Quick Definition
I rest upon, rely on, trust in
Strong's Definition
to settle on; literally (remain) or figuratively (rely)
Derivation: middle voice from G1909 (ἐπί) and G373 (ἀναπαύω);
KJV Usage: rest in (upon)
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
ἐπαναπαύω:
1. to cause to rest upon anything: the Sept. in Jdg_16:26 according to manuscript Alex.; Gregory of Nyssa.
2. Middle (present ἐπαναπαύομαι); future ἐπαναπαύσομαι, and (Luk_10:6 T WH after manuscripts ΰ B) ἐπαναπαήσομαι (see ἀναπαύω); to rest upon anything: τίνι, metaphorically, τῷ νόμῳ, to lean upon, trust to, Rom_2:17 (Mic_3:11; 1Ma_8:12). to settle upon, fix its abode upon; ἐπί τινα, with the included idea of antecedent motion toward (see εἰς, C. 2, p. 186a): ἡ εἰρήνη ἐπ' αὐτόν i. e. shall rest, remain, upon him or it, Luk_10:6 (τό πνεῦμα ἐπί τινα, Num_11:25; 2Ki_2:15; ἐπί τίνι, Num_11:26 variant).
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
ἐπαναπαύομαι epanapauomai 2x
pr. to make to rest upon;
mid. to rest upon; to abide with, Luk_10:6 ;
to rely on, confide in, abide by confidingly, Rom_2:17
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
ἐπ -ανα -παύω ,
[in LXX , mid ., for H5117 , H8172 ni ;]
to refresh, cause to rest (upon); mid ., to rest upon: metaph ., c . dat ., Rom_2:17 ; seq . ἐπί , c . acc , Luk_10:6 ( Cremer , 827).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
ἐπαναπαύομαι [page 229]
A new citation for this verb, which is found only twice ( Luk_10:6 , Rom_2:17 ) in the NT, may be given from Didache 4 .2 ἐκζητήσεις δὲ καθ᾽ ἡμέραν τὰ πρόσωπα τῶν ἁγίων , ἵνα ἐπαναπαῇς τοῖς λόγοις αὐτῶν , that you may be refreshed by their words, where the form of the 2nd aor. pass, ἐπαναπαῇς recalls the fut. ἐπαναπαήσεται read by ΰ B in Lk l.c. (cf. also ἀναπαήσονται in Rev_14:13 ).
Liddell-Scott — Intermediate Greek Lexicon
ἐπαναπαύομαι Mid. "to rest upon, depend upon", τινι and ἐπί τινα NTest.
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon
ἐπ-ανα-παύω
[in LXX, mid., for נוּחַ, שָׁעַן ni ;]
to refresh, cause to rest (upon); mid., to rest upon: metaphorically, with dative, Rom.2:17; before ἐπί, with accusative, Luk.10:6 (Cremer, 827).†
(AS)
📖 In-Depth Word Study
Rely (1879) epanapauomai
Rely (1879) (epanapauomai from epà = upon + anapaúomai = to rest <> from aná = again + paúo = cease, give rest) conveys the basic meaning of to rest on. The idea is to refresh oneself back upon anything. It describes finding "comfort" through confident dependence on something, trust in and in context trusting in the Law but not being doers of it, which pictures a blind and mechanical reliance on the Mosaic law.
Epanapauomai is used only here here and Luke 10:16
And if a man of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him; but if not, it will return to you.
Epanapauomai means to continue, remain with the sense of remaining upon. In the OT (LXX), this word is describes the Spirit of God "resting" on men (see below - Nu 11:25, 26) So here in Ro 2:17 the picture Paul paints is of a spiritually blind mechanical "resting upon" or relying upon the Mosaic Law. The present tense of indicates this as their general practice. Paul in saying in essence that you Jews are continually (present tense) resting upon the Law of Moses but with a blind and mechanical reliance on the Mosaic law.
Epanapauomai is used 8 times in the Septuagint (LXX) (Nu 11:25, Nu 11:26, 2 Ki. 2:15, 2 Ki. 5:18, 2Ki. 7:2, 2Ki. 7:17, Ezek. 29:7, Mic. 3:11) in some cases meaning literally "leaning upon" and in others describing the Spirit "resting upon" men Moses recording for example...
Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him; and He took of the Spirit who was upon him and placed Him upon the seventy elders. And it came about that when the Spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But they did not do it again. 26 But two men had remained in the camp; the name of one was Eldad and the name of the other Medad. And the Spirit rested upon them (now they were among those who had been registered, but had not gone out to the tent), and they prophesied in the camp. (Nu 11:25, 26)
Steven Cole - Of course, the Jews did obey some of the external requirements of the Law. They were fastidious about ceremonial cleanliness. They meticulously tithed even their table spices. They fasted and prayed at the stipulated times. But Jesus rebuked them because while they honored God with their lips, their hearts were far from Him (Mark 7:6). They knew God’s commandments, but they just kept those that could be seen by men, so that they looked spiritual. They didn’t seek to please God from the heart. Hypocrisy is all about maintaining outward appearances, with no regard to obedience from the heart. (Romans 2:17-24 What Hypocrisy Does)
AND BOAST IN GOD: kai kauchasai (2SPMI) en theo: (Is 45:25; 48:2; Mic 3:11; Jn 8:41) (Ro 2:23, 3:27, 4:2 contrast real "boasting" Ro 15:17 & real praise Ro 2:29):
BAD BOASTING
NIV = "brag about your relationship to God"
Boasting in God is a good thing, not a bad thing. The Amplified translation helps bring out the sense of Paul is trying to convey here by rendering it "you pride yourselves in God and your relationship to Him."
Cole - So boasting in the Lord is good, if our aim is to give Him all glory for our salvation. But Paul’s Jewish readers were boasting in God in the sense of elevating themselves above the pagan Gentiles, who did not know God. It was a form of spiritual pride, where they said, “We know the only true God, but you don’t! We’re better than you are!” They were like the super-spiritual faction in Corinth (1 Cor. 1:12). Some were saying, “I am of Paul,” and others, “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas.” But some boasted, “I am of Christ!” They were boasting in God, but not to honor God, but to honor themselves. But they were deceived by their hypocrisy. (Romans 2:17-24 What Hypocrisy Does)
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