ἀντιπέραν (antiperan)
antiperan
opposite
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adverb antiperan means "on the opposite side" or "over against," typically referring to a location across a body of water. It is a precise geographical term used to describe being directly across from a specific point, such as a shore or a city.
This word appears only once in the New Testament, in Luke 8:26. There, it describes the region where Jesus landed after calming the storm, identifying the land of the Gerasenes as lying on the opposite side of the lake from Galilee. The term emphasizes physical separation and direct opposition across the water.
Its construction combines a prefix meaning "against" or "opposite" with a word for "side." This literal usage highlights the spatial reality of the narrative without adding metaphorical weight. Translators consistently render it as "on the opposite side" to maintain this clear, directional sense.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When we look at the word antiperan, we see a simple description of place: being on the opposite side. In Luke’s Gospel, this single occurrence marks the moment Jesus arrives in the region of the Gadarenes, directly across from Galilee. It is not a metaphor for spiritual distance or opposition, but a clear marker of geography. Jesus crosses the water to meet people who live outside the familiar circles of His home.
This reminds us that God’s reach extends beyond our immediate surroundings. Just as Jesus traveled to the opposite shore, He meets us where we are, even in places that feel distant or different from our usual routines. The word highlights a physical journey, yet it points to a broader truth: no location is too far for His presence. We can trust that He knows every corner of our world and our lives.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- opposite1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀντιπέρα1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 8:26
Then they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee.
This verse uses the term to pinpoint the exact geographical location where Jesus landed after the storm, establishing the setting for His encounter with the demon-possessed man.