Original Word: ἐπόπτης
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: epoptés
Pronunciation: eh-POP-tace
Phonetic Spelling: (ep-op'-tace)
Definition: Eyewitness, Overseer
Meaning: an eyewitness, spectator, looker-on.

eyewitness.

From epi and a presumed derivative of optanomai; a looker-on -- eye-witness.

see GREEK epi

see GREEK optanomai

Word Origin
from epi and the fut. of horaó
Definition
a looker-on, i.e. a spectator
NASB Translation
eyewitnesses (1).

STRONGS NT 2030: ἐπόπτης

ἐπόπτης, ἐπόπτου, ὁ (from unused ἐπόπτω);

1. an overseer, inspector, see ἐπίσκοπος; (Aeschylus, Pindar, others; of God, in 2 Macc. 3:39 2Macc. 7:35; 3Macc. 2:21; Additions to Esther 5:1; ἀνθρωπίνων ἔργων, Clement of Rome, 1 Cor. 59, 3 [ET]).

2. a spectator, eye-witness of anything: so in 2 Peter 1:16; inasmuch as those were called ἐπόπται by the Greeks who had attained to the third (i. e. the highest) grade of the Eleusinian mysteries (Plutarch, Alcib. 22, and elsewhere), the word seems to be used here to designate those privileged to be present at the heavenly spectacle of the transfiguration of Christ.

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek verb ἐποπτεύω (epopteuō), meaning "to oversee" or "to watch over."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for ἐπόπτης, the concept of witnessing and overseeing can be related to Hebrew terms such as רָאָה (ra'ah, Strong's 7200), meaning "to see" or "to perceive," and עֵד (ed, Strong's 5707), meaning "witness." These terms similarly convey the idea of seeing and bearing witness to events or truths.

Usage: The term ἐπόπτης is used in the New Testament to describe someone who is a witness or an observer, particularly in a context of having seen something firsthand or having been present to witness an event.

Context: The Greek term ἐπόπτης appears in the New Testament in the context of being a witness to significant events. It is used in 2 Peter 1:16, where the apostle Peter emphasizes the authenticity and reliability of his testimony concerning the majesty of Jesus Christ. Peter asserts that he and others were "eyewitnesses of His majesty," underscoring the fact that their proclamation of the gospel is not based on cleverly devised myths but on direct, personal experience.

In the cultural and historical context of the New Testament, being an ἐπόπτης carried the connotation of having a privileged position of insight and understanding. This term would have resonated with early Christian audiences, who valued firsthand testimony as a powerful form of evidence. The use of ἐπόπτης in 2 Peter serves to strengthen the apostolic witness and to assure believers of the truth of the gospel message.

The role of an ἐπόπτης is not merely passive observation but involves a deep, participatory understanding of the events witnessed. This aligns with the broader biblical theme of witnessing as a call to testify and bear witness to the truth of God's revelation in Jesus Christ.

εποπται επόπται ἐπόπται epoptai epóptaiInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts