verb
eparamō
Strong’sG1869
I raise, lift up
stem epar-19 times in the New Testamentin 6 of 27 books11 forms occur
What it means
A plain-English reading of the word, with the lexicons it draws on — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, and Liddell-Scott-Jones — right below it, in full.
AI Summary
ἐπαίρω means to lift up, raise — used of raising the hands, head, eyes, or voice, of hoisting a sail, and even figuratively of lifting the heel; it is also used in the passive of being lifted up (as in being taken up out of sight) 1234.
The word also carries a metaphorical sense, to exalt oneself or be lifted up with pride 12.
Sources: 1 Abbott-Smith 2 Strong's 3 LSJ 4 Dodson. Condensed by anthropic/claude-sonnet-5 on 2026-09-23 — it may still misstate what these say; check them yourself if it matters to you.
The lexicons it was drawn from, in full:
Abbott-Smith — the 1922 lexicon entry, in full
ἐπ-αίρω
[in LXX for נָשָׂא, רוּם, etc.;]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G1869 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Liddell-Scott-Jones — the classical dictionary this word appears in
Ionic dialect and poetry ἐπᾰείρω Refs 8th c.BC+: future ἐπᾱρῶ (contraction from ᾰερ-) Refs 5th c.BC+: aorist ἐπῆρα, participle ἐπάρας Refs 5th c.BC+: perfect ἐπῆρκα Refs 4th c.BC+ —passive, aorist ἐπήρθην, participle ἐπαρθείς: lift up and set on, [αὐτὸν] ἀμαξάων ἐπάειρραν lifted and set him upon.., Refs 8th c.BC+
2 lift, raise, κεφαλὴν ἐπαείρας Refs 5th c.BC+; πάντες ἐπῆραν (i.e. τὴν χεῖρα) Refs 4th c.BC+; ἐπαιρόμενα ἱστία, opposed to ὑφιέμενα, Refs 1st c.AD+ —middle, με τεῷ ἐπαείραο μαζῷ didstliftand put me to thy breast, Refs 3rd c.BC+; [λόγχην] Refs 5th c.BC+
3 exalt, magnify, ἐπαείρειν Αοκρῶν ματέρ᾽ Refs 5th c.BC+
4 intransitive, lift up one's leg or rise up, Refs 5th c.BC+; rise from table, Refs
5 passive, swell up, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἐπῆρται τοῦτό γε, in mal. participle, Refs 5th c.BC+
6 Grammars, ἐ. τὴν προσῳδίαν make the accent acute, Refs 8th c.BC+
II stir up, excite, πολλά τέ μιν καὶ μεγάλα τὰ ἐπαείροντα.. ἦν Refs 5th c.BC+urge on, Refs 4th c.AD+; induce, persuade to do, c.infinitive, εἰρωτᾶν εἰ οὔτι ἐπαισχύνεται ἐπάρας Κροῖσον στρατεύεσθαι Refs 5th c.BC+; ὅστις μ᾽ ἐπάρας ἔργον (i.e. πρᾶξαι) Refs:—passive, to be roused, led on, excited, τῷ μαντηΐῳ Refs 5th c.BC+; πλούτῳ, τιμῇ, LXX+5th c.BC+: with infinitive, ἐπήρθην γράψαι Refs 5th c.BC+; τῷ or τὸ λέγειν (uncertain reading) Refs 5th c.BC+ flattering themselves that they were superior.., Refs 5th c.BC+: absolutely, to be excited, on tiptoe, Refs 5th c.BC+
II.2 passive, also, to be elated at a thing, εὐδαιμονίῃ μεγάλῃ Refs 5th c.BC+
H. G. Liddell, R. Scott, H. S. Jones, A Greek-English Lexicon (9th ed., 1925–1940) — digitised by the Perseus Digital Library and corrected and expanded by Tyndale House, Cambridge, via STEPBible-Data's TFLSJ table, CC BY 4.0. Covers all of Greek literature, not just the Bible.
Translated as
Every occurrence, sorted by the English it was actually given — the evidence for what the word means, not a gloss of it.
Berean Standard Bible (BSB), dedicated to the public domain — berean.bible.
