Lexical Summary huparchó: To exist, to be, to possess Original Word: ὑπάρχω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance existFrom hupo and archomai; to begin under (quietly), i.e. Come into existence (be present or at hand); expletively, to exist (as copula or subordinate to an adjective, participle, adverb or preposition, or as an auxiliary to a principal (verb) -- after, behave, live. see GREEK hupo see GREEK archomai HELPS Word-studies 5225 hypár NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom hupo and archó Definition to begin, to be ready or at hand, to be NASB Translation been (2), being (9), belonging (1), exist (1), existed (1), gone (1), live (1), owned (1), possess (1), possessions (11), private means (1), property (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5225: ὑπάρχωὑπάρχω; imperfect ὑπῆρχον; 1. properly, to begin below, to make a beginning; universally, to begin; (Homer, Aeschylus, Herodotus, and following). 2. to come forth, hence, to be there, be ready, be at hand (Aeschylus, Herodotus, Pindar, and following): universally, and simply, Acts 19:40 (cf. Buttmann, § 151, 29 note); Acts 27:12, 21; ἐν τίνι, to be found in one, Acts 28:18; with a dative of the person ὑπάρχει μοι τί, something is mine, I have something: Acts 3:6; Acts 4:37; Acts 28:7; 2 Peter 1:8 (where Lachmann παρόντα; Sir. 20:16; Proverbs 17:17; Job 2:4, etc.); τά ὑπάρχοντα τίνι, one's substance, one's property, Luke 8:3; Luke 12:15 L text T Tr WH; Acts 4:32 (Genesis 31:18; Tobit 4:8; Dio C. 38, 40); also τά ὑπάρχοντα τίνος, Matthew 19:21; Matthew 24:47; Matthew 25:14; Luke 11:21; Luke 12:15 R G L marginal reading, 33, 44 (here L marginal reading Tr marginal reading the dative); 3. to be, with a predicate nominative (as often in Attic) (cf. Buttmann, § 144, 14, 15 a., 18; Winer's Grammar, 350 (328)): as ἄρχων τῆς συναγωγῆς ὑπῆρχεν, Luke 8:41; add, Luke 9:48; Acts 7:55; Acts 8:16; Acts 16:3; Acts 19:36; Acts 21:20; 1 Corinthians 7:26; 1 Corinthians 12:22; James 2:15; 2 Peter 3:11; the participle with a predicate nominative, being i. e. who is etc., since or although he etc. is: Luke 16:14; Luke 23:50; Acts 2:30; Acts 3:2; Acts 14:8 Rec.; Strong’s Greek 5225, ὑπάρχω (with its participial and plural substantival forms), denotes actual, objective existence. In the New Testament it functions in two primary spheres: 1. To state that someone or something truly “is,” often with the nuance of continuing or inherent condition. Across its sixty occurrences the term is concentrated in Luke–Acts and Pauline writings, but it also appears in Matthew, Hebrews, James, and both Petrine epistles. Christological Significance Philippians 2:6 places ὑπάρχω at the heart of the hymn exalting the pre-incarnate Son: “Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped.” The present participle underscores His ongoing, unaltered deity prior to (and throughout) the incarnation. Likewise Philippians 3:20 affirms the current heavenly citizenship of believers—an ontological reality, not a future hope alone: “But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” The verb conveys permanence and present possession. Personal Character and Status Writers use ὑπάρχω to describe abiding qualities or social standing. Joseph of Arimathea was “a good and righteous man” (Luke 23:50). Paul was “a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city” (Acts 22:3). Such passages employ the participle to mark settled identity rather than temporary condition. In 1 Corinthians 11:7 the man “is [ὑπάρχων] the image and glory of God,” pointing to the creational status that continues in every male worshiper. Peter uses the infinitive in 2 Peter 3:11—“Seeing that all these things are thus to be dissolved, what kind of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness?”—reminding believers that the present cosmos, though doomed, still “exists” and therefore calls for godly living. Material Possessions The neuter plural τὰ ὑπάρχοντα consistently signifies earthly goods. Jesus tells the rich young ruler, “Sell your possessions and give to the poor” (Matthew 19:21); He warns disciples, “Watch out and guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15). In Luke 12:33 the command to “Sell your possessions and give to the poor” contrasts perishable wealth with unfailing heavenly treasure. The early church modeled this generosity: “No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had” (Acts 4:32). Paul echoes the theme in 1 Corinthians 13:3, teaching that even surrendering “all my possessions” without love is meaningless, emphasizing inward motive over outward gift. Circumstantial Reality Several passages use ὑπάρχω for immediate circumstances. In Acts 27:21 Paul speaks of “the good sense that ought to have prevailed” earlier in the voyage; the famine-like crisis “existed” (ὑπαρχούσης) because of disobedience to his counsel. In Acts 19:40 the clerk of Ephesus warns of the danger “existing” against them due to the riot. The term highlights actual, not hypothetical, jeopardy. Stewardship and Ministry Implications 1. Generous Stewardship: Passages that link ὑπάρχω with possessions call believers to open-handedness, reflecting trust in God’s provision. Distribution and Literary Notes Luke employs ὑπάρχω more than any other New Testament writer, fitting his historiographical interest in concrete realities—people, possessions, prevailing situations. Paul adopts the term for doctrinal precision and pastoral exhortation. Its spread across narrative, epistolary, and didactic contexts testifies to its versatility in Koine Greek. Theological Reflection ὑπάρχω affirms the reliability of both God’s self-revelation and the believer’s present standing. Whether declaring the eternal pre-existence of Christ, the fixed identity of God’s people, or the tangible nature of stewardship, the verb roots faith and practice in what truly “is.” For ministry today, the word calls leaders and congregations alike to act in accordance with realities already established by God rather than merely hoped for—living out heavenly citizenship, embodying sacrificial generosity, and serving with authenticity that matches inward condition with outward action. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 19:21 V-PPA-ANPGRK: σου τὰ ὑπάρχοντα καὶ δὸς INT: your possessions and give Matthew 24:47 V-PPA-DNP Matthew 25:14 V-PPA-ANP Luke 7:25 V-PPA-NMP Luke 8:3 V-PPA-GNP Luke 8:41 V-IIA-3S Luke 9:48 V-PPA-NMS Luke 11:13 V-PPA-NMP Luke 11:21 V-PPA-NNP Luke 12:15 V-PPA-GNP Luke 12:33 V-PPA-ANP Luke 12:44 V-PPA-DNP Luke 14:33 V-PPA-DNP Luke 16:1 V-PPA-ANP Luke 16:14 V-PPA-NMP Luke 16:23 V-PPA-NMS Luke 19:8 V-PPA-GNP Luke 23:50 V-PPA-NMS Acts 2:30 V-PPA-NMS Acts 3:2 V-PPA-NMS Acts 3:6 V-PIA-3S Acts 4:32 V-PPA-GNP Acts 4:34 V-IIA-3P Acts 4:37 V-PPA-GMS Acts 5:4 V-IIA-3S Strong's Greek 5225 |
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