ἐγγίζω (engizō)

The verb engizō describes the act of drawing near or coming close to someone or something. It applies to physical movement, such as when Jesus approaches Jerusalem in Luke 19:29, and also to temporal proximity, like the hour of his arrest arriving in Matthew 26:45. The word captures the sense of an endpoint or destination being reached, whether that is a place, a person, or a specific moment in time.

Its theological weight appears most clearly in the proclamation of John the Baptist and Jesus, who announce that the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Matthew 3:2; 4:17). Here, the term signals not just spatial closeness but urgent availability. It is also used for spiritual approaches, such as James urging believers to draw near to God in James 4:8, implying a relational shift from distance to intimacy.

Derived from the adjective engys (near), the verb emphasizes the transition from separation to proximity. Translators often render it as "come near," "approach," or "be at hand," depending on whether the context is physical travel or eschatological expectation. This range allows the word to bridge concrete geography and spiritual reality, showing that in Scripture, closeness often precedes action or judgment.