1980. episkeptomai
Lexical Summary
episkeptomai: To visit, to look after, to care for

Original Word: ἐπισκέπτομαι
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: episkeptomai
Pronunciation: eh-pee-SKEP-toh-my
Phonetic Spelling: (ep-ee-skep'-tom-ahee)
KJV: look out, visit
Word Origin: [middle voice from G1909 (ἐπί - over) and the base of G4649 (σκοπός - goal)]

1. to inspect
2. (by implication) to select
3. (by extension) to go to see, relieve

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
visit, look out for

Middle voice from epi and the base of skopos; to inspect, i.e. (by implication) to select; by extension, to go to see, relieve -- look out, visit.

see GREEK epi

see GREEK skopos

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 1980: ἐπισκέπτομαι

ἐπισκέπτομαι; future 3 person singular ἐπισκέψεται, Luke 1:78 Tr marginal reading WH; 1 aorist ἐπεσκεψάμην; from Herodotus down; the Sept. often for פָּקַד; to look upon or after, to inspect, examine with the eyes;

a. τινα, in order to see how he is, i. e. to visit, go to see one: Acts 7:23; Acts 15:36, (Judges 15:1); the poor and afflicted, James 1:27; the sick, Matthew 25:36, 43, (Sir. 7:35; Xenophon, mem. 3, 11, 10; Plutarch, mor., p. 129 c. (de sanirate praecept. 15 at the beginning); Lucian, philops. 6, and in medical writers).

b. Hebraistically, to look upon in order to help or to benefit, equivalent to to look after, have a care for, provide for, of God: τινα, Luke 7:16; Hebrews 2:6 (Genesis 21:1; Exodus 4:31; Psalm 8:5; Psalm 79:15 (); Sir. 46:14; Judith 8:33, etc.); followed by a telic infinitive Acts 15:14; absolutely (Sir. 32:21 (Sir. 35:21)) yet with a statement of the effect and definite blessing added, Luke 1:68; ἐπεσκέψατο (WH Tr marginal reading ἐπισκέψεται) ἡμᾶς ἀνατολή ἐξ ὕψους a light from on high hath looked (others, shall look) upon us (cf. our the sun looks down on us, etc.), i. e. salvation from God has come to us, Luke 1:78. (In the O. T. used also in a bad sense of God as punishing, Psalm 88:33 (); Jeremiah 9:25; Jeremiah 11:22, etc.)

c. to look (about) for, look out (one to choose, employ, etc.): Acts 6:3.

STRONGS NT 1980a: ἐπισκευάζωἐπισκευάζω: to furnish with things necessary; middle, to furnish oneself or for oneself: ἐπισκευασάμενοι, having gathered and made ready the things necessary for the journey, Acts 21:15 L T Tr WH, for R G ἀποσκευασάμενοι (which see in its place).

Topical Lexicon
Concept

Strong’s Greek 1980 describes an intentional, personal visitation that carries an element of active care or oversight. Far more than a social call, the word signals purposeful involvement that brings blessing, deliverance, supervision, or evaluation. Whether used of God or of believers, it portrays love expressed through presence.

Old Testament Echoes

The Septuagint regularly employs ἐπισκέπτομαι to translate the Hebrew פָּקַד (pāqad). In the Old Testament this root merges two ideas—visiting and accounting. The Lord “visits” Sarah with life-giving power (Genesis 21:1), “visits” His people to redeem them from Egypt (Exodus 4:31), yet also “visits” in judgment (Exodus 32:34). Every New Testament occurrence draws on this rich backdrop: divine initiative that either rescues or assesses.

Divine Visitation in the Gospel Inauguration

Luke begins and frames his Gospel with the vocabulary of visitation, anchoring Jesus’ ministry in God’s covenant fidelity.

Luke 1:68: “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people.”
Luke 7:16: After Jesus raises the widow’s son, the crowd exclaims, “A great prophet has appeared among us! God has visited His people!”
Luke 1:78: Zechariah foretells “the Sunrise from on high will visit us,” linking the incarnate Son with Malachi’s promise of the “Sun of Righteousness.”

These texts portray the incarnation as God personally arriving with saving power—He does not send mere messages; He comes Himself.

Pastoral Oversight and Congregational Care

Acts extends the term to apostolic ministry. Peter instructs the church: “Brothers, select from among you seven men… whom we may appoint over this responsibility” (Acts 6:3). The verb translated “select” is literally “visit” (ἐπισκέπτομαι), conveying more than a democratic tally; it is a discerning shepherd’s inspection to match servants with need. Stephen’s own account (Acts 7:23) recalls Moses, who “decided to visit his brothers,” picturing leadership that begins with compassionate presence.

Later, Paul says to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city” (Acts 15:36). Missionary follow-up is not optional; genuine gospel work revisits disciples to assess welfare and strengthen faith.

God’s Initiative Among the Nations

James highlights divine visitation of Gentiles through the gospel: “Simon has described how God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people for His name” (Acts 15:14). This visitation culminates Old Testament hope that all nations would be blessed in Abraham.

Pure Religion: Visiting the Vulnerable

James distills true piety into practical visitation: “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world” (James 1:27). The church mirrors God’s own character when it moves toward the helpless with tangible care.

Eschatological Assurance and Warning

Hebrews 2:6 cites Psalm 8:4: “What is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You care for him?” God’s ongoing “care” (ἐπισκέπτομαι) guarantees that humanity’s destiny will be fulfilled in Christ. Conversely, Jesus’ parable of the sheep and goats warns that failure to “visit” the sick and imprisoned equals failure to minister to the King Himself (Matthew 25:36, 25:43). The same verb that heralds divine mercy exposes counterfeit faith.

