Lexical Summary epanapauó: To rest upon, to settle upon, to rely on Original Word: ἐπαναπαύω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance rest upon. Middle voice from epi and anapano; to settle on; literally (remain) or figuratively (rely) -- rest in (upon). see GREEK epi see GREEK anapano NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom epi and anapauó Definition to refresh, rest upon NASB Translation rely (1), rest (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1879: ἐπαναπαύωἐπαναπαύω: 1. to cause to rest upon anything: the Sept. in Judges 16:26 according to manuscript Alex.; Gregory of Nyssa. 2. Middle (present ἐπαναπαύομαι); future ἐπαναπαύσομαι, and (Luke 10:6 T WH after manuscripts א B) ἐπαναπαήσομαι (see ἀναπαύω); to rest upon anything: τίνι, metaphorically, τῷ νόμῳ, to lean upon, trust to, Romans 2:17 (Micah 3:11; 1 Macc. 8:12). to settle upon, fix its abode upon; ἐπί τινα, with the included idea of antecedent motion toward (see εἰς, C. 2, p. 186a): ἡ εἰρήνη ἐπ' αὐτόν i. e. shall rest, remain, upon him or it, Luke 10:6 (τό πνεῦμα ἐπί τινα, Numbers 11:25; 2 Kings 2:15; ἐπί τίνι, Numbers 11:26 variant). Strong’s Greek 1879 describes the settled, confident rest that comes from trusting or relying upon something—or Someone—fully. Its two New Testament appearances portray both the blessed reality of godly reliance and the peril of misplaced confidence. Occurrences in Scripture Luke 10:6 — Peace That Abides “When a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you.” (Luke 10:6) The verb paints the picture of Christ-given peace settling down upon a receptive household like a gentle dove. The emissaries of Jesus carry more than words; they convey an active, spiritual peace that takes up residence where hearts are open. The idea is not a fleeting greeting but a continuing, stable presence. This scene previews the New Testament church’s mission: announcing the kingdom so that genuine shalom may lodge in lives prepared by God. Romans 2:17 — False Security in the Law “Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the Law and boast in God … ” (Romans 2:17) Here the same verb exposes spiritual presumption. First-century Jews possessed the covenant oracles, yet some settled into a complacent confidence in possession rather than obedience. Paul’s indictment underscores that resting on outward privilege without inward transformation is a deadly illusion. The term thus carries an implicit warning: the object of one’s reliance determines whether that rest is life-giving or self-deceiving. The Theme of Rest Across Scripture Genesis 2 records God’s own rest, establishing a pattern later articulated in the Sabbath command. Isaiah 30:15 links returning and rest with salvation; Jeremiah 6:16 calls Israel to “find rest for your souls.” Jesus fulfills and personalizes the promise: “Come to Me … and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Hebrews 4:9 draws the climax—“a Sabbath rest for the people of God”—inviting believers to cease from self-effort and abide in Christ’s finished work. Strong’s 1879 contributes to this canonical thread by highlighting both the offer and the counterfeit of true rest. Historical and Cultural Background 1. First-century hospitality operated on the premise of reciprocal peace. A traveling teacher’s greeting, if accepted, created a covenant-like relationship. The verb captures that cultural nuance: peace taking up residence. Theological Observations • Genuine rest originates in God and is mediated through His Messiah. Ministry Implications • Evangelism carries an impartation of peace; workers today may trust that Christ’s peace still finds lodging where hearts are prepared. Personal Application Believers are invited to let Christ’s peace “rule in your hearts” (Colossians 3:15) and to beware of any confidence that rests on self, status, or ritual. The rest God gives is both positional—rooted in justification—and experiential—manifested in daily reliance on the Spirit. Related Passages for Further Study Psalm 37:7; Isaiah 26:3; Isaiah 32:17; Jeremiah 17:7–8; John 14:27; Philippians 4:6–7; Hebrews 4:1–11; 1 Peter 5:7 Summary Strong’s 1879 illumines the Bible’s grand motif of rest: a lasting peace that settles upon those who welcome Christ, contrasted with the false ease of self-reliance. Its sparse usage magnifies its depth—calling every generation to depend wholly on the Lord, in whom alone true rest is found. Englishman's Concordance Luke 10:6 V-FIM-3SGRK: υἱὸς εἰρήνης ἐπαναπαήσεται ἐπ' αὐτὸν NAS: your peace will rest on him; but if KJV: your peace shall rest upon it: INT: a son of peace will rest upon it Romans 2:17 V-PIM/P-2S Strong's Greek 1879 |
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