Original Word: κατενώπιον
Part of Speech: Adverb
Transliteration: katenópion
Pronunciation: kat-en-O-pee-on
Phonetic Spelling: (kat-en-o'-pee-on)
KJV: before (the presence of), in the sight of
NASB: before, presence
Word Origin: [from G2596 (κατά - according) and G1799 (ἐνώπιον - before)]

1. directly in front of

before, in the presence of, in the sight of.

From kata and enopion; directly in front of -- before (the presence of), in the sight of.

see GREEK kata

see GREEK enopion

2714 katenṓpion (from 2596 /katá, "down, exactly according to," intensifying 1799 /enṓpion, "in the eye, i.e. in the presence of") – properly, "down in the eye," i.e. in someone's direct, concentrated gaze; "in the very presence of," especially being "in the very full (decisive) presence of" (S. Zodhiates, Dict).

2714 /katenṓpion ("in the presence of") refers to God – the all-knowing one who always acts in conjunction with all He knows (which is always absolute knowledge).

Word Origin
adverb from kata and enópios
Definition
over against
NASB Translation
before (2), presence (1).

STRONGS NT 2714: κατενώπιον

κατενώπιον, adverb, not met with in secular authors ((Winers Grammar, 102 (97)) see ἐνώπιον), over against, opposite, before the face of, before the presence of, in the sight of, before: followed by the genitive (Buttmann, 319 (273f); cf. Winers Grammar, § 54,6);

a. properly, of place, Jude 1:24 (Leviticus 4:17; Joshua 1:5; Joshua 3:7; Joshua 23:9).

b. metaphorically, having one as it were before the eyes, before one as witness: τοῦ Θεοῦ, Rec. in 2 Corinthians 2:17; 2 Corinthians 12:19 (see κατέναντι); before God as judge, Ephesians 1:4; Colossians 1:22 (cf. Lightfoot, in the place cited; also Buttmann, 173, 180, 188).

Overview

Strong’s Greek 2714 expresses the idea of being “in the direct presence of” a person, most significantly God Himself. The word is used to describe the sphere in which election, reconciliation, and final presentation occur—everything is done coram Deo, before the searching gaze of the Holy One.

Occurrences in the New Testament

• Ephesians 1:4 – God’s eternal choice has as its aim that believers be “holy and blameless in His presence.”
• Colossians 1:22 – Reconciliation through Christ’s death enables the same “holy, unblemished, and blameless” standing “in His presence.”
• Jude 1:24 – The culmination of redemption is Christ’s ability “to present you unblemished in His glorious presence, with great joy.”

In each setting the word anchors salvation past, present, and future in a single divine audience: God Himself.

Old Testament Shadows

The concept of drawing near “before the LORD” permeates the Hebrew Scriptures (for example, Exodus 34:23; Psalm 139:7). Priestly ministry, sacrificial worship, and covenant fellowship all required appearing before God. The New Testament usage gathers these strands and shows their fulfillment in Christ, who grants believers perpetual access.

Christological Focus

All three passages explicitly tie access to the presence of God to the work of Jesus Christ:
• Election is “in Him” (Ephesians 1:4).
• Reconciliation comes “by Christ’s physical body through death” (Colossians 1:22).
• Preservation and final presentation are effected by “Him who is able” (Jude 1:24).

Thus every stage of salvation is Christ-centered, and the believer’s standing before God is grounded in union with the Son.

Eschatological Dimension

Jude lifts the gaze to the future. The word reaches beyond present acceptance to the eschaton, when saints will be “unblemished in His glorious presence, with great joy.” This anticipates the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-9) and the promise that “they will see His face” (Revelation 22:4).

Soteriological Teaching

1. Election (Ephesians 1:4) – God’s choice precedes creation and sets holiness and blamelessness before Him as the inevitable outcome.
2. Reconciliation (Colossians 1:22) – Objective peace has been achieved; subjective holiness follows.
3. Preservation (Jude 1:24) – God’s power guarantees that what He began He will complete, ensuring a faultless final status.

Sanctification and Practical Holiness

Because the believer already stands in God’s presence positionally, practical holiness is neither optional nor uncertain. The same grace that secured acceptance empowers transformation (Philippians 2:12-13). Ministry must therefore emphasize both the finished work of Christ and the ongoing call to “walk worthy” (Ephesians 4:1).

Corporate Worship and Fellowship

Gathered worship mirrors this reality: the assembly comes consciously “before the LORD.” Liturgical readings, prayers, and the Lord’s Supper can intentionally invoke the language of being in God’s presence, reinforcing the privilege and responsibility of access.

Pastoral and Discipleship Use

• Assurance – Doubting believers are reminded that acceptance rests on Christ’s work, not fluctuating feelings.
• Holiness – Counseling can appeal to the believer’s positional purity as motivation for ethical living.
• Perseverance – Jude 1:24 comforts those fearing failure; God Himself secures their blameless presentation.

Historical Reception in the Church

Early Fathers such as Augustine cited Ephesians 1:4 to argue that election’s purpose includes moral transformation. The Reformation’s emphasis on justification by faith highlighted Colossians 1:22, while Puritan writers frequently preached Jude 1:24 to stir hope and holiness. Hymns like “Before the Throne of God Above” echo the same theme of confident standing “before” God.

Intertextual Connections

The idea of being before God converges with:
• “Face of God” theology (Numbers 6:25; 2 Corinthians 4:6).
• Temple imagery (Hebrews 10:19-22).
• Courtroom scenes where believers are declared righteous (Romans 8:33-34).

These strands weave a tapestry in which access, intimacy, and accountability are inseparable.

Summary

Strong’s Greek 2714 captures the believer’s entire redemptive journey—from eternal election, through present reconciliation, to future glorification—as lived “in His presence.” Far from a distant hope, it defines Christian identity and energizes worship, holiness, and mission until faith becomes sight.

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