ἀπαντάω (apantaō)
apantaō
to meet
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb apantaō means to go out and meet someone, often implying a purposeful journey toward them. In the New Testament, it appears only twice, both in the Gospels, describing specific encounters where movement is central to the action.
In Mark 14:13, Jesus uses this word when instructing his disciples to follow a man carrying a jar of water into the city. The instruction implies going out to intercept or welcome him at a specific point. Similarly, in Luke 17:12, Jesus meets ten lepers as he enters a village. Here, the term highlights the physical act of approaching and encountering those who were waiting.
The word combines the prefix apo-, suggesting motion away from or toward, with antaō, meaning to meet face-to-face. This etymology underscores the active nature of the meeting; it is not a passive coincidence but a directed interaction. Translators typically render it simply as "meet," though the Greek carries a sense of going forth to receive or confront the other person.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word apantaō describes more than a casual encounter; it implies going out to meet someone with purpose. In Mark 14:13, Jesus directs his disciples to go into the city specifically to meet a man carrying water. This was not a random chance meeting but a planned interaction that set in motion the events of the Passover meal.
Similarly, in Luke 17:12, as Jesus entered a village, ten lepers came out to meet him from a distance. Their action shows initiative and hope, seeking help despite their condition. This word reminds us that God often meets us when we actively seek Him or reach out in faith.
For your daily life, this suggests that meaningful connections require movement. Whether it is welcoming a neighbor or responding to a call from Christ, purposeful engagement opens doors for grace and understanding.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- will meet1×
- met1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀπήντησαν1×
- ἀπαντήσει1×
Key Verses
-
Mark 14:13
He sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and there a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him,
Jesus uses this word to describe a specific, planned meeting with a man carrying water, highlighting the intentional nature of the encounter.
-
Luke 17:12
As he entered into a certain village, ten men who were lepers met him, who stood at a distance.
The lepers actively come out to meet Jesus, showing their initiative and hope as they approach Him from a distance.