Double Prepositions in the Greek New Testament

Happy New Year! The attached PDF file is the result of more than 15 years of study and examination. My goal and desire is that it will serve you as a helpful tool in studying the New Testament. It shows one way that God emphasizes certain truths, and includes many familiar scripture verses regarding fundamental Biblical truths. Enjoy!

Click here to see the PDF of Double Prepositions in the Greek New Testament

The table of occurrences in the link above contains the following columns:

Book (of the Bible);
Verse (chapter and verse listed);
King James Version (the KJV translation);
Greek (the actual Greek text; please note that it does not contain breathing marks, but these may be seen in the transliteration);
Transliteration (of the Greek text into English);
Literal from Greek (laid out corresponding to the transliteration). The table is designed for easy look up of any verse with a simple explanation of each double preposition and its English meaning.

 

Introduction

Since first graduating with a degree in Classical Studies from the University of Missouri almost exactly forty years ago, I have read the Greek New Testament regularly.

One thing that caught my attention early in my reading was the practice of adding prepositions to verbs to make them more specific and to add a certain color to their meaning. For example, the Greek word for “obey” combines a verb and preposition and literally means to “listen under.”

Another thing I noticed was that these same prepositions occurring as prefixes to verbs may be repeated after the verb. As in figures of speech involving repetition, this “doubling” of the preposition adds intensity and depth to its use.

One purpose of this study is to help those who do not read the Greek New Testament see the emphasis of this type of repetition. Using this study can bring greater understanding and enjoyment to Bible reading.

The attached PDF gives 504 examples of these double prepositions from the New Testament that I examined. This is not a definitive study since Greek texts vary and other texts may have a greater number or a lesser number of examples than the text that I used (the 4^th revised edition of the United Bible Society Greek New Testament).

The attached PDF is broken into sections for the New Testament books as noted below, with the following number of occurrences in each section:

Matthew…………..……..…67
Mark…………………………66
Luke…………………..………89
John…………………..………32
Acts………………..……….…109
Romans………………..……11
Corinthians…………..……25
Galatians……………………11
Ephesians…………….……14
Philippians………….………4
Colossians……………..……5
Thessalonians………….…13
Timothy/Titus………….…7/1
Hebrews……………….…..23
James/Peter…….…………8/11
III John/Revelation…….1/13

Some of the Double Prepositions in the Greek New Testament

It is not expedient to list all 504 occurrences of the double prepositions in the attached PDF. You can work these verses for their context and meaning. The following are a few verses familiar to many Bible students, and they show how these double prepositions can emphasize key truths.

Matthew 25:32:
And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate [aphorizō] them one from [apo] another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats.

Jesus Christ will absolutely mark out boundaries between the “sheep” and “goats” in the future. Here the preposition apo is doubled. The verb is made of apo (away from) and horizō (to set a limit or boundary). Those in the first resurrection will be completely separated from those who are not.

Mark 16:18:
They…shall lay [epitithēmi] hands on [epi] the sick, and they shall recover.

When believers lay hands on the sick, they can help them recover. The word for “lay” literally means to “set upon.” Here the preposition epi, which shows one thing at rest upon another, is doubled. This is not “trying” to make someone better, but is putting hands directly upon someone because God says to do so.

Luke 17:27:
…until the day that Noe entered into [eiserchomai eis] the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

Noah “came into” (eis + erchomai) into (eis) the ark when God told him to. The preposition eis is repeated to show that Noah didn’t stay on deck but came all the way into the ark as God directed him to do.

John 8:59:
Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through [dierchomai dia] the midst of them, and so passed by.

Jesus went directly through the midst of those who wanted to kill him. He went the way that his Father told him to go, and this was the best route. The preposition dia is doubled to show the godly directness of Jesus’s actions.

John 10:39:
Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out [exerchomai ek] of their hand.

This is a similar record to John 8:59. Jesus literally “came out” out of their hands. The doubling of the preposition ek (out) shows that Jesus Christ totally came out of the influence of those trying to kill him.

Acts 1:8:
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon [eperchomai epi] you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

The gift of holy spirit would come at rest upon them and remain there at rest. This gift cannot be taken away; it is eternal life and the gift of God. The preposition epi is doubled to show the spirit absolutely remaining upon the believer by incorruptible seed (I Peter 1:23).