Biblang forms
What the New Testament actually uses, first — the whole system this verb is built from is one click further down.
| Form and the Greek behind it | What it is | Usually | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| eparotōἐπαίρεται | happening now · he/she/itpresent middle or passive indicative 3rd person singular | exalts | 1× |
| eparataἐπῆρεν | happened · he/she/itaorist active indicative 3rd person singular | raised | 2× |
| eparalaἐπῆραν | happened · theyaorist active indicative 3rd person plural | raised | 2× |
| eparitaἐπήρθη | happened · he/she/itaorist passive indicative 3rd person singular | taken up | 1× |
| eparavarἐπάρατε | happened · yeaorist active imperative 2nd person plural | lift up | 2× |
| epararaἐπᾶραι | happened · the “to …” formaorist active infinitive | raise | 1× |
| epararōntoinἐπαίροντας | happening now · objectpresent active participle accusative plural masculine | lifting up | 1× |
| eparorōntemἐπαιρόμενον | happening now · objectpresent middle or passive participle direct singular neuter | raised up | 1× |
| epararantosἐπάρας | happened · subjectaorist active participle nominative singular masculine | lifting up | 5× |
| epararantasἐπάρασά | happened · subjectaorist active participle nominative singular feminine | raised | 1× |
| epararantoisἐπάραντες | happened · subjectaorist active participle nominative plural masculine | hoisting | 2× |
Every form the New Testament uses, in paradigm order. What the system can build beyond them — the whole of this verb, whether the text happens to use it or not — is in the tables below.
Every form the system can build — all 172, by mood, including the ones the New Testament never uses
Statements — indicative mood, 6 occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | eparamō | eparame | eparami | eparama | eparamē | eparamelē |
| you 2nd person singular | eparasō | eparase | eparasi | eparasa | eparasē | eparaselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | eparatō | eparate | eparati | eparata2×ἐπῆρεν | eparatē | eparatelē |
| we 1st person plural | eparanō | eparane | eparani | eparana | eparanē | eparanelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | eparavō | eparave | eparavi | eparava | eparavē | eparavelē |
| they 3rd person plural | eparalō | eparale | eparali | eparala2×ἐπῆραν | eparalē | eparalelē |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | eparomō | eparome | eparomē | eparomelē |
| you 2nd person singular | eparosō | eparose | eparosē | eparoselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | eparotō1×ἐπαίρεται | eparote | eparotē | eparotelē |
| we 1st person plural | eparonō | eparone | eparonē | eparonelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | eparovō | eparove | eparovē | eparovelē |
| they 3rd person plural | eparolō | eparole | eparolē | eparolelē |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | will happen future | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | eparimi | eparima |
| you 2nd person singular | eparisi | eparisa |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | epariti | eparita1×ἐπήρθη |
| we 1st person plural | eparini | eparina |
| ye 2nd person plural | eparivi | epariva |
| they 3rd person plural | eparili | eparila |
May, might — subjunctive mood, no occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | eparameiō | eparameia | eparameiē |
| you 2nd person singular | eparaseiō | eparaseia | eparaseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | eparateiō | eparateia | eparateiē |
| we 1st person plural | eparaneiō | eparaneia | eparaneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | eparaveiō | eparaveia | eparaveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | eparaleiō | eparaleia | eparaleiē |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | eparomeiō | eparomeiē |
| you 2nd person singular | eparoseiō | eparoseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | eparoteiō | eparoteiē |
| we 1st person plural | eparoneiō | eparoneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | eparoveiō | eparoveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | eparoleiō | eparoleiē |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | eparimeia |
| you 2nd person singular | epariseia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | epariteia |
| we 1st person plural | eparineia |
| ye 2nd person plural | epariveia |
| they 3rd person plural | eparileia |
Commands — imperative mood, 2 occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | eparasōr | eparasar | eparasēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | eparatōr | eparatar | eparatēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | eparavōr | eparavar2×ἐπάρατε | eparavēr |
| they 3rd person plural | eparalōr | eparalar | eparalēr |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | eparosōr | eparosēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | eparotōr | eparotēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | eparovōr | eparovēr |
| they 3rd person plural | eparolōr | eparolēr |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | eparisar |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | eparitar |
| ye 2nd person plural | eparivar |
| they 3rd person plural | eparilar |
Wishes — optative mood, no occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | eparamoiō | eparamoia |
| you 2nd person singular | eparasoiō | eparasoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | eparatoiō | eparatoia |
| we 1st person plural | eparanoiō | eparanoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | eparavoiō | eparavoia |
| they 3rd person plural | eparaloiō | eparaloia |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | eparomoiō |
| you 2nd person singular | eparosoiō |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | eparotoiō |
| we 1st person plural | eparonoiō |
| ye 2nd person plural | eparovoiō |
| they 3rd person plural | eparoloiō |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | eparimoia |
| you 2nd person singular | eparisoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | eparitoia |
| we 1st person plural | eparinoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | eparivoia |
| they 3rd person plural | epariloia |
The “to …” form — infinitive, 1 occurrence
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | epararō | eparari | eparara1×ἐπᾶραι | epararē |
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | eparorō | eparorē | ||
| acted on passive voice | epariri | eparira |
Used as an adjective — participle, 10 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | epararōntos1× | epararintos | epararantos8×ἐπάρας | epararēntos |
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | eparorōntos1× | eparorēntos | ||
| acted on passive voice | eparirintos | eparirantos |
Each is given in the form it takes as a subject. From there a participle carries the ordinary noun endings, in every case, number and gender — so these four columns are the whole of what the verb contributes.
