Original Word: ἐπισκοπή
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: episkopé
Pronunciation: eh-pee-sko-PAY
Phonetic Spelling: (ep-is-kop-ay')
Definition: Oversight, visitation, office of a bishop
Meaning: (a) visitation (of judgment), (b) oversight, supervision, overseership.

the office of a bishop.

From episkeptomai; inspection (for relief); by implication, superintendence; specially, the Christian "episcopate" -- the office of a "bishop", bishoprick, visitation.

see GREEK episkeptomai

1984 episkopḗ (a feminine noun, derived from 1909 /epí, "on, appropriately fitting," which intensifies 4648 /skopéō, "look intently") – properly, oversight that naturally goes on to provide the care and attention appropriate to the "personal visitation."

Word Origin
from episkeptomai
Definition
a visiting, an overseeing
NASB Translation
office (1), office of overseer (1), visitation (2).

STRONGS NT 1984: ἐπισκοπή

ἐπισκοπή, ἐπισκοπῆς, ἡ (ἐπισκοπέω), inspection, visitation (German Besichtigung);

a. properly: εἰς ἐπισκοπήν τοῦ παιδός, to visit the boy, Lucian, dial. deor. 20, 6; with this exception no example of the word in secular writings has yet been noted.

b. In biblical Greek, after the Hebrew פְּקֻדָּה, that act by which God looks into and searches out the ways, deeds, character, of men, in order to adjudge them their lot accordingly, whether joyous or sad; inspection, investigation, visitation (Vulg. usuallyvisitatio): so universally, ἐν ἐπισκοπή ψυχῶν, when he shall search the souls of men, i. e. in the time of divine judgment, Wis. 3:13; also ἐν ὥρα ἐπισκοπῆς, Sir. 18:20 (19); so perhaps ἐν ἡμέρα ἐπισκοπῆς, 1 Peter 2:12 (see below); in a good sense, of God's gracious care: τόν καιρόν τῆς ἐπισκοπῆς σου, i. e. τόν καιρόν ἐν ᾧ ἐπεσκέψατο σε ὁ Θεός, in which God showed himself gracious toward thee and offered thee salvation through Christ (see ἐπισκέπτομαι, b.), Luke 19:44; ἐν καιρῷ ἐπισκοπῆς, in the time of divine reward, 1 Peter 5:6 Lachmann; also, in the opinion of many commentators, 1 Peter 2:12 (others, associate this passage with Luke 19:44 above; cf. DeWette (edited by Brückner) or Huther at the passage); from the O. T. cf. Genesis 50:24; Job 34:9; Wis. 2:20 Wis. 3:7, etc. with a bad reference, of divine punishment: Exodus 3:16; Isaiah 10:3; Jeremiah 10:15; Wis. 14:11 Wis. 19:14 (15); (etc.; cf. Sophocles Lexicon, under the word).

c. after the analogy of the Hebrew פְּקֻדָּה (Numbers 4:16; 1 Chronicles 24:19 (here the Sept. ἐπίσκεψις), etc.), oversight i. e. overseership, office, charge; Vulg.episcopatus: Acts 1:20, from Psalm 108:8 (); specifically, the office of a bishop (the overseer or presiding officer of a Christian church): 1 Timothy 3:1, and in ecclesiastical writings

Word Origin: Derived from ἐπί (epi, meaning "upon" or "over") and σκοπός (skopos, meaning "watcher" or "overseer").

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Greek term ἐπισκοπή corresponds to several Hebrew terms related to oversight and visitation, including פְּקֻדָּה (pequddah, Strong's Hebrew 6486), which can refer to oversight, office, or visitation. This connection highlights the continuity between the Old Testament concept of divine and human oversight and its New Testament application in church leadership.

Usage: The word ἐπισκοπή is used in the New Testament to describe both the act of oversight and the office of an overseer. It appears in contexts related to church leadership and divine visitation.

Context: The term ἐπισκοπή is significant in the New Testament, particularly in the context of church leadership and governance. It is used to describe the role and responsibilities of those who are appointed to oversee the spiritual and administrative affairs of a Christian community. The concept of ἐπισκοπή encompasses both the function of oversight and the office itself, often translated as "bishopric" or "overseership."

In Acts 1:20, the term is used in the context of replacing Judas Iscariot, where it is translated as "office" or "position of oversight": "For it is written in the Book of Psalms: 'May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,' and, 'May another take his position of overseer.'" (BSB)

In 1 Timothy 3:1, ἐπισκοπή is used to describe the noble task of aspiring to the office of an overseer: "This is a trustworthy saying: If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble task." (BSB)

The term also appears in 1 Peter 2:12, where it is associated with the concept of divine visitation: "Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us." (BSB)

The role of ἐπισκοπή in the early church was crucial for maintaining doctrinal purity, providing pastoral care, and ensuring the orderly function of the church body. Those who held this office were expected to exhibit exemplary character and leadership qualities, as outlined in the pastoral epistles.

επισκοπή επισκοπην επισκοπήν ἐπισκοπὴν επισκοπης επισκοπής ἐπισκοπῆς επισκόπων episkopen episkopēn episkopḕn episkopes episkopês episkopēs episkopē̂sInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts