ἐπίλοιπος (epiloipos)
epiloipos
remaining
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective epiloipos describes what remains after the main part has gone, meaning "left over" or "remaining." It carries a sense of residue or surplus that persists once an event or period concludes. The word is constructed from a prefix implying addition or position and the root for "remainder," emphasizing that which survives.
Its sole New Testament appearance in 1 Peter 4:2 illustrates this clearly. There, it modifies "time" to refer to the remainder of one's life. The context suggests a conscious shift away from past sinful patterns toward living according to God’s will for whatever time is still available. It marks a distinct boundary between what was and what is left.
Translators typically render it simply as "remaining," though the nuance implies a finite quantity of time that has not yet been spent. In the Septuagint, it often translates Hebrew words for those who survive or things left behind, reinforcing its focus on survival or continuation after a primary action.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ἐπὶλοιπος (epiloipos) points to what is left over after the main work is done. In 1 Peter 4:2, it describes the remaining time of your life. This simple term carries a heavy weight because it marks a clear boundary between past habits and future choices.
When you read this verse, notice how Peter connects this leftover time to a shift in direction. He does not say you must erase your history, but that you should live the rest of your days for God’s will instead of human desires. This is not about guilt, but about opportunity. The time that remains is yours to offer.
It is easy to feel that life is slipping away or that we have missed our chance to make a difference. Yet this word reminds us that every moment left is significant. You do not need to fix everything at once. You only need to walk in God’s will for the time you have now.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- remaining1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐπίλοιπον1×