How every form is built — the slots that make them
epar is this word in every one of its forms. The slots after it make all the rest.
same in every form varies — every value shown
Where it appears
Every verse the word appears in, filed under the form it takes there.
19 occurrences, every one of them listed
eparotō“exalts”happening now · he/she/itpresent middle or passive indicative 3rd person singular1×
2 Corinthians 11:20… katesthiatō, ei tinos labatō, ei tinos eparotō, ei tinos eis prosōpem vin deratō.… or takes advantage of you or exalts himself or strikes you in the …
eparata“raised”happened · he/she/itaorist active indicative 3rd person singular2×
John 13:18… plēriteia; Tos trōgarōntos mu ton arton eparata epi min tan pternan autou.… one who shares My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.’
Acts 2:14“raised”… de tos Petros sun toi hendeka eparata tan fōnan autou kai apofthengeta autoi; …Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, lifted up his voice, and addressed the crowd: “Men …
eparala“raised”happened · theyaorist active indicative 3rd person plural2×
Acts 14:11“raised”… tē ochlois horarantois hem poiata Paulos eparala tan fōnan autoiu Lukaonisti legarōntois; Tois …When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices in the Lycaonian language: “The gods have …
Acts 22:22“raised”… autou achri houtou tou logou kai eparala tan fōnan autoiu legarōntois; Airasōr apo …… he made this statement. Then they lifted up their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He is …
eparita“taken up”happened · he/she/itaorist passive indicative 3rd person singular1×
Acts 1:9kai houteim legarantos bleparōntoiu autoiu eparita kai nefelas hupolabata auton apo toiu …… this, they watched as He was taken up, and a cloud hid Him from …
eparavar“lift up”happened · yeaorist active imperative 2nd person plural2×
Luke 21:28archorōnteiu de houteiu genorō anakuptavar kai eparavar tain kefalain vu, dioti engizatō tas …… begin to happen, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is …
John 4:35… tos therismos erchotō? idou legamō vi, eparavar toin ofthalmoin vu kai theasevar tain …… until the harvest’? I tell you, lift up your eyes and look at the …
eparara“raise”happened · the “to …” formaorist active infinitive1×
Luke 18:13“raise”… stēarēntos ouk thelate oude toin ofthalmoin eparara eis ton ouranon, alla tuptate tem …… distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast …
epararōntoin“lifting up”happening now · objectpresent active participle accusative plural masculine1×
1 Timothy 2:8… proseuchorō toin androin en panto topo, epararōntoin hosiain cheirain chōris orgau kai dialogismou.… want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or dissension.
eparorōntem“raised up”happening now · objectpresent middle or passive participle direct singular neuter1×
2 Corinthians 10:5“raised up”kai pantem hupsōmem eparorōntem kata tau gnōsiau tou theou, kai …… demolish arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take …
epararantos“lifting up”happened · subjectaorist active participle nominative singular masculine5×
Luke 6:20“lifted up”Kai autos epararantos toin ofthalmoin autou eis toin mathētoin …Looking up at His disciples, Jesus said …
Luke 16:23“lifted up”kai en to hado epararantos toin ofthalmoin autou, huparcharōntos en basanai, …In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked …
Luke 24:50“lifting up”… de autoin heōs pros Bēthanian, kai epararantos tain cheirain autou eulogata autoin.… had led them out as far as Bethany, He lifted up His hands and blessed them.
John 6:5“lifting up”epararantos oun toin ofthalmoin tos Iēsus kai …When Jesus looked up and saw a …
John 17:1“lifting up”Houteim lalata Iēsus, kai epararantos toin ofthalmoin autou eis ton ouranon …When Jesus had spoken these things, He lifted up His eyes to heaven and said, “Father …
epararantas“raised”happened · subjectaorist active participle nominative singular feminine1×
Luke 11:27… de en te legarō auton houteim epararantas tinas fōnan gunaikas ek tou ochlou …… things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said, “Blessed is …
epararantois“hoisting”happened · subjectaorist active participle nominative plural masculine2×
Matthew 17:8“lifted up”epararantois de toin ofthalmoin autoiu oudenon horala …And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
Acts 27:40“hoisting”… aniēkarantois tain zeuktēriain teiu pēdalieiu, kai epararantois ton artemōnon ta pnarōnta katechale eis …… loosened the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach.