Original Word: ἐπέρχομαι
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: eperchomai
Pronunciation: eh-per'-khom-ahee
Phonetic Spelling: (ep-er'-khom-ahee)
KJV: come (in, upon)
NASB: come, coming, attacks, came
Word Origin: [from G1909 (ἐπί - over) and G2064 (ἔρχομαι - came)]

1. to supervene, i.e. arrive, occur, impend, attack, (figuratively) influence

come in, come upon.

From epi and erchomai; to supervene, i.e. Arrive, occur, impend, attack, (figuratively) influence -- come (in, upon).

see GREEK epi

see GREEK erchomai

1904 epérxomai (from 1909 /epí, "on, fitting" and 2064/erxomai, "come") – properly, come upon, i.e. what comes and leaves its appropriate, inevitable effects that build on the particular coming. (Note the prefix epi, showing the action as the "epi-center" of what happens.)

1904/epérxomai ("come upon, apt-coming") stresses the "fitting results" of the coming – even more than the initial impact of the coming itself.

[1904 (epérxomai) is an intensification of the base-term (2064/erxomai, "coming").]

Word Origin
from epi and erchomai
Definition
to come to or upon
NASB Translation
attacks (1), came (1), come (5), coming (2).

STRONGS NT 1904: ἐπέρχομαι

ἐπέρχομαι; future ἐπελεύσομαι; 2 aorist ἐπῆλθον (3 person plural Ἐπῆλθαν, Acts 14:19 L T Tr WH); the Sept. chiefly for בּוא;

1. to come to, to arrive;

a. universally, followed by ἀπό with a genitive of place, Acts 14:19.

b. of time; to come on, be at hand, be future: ἐν τοῖς αἰῶσι τοῖς ἐπερχομένοις, Ephesians 2:7 (Isaiah 41:4, 22, 23; in Greek writings from Homer down); of that which time will bring, to impend: ἡ ταλαιπωρία ἡ ἐπερχομενη, James 5:1: τίνι, Luke 21:26 (Isaiah 63:4; also of things favorable, ἡ εὐλογία, Sir. 3:8).

2. to come upon, overtake, one; so even in Homer, as of sleep, τινα, Odyssey 4, 793; 10, 31; τίνι, 12, 311: of disease, 11, 200: ἐπί τινα, a. of calamities: Luke 21:35 R G; Acts 8:24; Acts 13:40 (L T Tr text WH omit; Tr marginal reading brackets ἐφ' ὑμᾶς) (Genesis 42:21; Micah 3:11; Zephaniah 2:2; 2 Chronicles 20:9; Jeremiah 5:12 (here ἥξει)).

b. of the Holy Spirit, descending and operating in one: Luke 1:35; Acts 1:8.

c. of an enemy attacking one: ἐπελθών νικήσῃ αὐτόν, Luke 11:22; (Homer, Iliad 12, 136; 1 Samuel 30:23; with the dative of person Herodian, 1, 8, 12 (6 Bekker)).

Overview of the Verb’s Motion and Force

Strong’s Greek 1904 pictures a decisive movement “upon” or “against,” whether for blessing, judgment, empowerment, or sudden surprise. Within its ten New Testament appearances the verb unites diverse moments—angelic visitation, Spirit enduement, hostile attack, eschatological terrors, and future grace—under a single thread: God’s sovereign freedom to break into human affairs.

Spirit and Salvation History (Luke 1:35; Acts 1:8)

The inaugural use in Luke 1:35 traces the incarnation’s mystery: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you”. The same verb recurs in Acts 1:8: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be My witnesses…”. The deliberate echo shows Luke connecting Christ’s conception with the Church’s mission. As the Spirit once came upon Mary to bring forth the Son, so He comes upon the disciples to proclaim that Son to the nations. The verb thus marks critical turning points in redemptive history where divine initiative advances salvation.

Apostolic Conflict and Evangelistic Opposition (Acts 8:24; Acts 13:40; Acts 14:19)

Three occurrences describe antagonism to Gospel progress. Simon the sorcerer pleads, “Pray to the Lord for me, so that nothing you have said may come upon me” (Acts 8:24). Paul warns Pisidian Jews, “Beware…that what is spoken in the Prophets does not come upon you” (Acts 13:40). Shortly after, in Acts 14:19 hostile crowds “came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul.” The verb underscores how unbelief invites divine warnings or violent outbreaks against Gospel heralds, yet in each setting God’s purpose prevails—Simon’s exposure, Jewish accountability, Paul’s eventual survival and return to strengthen disciples.

Eschatological Suddenness (Luke 21:35–36; Luke 21:26; James 5:1)

Jesus likens the Day of the Lord to “a snare that will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth” (Luke 21:35). Earlier He foresees men “fainting from fear and expectation of what is coming upon the world” (Luke 21:26). James echoes the same certainty of inescapable judgment: “Come now, you rich, weep and wail over the misery coming upon you” (James 5:1). The verb’s consistent nuance is inevitability: divine reckoning advances irresistibly, demanding vigilance and repentance.

Christ’s Victory over the Strong Man (Luke 11:22)

In the parable of the strong man, Jesus says, “But when someone stronger comes upon him and overpowers him, he takes away his armor…”. Here the verb highlights the Messiah’s superiority over demonic forces. What overtakes Satan cannot be resisted; Christ disarms, divides the spoil, and liberates captives—a foretaste of ultimate triumph.

Future Grace Displayed to the Redeemed (Ephesians 2:7)

Paul looks beyond temporal history: God raised believers “so that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:7). The verb shifts from imminent crises to boundless prospect. The same unstoppable movement that once brought the Spirit, judgment, or conflict will perpetually unfold God’s generosity toward His people.

Theological Synthesis

1. Divine Initiative: Whether blessing or judgment, the action originates with God and reaches its target unfailingly.
2. Continuity of Purpose: From incarnation to Pentecost to eschaton, the verb traces one unfolding plan centered in Jesus Christ.
3. Urgency and Assurance: The certainty that events will “come upon” humanity fuels warning to the unrepentant and comfort to believers.
4. Missional Impetus: Knowing the Spirit has already come upon the Church and judgment will come upon the world, believers labor with confidence and compassion.

Pastoral Applications

• Encourage readiness: Like the early disciples, congregations should expect fresh empowerment for witness.
• Exhort repentance: Echo apostolic warnings that unresolved sin invites consequences sure to “come upon” the unresponsive.
• Sustain hope: The ages “coming upon” the saints hold immeasurable kindness, anchoring endurance amid present trials.

By tracing Strong’s 1904 through Scripture, one sees a living thread of God’s assertive entrance into history—sometimes gentle as overshadowing grace, sometimes fierce as unavoidable judgment, always purposeful, always victorious.

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