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
κατενώπιον [page 335]
κατενώπιον , like κατέναντι , is to be removed from the category of Hebraistic constructions : see further s.v. ἐνώπιον . With its usage in Eph_1:4 , Col_1:22 , Jud_1:24 (cf. 2Co_2:17 A, 2Co_12:19 A) we may compare the sixth century Christian amulet BGU III. 954 .6 (= Selections , p. 133) κλίνω τὴν κεφαλήν [μο ]υ κα <τ >ενώπιόν σου .
Liddell-Scott — Intermediate Greek Lexicon
κατενώπιον [Etym: = κατένωπα, NTest. ]
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon
κατενώπιον
adv. (= Hom., κατένωπα), [in LXX: Psa.44:15, al. ;]
over against, before: with genitive, τ. δόξης, Ju 24; metaphorically (cf. κατέναντι, and see Lft., Col., l.with), τ. θεοῦ, Eph.1:4, Col.1:22.†
(AS)
📖 In-Depth Word Study
Before (2714) katenopion
In the presence of - (2714)(katenopion from kata = against + enopios = in sight of, before) means in the very presence of, in the sight of, in front of. Translated "before" in the only other NT uses below (Eph 1:4-note, Col 1:22-note).
Compare every believer's present and future (see phrase "before Him") position which Jude assures us will NOT change, even though we may have days or even seasons when we fail to walk in the light...
Ephesians 1:4-note just as He chose (eklego) us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy (hagios) and blameless before Him. In love.
Colossians 1:22-note yet He has now reconciled (apokatallasso) you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present (paristemi - same verb describing our responsibility in light of such great mercies and such great transforming grace - Ro 12:1-note) you before Him holy (hagios) and blameless (amomos) and beyond reproach (anegkletos) --
Katenopion - 5v in the non-apocryphal Septuagint (Lxx) - Lev 4:17; Josh 1:5; 3:7; 21:44; 23:9