ephistēmi · stand by, come upon

What it means

ephistēmi (ἐφίστημι) is a Greek word of the Bible that means “stand by, come upon”.

Stand by, appear suddenly beside someone; come upon, arrive; of an event, be at hand, come on.

How to say it

Approximate pronunciation. Vowels sound as in Spanish (a as in father, e as in bed, i as in machine, o as in note, u as in rule); the syllable in bold is stressed. The voice is your device's.

Its senses in the Bible

1. To suddenly appear beside someone.
2. To come suddenly, like a day or a disaster.
3. To be always prepared, keep at it.

From Abbott-Smith (1922) · Thayer (1889)

How it is translated

The words this translation uses for it, most frequent first.

• standing ×3
• stood ×3
• stood by ×3
• come ×2
• coming up ×2
• attacking ×1
• be ready ×1
• came up ×1
• came upon ×1
• comes upon ×1
• others ×3

Related words

Words of the same family, by Strong’s numbering.

Where it appears

• Luke×7
• Acts×11
• 1 Thessalonians×1
• 2 Timothy×2

• Luke 2:9

  And an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were afraid with great fear.

• Luke 2:38

  And coming up at that very hour, she was giving thanks to God and was speaking about him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

• Luke 4:39

  And standing over her, he rebuked the fever, and it left her; and immediately she got up and began serving them.

• Luke 10:40

  But Martha was distracted with much serving; and coming up, she said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.”

• Luke 20:1

  And it happened on one of the days, as he was teaching the people in the temple and proclaiming the good news, that the high priests and the scribes came up with the elders,

• Luke 21:34

  But watch yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day come upon you suddenly

• Luke 24:4

  And it happened, while they were perplexed about this, that look, two men stood by them in flashing clothing.

• Acts 4:1

  And while they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them,

• Acts 6:12

  And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and coming upon him, they seized him and brought him to the council,

• Acts 10:17

  Now while Peter was greatly perplexed within himself as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, look, the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked for Simon’s house, stood at the gate.

• Acts 11:11

  And look, at that very moment three men stood at the house in which we were, sent from Caesarea to me.

• Acts 12:7

  And look, an angel of the Lord stood by, and a light shone in the cell; and striking Peter’s side he woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands.

• Acts 17:5

  But the Jews, becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from the marketplace idlers, and forming a mob, were stirring up the city; and attacking the house of Jason, they were seeking to bring them out to the people.

• Acts 22:13

  came to me, and standing by me he said to me, ‘Brother Saul, recover your sight.’ And I, at that very hour, looked up at him.

• Acts 22:20

  And when the blood of Stephen, your witness, was being shed, I also was standing by and approving and guarding the garments of those who were killing him.’

• Acts 23:11

  And on the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage; for as you have testified to the things about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”

• Acts 23:27

  This man, seized by the Jews and about to be killed by them, coming on them with the troops, I rescued him, having learned that he is a Roman.

• Acts 28:2

  And the natives showed us no ordinary kindness, for kindling a fire they welcomed all of us because of the rain that had set in and because of the cold.

• 1 Thessalonians 5:3

  When they say, “Peace and security,” then sudden destruction comes upon them, like labor pains on a woman who is pregnant, and they will certainly not escape.

• 2 Timothy 4:2

  proclaim the word; be ready in season and out of season; rebuke, reprove, exhort, with all patience and teaching.

• 2 Timothy 4:6

  For I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come.