### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word `{{G1945}}` (epíkeimai) is a compound verb formed from the preposition ἐπί (epi), meaning "upon" or "on," and the verb κεῖμαι (keimai), meaning "to lie" or "to be laid." Etymologically, it signifies "to lie upon" or "to be placed upon." Its semantic range extends from a literal, physical sense of resting or being laid upon something, to more figurative applications. These include:
1. **Physical Placement/Resting:** To be laid upon, placed on, or to rest upon something.
2. **Pressure/Urgency:** To press upon, bear down upon, or to be urgent/instant, often implying a sense of burden or necessity.
3. **Imposition/Obligation:** To be imposed upon someone, referring to a duty, a regulation, or an unavoidable circumstance.
The nuance often depends on the context, indicating either a static position, an active force, or an imposed condition.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
`{{G1945}}` appears in the New Testament with various shades of meaning:
* In [[Luke 5:1]], it describes the crowd "pressing in on" Jesus (ὁ ὄχλος ἐπέκειτο αὐτῷ). Here, the word conveys a sense of physical crowding and pressure, indicating the intensity of the people's desire to hear the word of God.
* [[John 21:9]] uses ἐπίκειμαι to describe the fish "laid on" a charcoal fire (ὀψάριον ἐπικείμενον ἀνθρακιάν). This is a straightforward instance of physical placement, a literal resting upon a surface.
* The narrative in [[Acts 27:20]] employs ἐπίκειμαι to illustrate the severity of a storm: "no small storm kept pressing on us" (χειμὼν οὐκ ὀλίγος ἐπεκεῖτο). Here, the word is used figuratively to describe the relentless and overwhelming force of the tempest, imposing distress upon the travelers.
* A significant theological usage is found in [[1 Corinthians 9:16]], where Paul declares concerning his preaching, "necessity is laid upon me" (ἀνάγκη μοι ἐπίκειται). This signifies an inescapable divine compulsion or obligation, not a choice but a compelling mandate from God.
* Finally, in [[Hebrews 9:10]], the author refers to the Old Covenant's regulations as "imposed until a time of reformation" (δικαιώματα σαρκὸς μόνον, μέχρι καιροῦ διορθώσεως ἐπικείμενα). This usage highlights the temporary and externally imposed nature of these laws, which were binding until the advent of the new covenant in Christ.
### Related Words & Concepts
The core of `{{G1945}}` lies in `{{G2749}}` (keimai), "to lie" or "to be laid," which denotes a state of being placed. The prefix `{{G1909}}` (epi) adds the directional sense of "upon" or "over," intensifying the action or state.
Other related words or concepts include:
* `{{G922}}` (baros): "weight," "burden," which can relate to the "pressing upon" or "imposition" aspect of `{{G1945}}`.
* `{{G2347}}` (thlipsis): "tribulation," "pressure," often used for the distress caused by external forces, similar to the "pressing upon" in [[Acts 27:20]].
* `{{G314}}` (anagkē): "necessity," "compulsion," directly related to Paul's statement in [[1 Corinthians 9:16]] where anagkē is the subject of epíkeimai.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{G1945}}` is multifaceted, reflecting its various contextual applications:
* **Divine Compulsion and Calling:** Paul's declaration in [[1 Corinthians 9:16]] reveals a profound theological truth about divine calling. The "necessity laid upon" him is not a human burden but a divine imperative, underscoring the non-negotiable nature of God's commission to His servants. It speaks to the weight and urgency of gospel proclamation.
* **The Nature of Law and Covenant:** In [[Hebrews 9:10]], epíkeimai clarifies the provisional and external nature of the Old Covenant's regulations. They were "imposed" for a time, pointing to their temporary purpose until Christ's redemptive work established a new and internal covenant. This highlights the transformative shift from external adherence to internal transformation.
* **Experiences of Adversity:** The use in [[Acts 27:20]] reminds believers that difficulties and trials can "press upon" them with overwhelming force. This acknowledges the reality of suffering and the feeling of being burdened by circumstances, yet within the larger narrative of God's sovereign care.
* **The Presence of the Divine:** While not directly theological in [[Luke 5:1]], the crowd "pressing in on" Jesus can be seen as a metaphor for humanity's desperate need for and pursuit of the divine presence and word.
### Summary
`{{G1945}}` (epíkeimai) is a versatile Greek verb meaning "to lie upon," "to be placed upon," and extending to "to press upon" or "to be imposed." Its literal use describes physical placement, as seen with the fish on the fire in [[John 21:9]]. Figuratively, it denotes external pressure or burden, as the storm "pressing on" the ship in [[Acts 27:20]]. Theologically, it carries significant weight, particularly in conveying divine compulsion and obligation in ministry ([[1 Corinthians 9:16]]) and describing the temporary, imposed nature of the Old Covenant's regulations ([[Hebrews 9:10]]). This word thus illuminates aspects of divine calling, the progression of covenant history, and the realities of human experience under external forces.
TRV