Word Study for G1872 (ἐπακολουθέω)

epakolouthéō /ep-ak-ol-oo-theh'-o/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom ἐπί and ἀκολουθέω

Meaningto accompany

KJV usagefollow (after).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of epakolouthéō — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word epakolouthéō, represented by G1872, is derived from ἐπί and ἀκολουθέω and means to accompany or follow after. It appears 4 times across 4 unique verses in the Bible. The word conveys the idea of following closely, either as an imitator, a consequence, or an attestation.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, G1872 describes several kinds of "following." It is used to call believers to follow in the steps of Christ, imitating the example He left for them in His suffering 1 Peter 2:21. It also describes the supernatural signs that follow the preaching of the word, confirming its divine origin Mark 16:20. In a practical sense, it characterizes a person who has diligently followed every good work, indicating a life of active piety 1 Timothy 5:10. Finally, it is used in a context of judgment, where some men's sins follow after them, becoming evident later 1 Timothy 5:24.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the meaning of G1872 in its specific contexts:

G2487 íchnos (a track (figuratively):--step): This word is the direct object of following in the call to discipleship. Believers are instructed to follow in Christ's steps 1 Peter 2:21, meaning to trace the path He laid out.
G4254 proágō (to lead forward... to precede): This word is used in direct contrast to G1872. While some sins are obvious and go before a person to judgment, others follow after 1 Timothy 5:24, highlighting a temporal sequence in how actions are revealed.
G950 bebaióō (to stabilitate (figuratively):--confirm, (e-)stablish): This word shows the purpose of the signs that "follow." The signs served to confirm the word that the apostles preached Mark 16:20, providing stabilizing evidence for their message.

Theological Significance

The theological concepts associated with G1872 are significant for understanding the Christian life and divine justice.

Imitation of Christ: The most direct application is the call for a believer to live in a way that follows Christ's example. This is not a passive belief but an active pursuit of His path 1 Peter 2:21.
Confirmation of Truth: The word is used to show that God's power accompanies His message. The signs that were following the apostles' preaching served as divine testimony, confirming the word they spoke Mark 16:20.
Inevitable Consequence: G1872 is used to illustrate that actions have consequences that trail behind them. While some sins are immediately obvious, others follow after a person, eventually coming to light at the time of judgment 1 Timothy 5:24.

Summary

In summary, G1872 is a dynamic term that describes more than simple movement. It defines a crucial aspect of discipleship as the imitation of Christ's example. It also illustrates the principle that actions and words have tangible results that accompany them, whether as divine signs confirming the truth or as sins trailing a person toward judgment. The word captures the idea that what we do and what is true will have something closely following it.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a verb across 4 occurrences, inflected in 4 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Aorist Active Indicative 3rd Singular 1×
Aorist Active Subjunctive 2nd Plural 1×
Present Active Indicative 3rd Plural 1×
Present Active Participle Genitive Plural Neuter 1×

Genitive: Possession or source — often "of".
Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Neuter: Neuter grammatical gender.
2nd: Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Present: Action in progress or repeated — happening now or continually.
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Active: The subject performs the action.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Subjunctive: Possibility or purpose — "might", "should".
Participle: A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 4 verses across 3 of the 27 books. Most frequent in 1 Timothy (2 verses); never once in the other 24.

Mark

1 Timothy

1 Peter

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.