G1983 ἐπισκοπέω (episkopéō)

Greek 📖 Greek Word Study

Verb

Quick Definition

ἐπισκοπέω v. 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

UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

ἐπισκοπέω (G1983) — ἐπισκοπεύω

verb | σκοπέω

35.39 · Help, Care For · Care For, Take Care Of

to look after, to take care of, to see to to care for or look after, with the implication of continuous responsibility For another interpretation of ἐπισκοπέω in HEB 12:15, see 30.46.

HEB 12:15 · 1PE 5:2

30.46 · Think · To Think About, with the Implied Purpose of Responding Appropriately

to give careful attention to, to consider carefully, to guard against to give careful consideration to something, with the implication of guarding against For another interpretation of ἐπισκοπέω in HEB 12:15, see 35.39. Some scholars have seen in the occurrence of ἐπισκοπέω in HEB 12:15 a meaning at least somewhat similar to that which occurs in ἐπισκοπέω[c] ‘to be responsible, to care for’ (53.70).

HEB 12:15

53.70 · Religious Activities · Roles and Functions

to minister unto, to be responsible, to care for to have responsibility for the care of someone, implying a somewhat official responsibility within a congregation It is possible, however, that ἐπισκοπέω in 1PE 5:2 is not to be understood as designating some official responsibility but merely as a role of helping and serving (see 35.39).

1PE 5:2

UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

ἔπι-σκοπέω, -@; to look upon, inspect, oversee, look after, care for: spoken of the eare of the church which rested upon the presbyters, 1 Pet. v. 2 [T WH om.] (with τὴν ἐκκλησίαν added, Ignat. ad Rom. 9,1); foll. by μή [q. vIl. 1 a.] i. q. Lat. caveo, to look carefully, beware: Heb. xii. 15. (Often by Grk. writ. fr. Aeschyl. 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, 1 Pet. 5:2*

Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon

ἐπι-σκοπέω, -ῶ

[in LXX for פָּקַד ni., etc. ;]

to look upon, observe, examine: seq. μή, He 12:15.

As ἐπισκέπτομαι in LXX, NT, to visit, care for: I Pe 5:2 (R, txt.; WH om.; Cremer, 527).†

Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT

ἐπισκοπέω. The NT (Heb 1215) 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. 2951? (B.c. 131-0) (= Witkowski Epp. p. 96) ἐπισκοποῦ <8[%])> καὶ tas ἀδελφὰς. . καὶ Πέλοπα κτλ., P Lips I. 10418 (c. B.c. 96-5) ἐπισκοπεῖτ[α]ι ὑμᾶς ᾿Αλμέντις, Ψενοσῖρις κτλ., P Oxy IV. 743'% (B.c. 2) ἐπισκοπίοῦ) τοὺς σοὺς πάντε(ς), 26. II. 294% (A.D. 22) ἐπισκωποῦ Δημητροῦ[ν] καὶ Δωρίωνα [τὸν πατ]έρα, P Giss I. 127 ἐπισκοποῦμαι τὴν σὴν σύνβιον καὶ τοὺς φιλοῦντάς σε πάντας. For the verb = ‘‘inspect”” see P Lille I. 1 verso?? (B.C. 259-8) ὕστερον δὲ ἐπισκοπούμενος τὸ περίχωμα συνέκρινεν τὰ χώματα ποῆσαι, P Tebt I. 3035 (B.c. 115) ἐπισκοποῦντες διὰ τοῦ ἀπολογισμοῦ τοῦ ἐδάφους, ““ on examining the Ἰαπα-τερίϑίεσ ᾿ (Edd.). From the inscrr. we may cite Syll 802%? (iii/B.c.) ἀνῶιξε Toy γυλιὸ[ν] Kall ἐπεσκόπει τὰ συντετριμμένα σ[κε]ύη.

Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon

ἐπισκοπέω (episkopeō) — to oversee/care for. ἐπισκοπ-έω, future -σκέψομαι, later -σκοπήσω[Refs 2nd c.AD+]aorist -εσκεψάμην, later -εσκόπησα[Refs 2nd c.AD+]: perfect ἐπέσκεμμαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]; also in passive sense, [Refs 4th c.BC+]:—look upon or at, inspect, observe, ἱστορίας καὶ τἆλλα ἔγγραφα [Refs 2nd c.BC+] (also in middle, ἐ. τὸ περίχωμα [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; regard, τἄμ᾽ ἐ. κακά [Refs 5th c.BC+]; of tutelary gods, Θηβαΐας ἐπισκοποῦντ᾽ ἀγυιάς, of Bacchus, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὦ Δῆμ᾽, ἐναργῶς ἡ θεός σ᾽ ἐπισκοπεῖ [Refs 5th c.BC+]; also of a ruler, ἐ. τὴν πολιτείαν [Refs 5th c.BC+] observed, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐ. μή.. take care lest, [NT]

2. visit, ὦ θάνατε, νῦν μ᾽ ἐπίσκεψαι μολών [Refs 5th c.BC+]; visit as a friend (ironically), [Refs 4th c.BC+]; especially visit the sick, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; of the physician, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]:—middle, [Refs 4th c.BC+] —passive, εὐνὴν ὀνείροις οὐκ ἐπισκοπουμένην visited not by dreams, i.e. sleepless, [Refs 4th c.BC+]

3. of a general, inspect, review, τὰς τάξεις [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὰ ὅπλα [Refs 4th c.BC+]

4. consider, reflect, meditate, ὅ τι ἂν μέλλῃς ἐρεῖν, πρότερον ἐπισκόπει τῇ γνώμῃ [Refs 5th c.BC+]; also ἐ. πρός τι [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—middle, examine with oneself, meditate, [Refs 5th c.BC+] —passive, perfect (see.above).

5. exercise the office of ἐπίσκοπος, variant in [NT]

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)

Bible Occurrences (2)

12:15

5:2

📖 Greek Word Study — In-Depth Study from Precept Austin

Oversight (1983) episkopeo

Exercising oversight (1983) (episkopeo from epÃ = 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. "Copy and paste the address below into your web browser in order to go to the original page which will allow you to access live links related to the material on this page - these links include Scriptures (which can be read in context), Scripture pop-ups on mouse over, and a variety of related resources such as Bible dictionary articles, commentaries, sermon notes and theological journal articles related to the topic under discussion." http://www.preceptaustin.org/1peter_verse_by_verse_51-14.htm#oversight

Hebrews 12:15

See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God, [and] that no... root of bitterness springs up to cause trouble and defile many.

1 Peter 5:2

Be shepherds of God’s flock [that is] among you, watching over them not out of compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed, but out of eagerness;