Acts 9:35:
And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to [epistrephō epi] the Lord.

Those who saw the miracles turned to remain at rest upon the Lord. They gave their whole selves to live for God and His Son, Jesus Christ. The preposition epi is doubled to show the steadfastness of their commitment.

Acts 10:44:
While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on [epipiptō epi] all them which heard the word.

This is similar to Acts 1:8. Here the first Gentiles, who are not proselytes, get born again. Jesus Christ in Acts 1:8 said the gift of holy spirit would come upon (epi + erchomai) upon (epi) them. Here the gift of holy spirit fell upon (epi + piptō) upon (epi) them. It came from God and remained by the new birth.

Acts 13:49:
And the word of the Lord was published throughout [diapherō dia] all the region.

The word “published” literally means to carry (pherō) all the way through (dia). Paul and Barnabas carried the word of the Lord all the way through the region. The preposition dia is repeated to show that they did this completely, as God directed them to.

Acts 19:9:
…he departed from [aphistēmi apo] them, and separated [aphorizō] the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.

When the Apostle Paul decided to remove himself from those who were hard-hearted and did not want to hear the truth, he fully followed through. He departed from them. Literally, he personally “stood away from” (apo + histēmi) away from (apo) them. The preposition apo is repeated to show the absolute separation involved. And Paul did the same for the disciples when he separated them. This word for “separated” is the same as in Matthew 25:32. Paul had nothing to do with the hard-hearted and unbelieving, and he set limits for the disciples as well.

Acts 22:6:
And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone [periastraptō] from heaven a great light round about [peri] me.

As Saul (Paul) approached Damascus, there flashed around (peri + straptō) around (peri) him a great light. This totally surrounded Saul. The preposition peri is repeated to show that Saul was completed surrounded by this bright light.

Romans 8:11:
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell [enoikeō en] in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

When we are born again, the gift of holy spirit remains in us. It literally indwells (en + oikeō) in (en) us. This permanent gift also makes alive our mortal bodies.

I Corinthians 3:12:
Now if any man build upon [epoikodomeō epi] this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble.

The previous verse in this chapter says that the only foundation that can be laid is Jesus Christ. Born-again believers can earn rewards as they build upon (epi + oikodomeō) upon (epi) that foundation and live in service to God, their heavenly Father, as well as to their Lord, Jesus Christ. The repetition of epi in this verse shows that these rewards will last when built upon the proper foundation.

I Corinthians 15:27:
For he hath put all things under [hupotassō hupo] his feet….

God has all things now set under (hupo + tassō) under (hupo) the feet of Jesus Christ. The preposition hupo is repeated to show that everything is absolutely under Jesus Christ. He is at the right hand of God with the authority of the Father.

Galatians 3:13:
Christ hath redeemed us from [exagorazō ek] the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.

Christ bought out (ex + agorazō) us out (ek) of the curse of the law. The repetition of the preposition ex/ek shows that we have been completely removed from any effect of the law’s curse by the redemptive work of Christ.

Ephesians 2:20:
And are built upon [epoikodomeō epi] the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.

I Corinthians 3:12 shows that Jesus Christ is the only foundation that a believer can build their life upon. Ephesians 3:20 uses the same wording and shows that Jesus Christ is also the chief corner on which the entire Body of Christ is built. The preposition epi is repeated to show that the entire Body of Christ is at rest upon the apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ as the chief corner stone.

Ephesians 3:20:
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in [energeō en] us.

God “in-works” (en + ergeō) in (en) us, those who are members of the Body of Christ. The repetition of the preposition en shows that God is absolutely within us as our Father.

Ephesians 4:29:
Let no corrupt communication proceed out [ekporeuomai ek] of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

A faithful believer is not to allow any corrupt word to go forth out (ek + poreuomai) out (ek) of his mouth. This shows the goal of not speaking anything hurtful or destructive. The preposition ek is repeated to show that no such words should be allowed to slip out of our mouths.

Ephesians 5:31:
For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto [proskollaō pros] his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

This word “joined” literally means to be glued toward (pros + kollaō) another. A man and wife are to be glued toward, toward (pros) each other. The preposition pros is repeated to show the unbreakable bond that is to be established in marriage.

