ἐπανέρχομαι (epanerchomai)
epanerchomai
to return
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb epanerchomai simply means to return or come back again. It is a compound word combining the prefix epi, suggesting motion upon or toward, and erchomai, the common term for coming or going. This construction emphasizes the act of retracing one’s steps to a previous location.
Its usage in Scripture is sparse but specific. The word appears only twice in the New Testament, both times in the Gospel of Luke. In Luke 10:35, the Good Samaritan promises to return to the innkeeper to settle expenses. Later, in Luke 19:15, it describes the servants returning to their master after being given talents to manage. In both instances, the focus is on a physical return to a starting point.
While less common than other terms for going or coming, epanerchomai captures the distinct idea of reversal in movement. It highlights the completion of a journey by restoring the traveler to their origin, whether for settlement or report.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word epanerchomai describes a deliberate return to where one began. In Luke 10:35, the Good Samaritan tells the innkeeper he will pay extra costs when he returns. This simple act of coming back shows that care is not a one-time event but an ongoing commitment. It reminds us that true love keeps its promises and follows through on its word.
Similarly, in Luke 19:15, the master returns to receive an account from his servants. This return brings a moment of reckoning and reward. For believers, this highlights the hope that our efforts are seen and will be met with justice. We serve knowing that Christ will come back to gather what has been entrusted to us.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- returning2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐπανέρχεσθαί1×
- ἐπανελθεῖν1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 10:35
On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the host, and said to him, ‘Take care of him. Whatever you spend beyond that, I will repay you when I return.’
The Samaritan uses this word to promise future repayment, showing that his compassion includes a commitment to follow through on his aid.
-
Luke 19:15
“When he had come back again, having received the kingdom, he commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by conducting business.
The master's return triggers the final evaluation of the servants' work, linking the act of coming back directly to accountability and reward.