Ministry Implications

1. Incarnational Presence: Gospel work requires personal engagement. Programs cannot replace visitation that listens, weeps, and serves.
2. Oversight with Accountability: Elders “visit” the flock, proactively seeking spiritual health.
3. Missionary Follow-Up: Planting churches must be paired with revisiting and strengthening.
4. Social Compassion: Visiting orphans and widows is not peripheral; it validates gospel proclamation.
5. Eschatological Motivation: Knowing that the Lord will “visit” again in glory compels faithfulness now.

Summary

Strong’s Greek 1980 encapsulates God’s pattern: He sees, comes, and acts. Believers, conformed to Christ, are called to replicate that pattern—present, attentive, and active—until the final visitation when “the Chief Shepherd appears” (1 Peter 5:4) to reward those who have shepherded others as He first shepherded them.

Forms and Transliterations
επέσκεμμαι επεσκεμμένοι επεσκεμμένων επεσκέπη επεσκέπησαν επέσκεπται επεσκεύασεν επεσκεψάμην επεσκέψαντο επεσκεψασθε επεσκέψασθε επεσκέψασθέ ἐπεσκέψασθέ επεσκεψατο επεσκέψατο ἐπεσκέψατο επεσκέψω επισκεπέντες επισκεπή επισκεπήναι επισκεπήσεται επισκεπτεσθαι επισκέπτεσθαι ἐπισκέπτεσθαι επισκέπτεται επισκεπτη επισκέπτη ἐπισκέπτῃ επισκεπτόμενος επισκέπτωμαι επισκέπτωνταί επισκευάζη επισκευάσαι επισκευασάμενοι επισκεφθήσεται επίσκεψαι επίσκεψαί επισκεψασθαι επισκέψασθαι ἐπισκέψασθαι επισκεψασθε επισκέψασθε ἐπισκέψασθε επισκεψάσθω επισκέψει επισκεψεται επισκέψεται ἐπισκέψεται επισκέψεως επισκέψη επισκέψηται επισκέψηταί επίσκεψιν επίσκεψις επισκέψομαι επισκέψωμαι επισκεψωμεθα ἐπισκεψώμεθα epeskepsasthe epesképsasthé epeskepsato epesképsato episkepsasthai episképsasthai episkepsasthe episképsasthe episkepsetai episképsetai episkepsometha episkepsōmetha episkepsṓmetha episkepte episkeptē episképtei episképtēi episkeptesthai episképtesthai
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 25:36 V-AIM-2P
GRK: ἠσθένησα καὶ ἐπεσκέψασθέ με ἐν
NAS: Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison,
KJV: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was
INT: I was sick and you visited me in

Matthew 25:43 V-AIM-2P
GRK: καὶ οὐκ ἐπεσκέψασθέ με
NAS: and in prison, and you did not visit Me.'
KJV: prison, and ye visited me not.
INT: and not you did visit me

Luke 1:68 V-AIM-3S
GRK: Ἰσραήλ ὅτι ἐπεσκέψατο καὶ ἐποίησεν
NAS: of Israel, For He has visited us and accomplished
KJV: for he hath visited and
INT: of Israel because he visited and performed

Luke 1:78 V-FIM-3S
GRK: ἐν οἷς ἐπισκέψεται ἡμᾶς ἀνατολὴ
NAS: from on high will visit us,
KJV: from on high hath visited us,
INT: in which has visited us [the] sunrise

Luke 7:16 V-AIM-3S
GRK: καὶ ὅτι Ἐπεσκέψατο ὁ θεὸς
NAS: us! and, God has visited His people!
KJV: That God hath visited his people.
INT: and Has visited God

Acts 6:3 V-AMM-2P
GRK: ἐπισκέψασθε δέ ἀδελφοί
NAS: brethren, select from among
KJV: brethren, look ye out among
INT: Select therefore brothers

Acts 7:23 V-ANM
GRK: καρδίαν αὐτοῦ ἐπισκέψασθαι τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς
NAS: his mind to visit his brethren,
KJV: his heart to visit his brethren
INT: mind of him to look upon the brothers

Acts 15:14 V-AIM-3S
GRK: ὁ θεὸς ἐπεσκέψατο λαβεῖν ἐξ
NAS: first concerned Himself about taking
KJV: at the first did visit the Gentiles,
INT: God visited to take out of

Acts 15:36 V-ASM-1P
GRK: Ἐπιστρέψαντες δὴ ἐπισκεψώμεθα τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς
NAS: Let us return and visit the brethren
KJV: Let us go again and visit our
INT: Having turned back indeed let us look after the brothers

Hebrews 2:6 V-PIM/P-2S
GRK: ἀνθρώπου ὅτι ἐπισκέπτῃ αὐτόν
NAS: OF MAN, THAT YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HIM?
KJV: of man, that thou visitest him?
INT: of man that you care for him

James 1:27 V-PNM/P
GRK: αὕτη ἐστίν ἐπισκέπτεσθαι ὀρφανοὺς καὶ
NAS: is this: to visit orphans
KJV: is this, To visit the fatherless and
INT: this is to visit orphans and

Strong's Greek 1980
11 Occurrences


ἐπεσκέψασθέ — 2 Occ.
ἐπεσκέψατο — 3 Occ.
ἐπισκέψασθαι — 1 Occ.
ἐπισκέψασθε — 1 Occ.
ἐπισκέψεται — 1 Occ.
ἐπισκεψώμεθα — 1 Occ.
ἐπισκέπτῃ — 1 Occ.
ἐπισκέπτεσθαι — 1 Occ.

1979
Top of Page
Top of Page