Lexical Summary enanti: Before, in the presence of, opposite Original Word: ἐνάντι Strong's Exhaustive Concordance before. From en and anti; in front (i.e. Figuratively, presence) of -- before. see GREEK en see GREEK anti NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originadverb from en and anti Definition before, i.e. in the presence of NASB Translation before (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1725: ἔναντιἔναντι, adverb (ἐν and ἀντί, properly, in that part of space which is opposite), before: as a preposition followed by a genitive (Buttmann, 319 (273)); ἔναντι τοῦ Θεοῦ, יְהוָה לִפְנֵי, before God, i. e. in the temple, Luke 1:8 (Tr marginal reading ἐναντίον); in the judgment of God, Acts 8:21 G L T Tr WH; (ἔναντι Φαραώ, Acts 7:10 Tdf.; cf. Buttmann, 180 (156)). (Very often in the Sept., and in the Palestin. Apocrypha of the O. T.;. but nowhere in secular authors) Topical Lexicon Scope of the Wordἐναντί (enanti) focuses on spatial and moral orientation: life, worship, and decision-making carried out “before,” “in the presence of,” or “in the sight of” someone—most decisively, God Himself. Wherever it appears the term presses the reader to remember that human activity is conducted under the direct gaze of the Lord who sees, approves, or judges. New Testament Occurrences Luke 1:8 — “Now while Zechariah was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty,”. Acts 8:21 — “You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God.”. Though only twice in the Greek New Testament, the contexts—Temple worship and apostolic correction—provide a balanced portrait of holy service and holy scrutiny. Theological Emphasis 1. Divine Presence 2. Accountability 3. Authenticity of Ministry Historical and Cultural Background • Luke 1 situates ἐναντί within the priestly rotation established by King David (1 Chronicles 24). Each division drew lots for the once-in-a-lifetime privilege of incense offering. Zechariah’s ministry was thus momentous—an ideal setting to highlight service “before God.” • Acts 8 occurs in Samaria during the first expansion of the gospel beyond Jerusalem. Simon’s fascination with spiritual power clashed with apostolic teaching that the heart must be straight “before God.” The term reinforces the early church’s insistence on purity amid rapid growth. Relation to Septuagint Usage The verbatim form appears frequently in the Septuagint (e.g., Exodus 10:11; Numbers 22:32). These occurrences often parallel sacrificial or covenant settings, preparing Jewish readers to hear Luke and Acts as part of an unbroken salvation history. Doctrinal Insights • God’s Omnipresence: ἐναντί reminds believers that God’s presence fills heaven and earth (Jeremiah 23:24). Ministerial Application 1. Worship Leaders 2. Preachers and Teachers 3. All Believers Pastoral Counsel When counseling those burdened by guilt, direct them to the certainty that Christ’s sacrifice now enables them to stand “before God” without fear (Romans 5:1-2). Conversely, for those drifting into hypocrisy, employ the language of Acts 8:21 to reconnect conduct and conscience to the divine gaze. Summary ἐναντί, though infrequent, is a weighty reminder that life and ministry unfold in immediate view of the Holy One. It calls every generation of God’s people to sincere worship, pure motives, and a steadfast awareness that nothing escapes the sight of the Lord who both sanctifies and judges. Forms and Transliterations εναντι έναντι ἔναντι enanti énantiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Luke 1:8 AdvGRK: ἐφημερίας αὐτοῦ ἔναντι τοῦ θεοῦ NAS: he was performing his priestly service before God KJV: executed the priest's office before God INT: division of him before God Acts 8:21 Adv |