Ephesians 6:10:
Finally, my brethren, be strong in [endunamoō en] the Lord, and in [en] the power of his might.

This verse shows two things that we are to be “in powered” (en + dunamoō) in (en): both in the Lord and in his mighty power. The preposition en is repeated as a prefix on the verb and in two other uses to show that our power lies completely within what the Lord has done for us.

Philippians 2:13:
For it is God which worketh in [energeō en] you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

This is the same truth as found in Ephesians 3:20. The context of Philippians 2 is obeying the Father, as Jesus Christ obeyed Him. The preposition en is repeated to show that God is “inside” us, by way of His gift of holy spirit, to give us direction (“will”) and to carry out (“do”) those things that are pleasing to Him.

Philippians 4:13:
I can do all things through [en] Christ which strengtheneth [endunamoō] me.

This uses words similar to Ephesians 6:10. The preposition en is repeated to show that all of our ability is from “Christ in” us, the hope of glory.

Colossians 1:26:
Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages [apokruptō apo] and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints.

This mystery of “Christ in” was hid in God “from the beginning of the world” (Ephesians 3:9). It was “hidden from” (apo + kruptō) from (apo) generations. The preposition apo is repeated to show that it was hidden by God and could not be found out until He revealed it.

Colossians 3:16:
Let the word of Christ dwell in [enoikeō en] you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Romans 8:11 says that God’s gift of holy spirit indwells in (enoikeō en) us. Colossians 3:16 exhorts us, by our freewill choice, to allow God’s Word to do the same in our hearts. The preposition en is repeated to show how deeply we can hide God’s Word in our hearts (Psalms 119:11).

I Thessalonians 2:13:
For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received [paralambanō] the word of God which ye heard of [para] us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

The word “received” comes from para (alongside) and lambanō (to seize or take). The believers in Thessalonica actively took the Word presented alongside them from Paul, Silas, and Timothy. The word para is repeated to show that these men imparted their “own souls” (verse 8 of this chapter) directly alongside the Thessalonian believers.

I Timothy 6:10:
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from [apoplanaō apo] the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Those who covet after money “wander away from” (apo + planaō) away from (apo) the faith. The preposition apo is repeated to show that they have fully wandered away from the lifestyle of a believer. This brings many sorrows along with it.

II Timothy 2:1:
Thou therefore, my son, be strong in [endunamoō en] the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

This is similar to the wording in Ephesians 6:10. The preposition en is repeated to show that we are to remain fully within God’s grace as we live and serve the gospel to others.

Hebrews 9:12:
Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in [eiserchomai] once into [eis] the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

When Jesus Christ offered himself up for us, he went completely into the holy place. The preposition eis is repeated to show that Jesus Christ went fully unto the place of bringing our redemption—it is eternal!

Hebrews 12:3:
For consider him that endured [hupomenō] such contradiction of [hupo] sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Jesus Christ “remained under” (hupo + menō) under (hupo) those who viciously and brutally attacked him before he died on the cross. The preposition hupo is repeated to show that it was Jesus Christ’s freewill choice to remain under in that situation, even though he could have used his authority to bring twelve legions of angels to help him (Matthew 26:53).  The previous verse in this chapter says that it was the joy set before him that allowed Jesus Christ to do this.

I Peter 1:20:
Who [Jesus Christ] verily was foreordained before [proginōskō pro] the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.

God had Jesus Christ and all that His Son would do in His foreknowledge (pro + ginōskō) since before (pro) the foundation of the world. The preposition pro is repeated to show that God is all-knowing and was aware of what Jesus Christ would do long before His Son “was manifest,” when he was born in Bethlehem and completed his earthly ministry.

I Peter 5:7:
Casting [epirrhiptō] all your care upon [epi] him; for he careth for you.

The word “casting” means to “throw upon” (epi + rrhiptō). We are to “throw upon” all of our cares upon (epi) God, because He cares for us. The preposition epi is repeated to show that once we cast them upon our heavenly Father, we don’t take them back. We allow all of our cares to rest permanently upon Him, for He is the One who will care for us!

Biblical Language Tools

This is the second Biblical language tool available on our blog. There is is also a study of every use of the Greek word kurios in the New Testament. We are thankful for the freedom and life to share the light of God’s Word with others. There will be more study resources coming in future blogs.