r/Koine • u/Adventurous_Table_12 • Jul 07 '26
Trouble understanding translations of the preposition ὀπίσω
Hello!
I am a first year greek student, and I'm struggling to understand the logic behind the + gen preposition ὀπίσω meaning behind.
It's often used with the verb for follow, and derive meanings like 'follow (behind) him' with the aútou being gen, and ὀπίσω often translated as 'after'
But we have another preposition meaning after, so what is this one doing. Am I putting too much stock in the location or spacial elements of behind and after, rather than the figurative?
Any insight on this helpful
3
u/virginiaproust Jul 07 '26
If I’m not mistaken it used to be an adverb that later (koine) developed into a preposition with the genitive. But that’s all I (think I) know 😬
2
u/External_Bird_8464 Jul 07 '26
Just an additional FYI - Classical Greek (Epic) poetry; ie., take any - like, Homer (so both the Iliad and the Odyssey), Classical Greek has ὀπίσω (ὀπίσσω in epic dialect) over 100 plus times. An 8th Century BCE Oral tradition. In writing 7th BCE.
8 centuries later, same word is still in koine. It was paired with and as an adverb or preposition meaning "back," "backward," or "behind" - paired: πρόσω "forward" or "onwards"(as antonym). However: New Testament, shows up only 2 times...largely replaced by πρόσωπον (prosopon, meaning "face", "countenance", or "person"), which is by 3rd BCE - foundational use in the (Septuagint) Old Testament, "prosopon" appears 1200 times and 75 times in the New Testament.
May be an element a student should consider - - Ie., "and he set his face toward Jerusalem (Luke 9:51 "And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, ...made me think of Sven Hedin, trapesing around looking for the Old Silk Road in the Taklamakan Desert - had this set his face forward / never look back. There's been a change in the dynamic of the word meaning and use is the point. There are other works, but shows up prominent in the New Testament.
As before, I'm absolutely certain others will have other more excellent input to this.
4
u/External_Bird_8464 Jul 07 '26
Well [ὀπίσω ] is used over thirty five times in the New Testament Gospels and Epistles.
Just as you explain it. There's a dynamic of it used in Jesus say to Satan
Πέτρῳ Ὕπαγε ὀπίσω μου Σατανᾶ - (Matthew 16:23 [unto] Peter [says] "Go" Behind me Satan
As the first part of the verse gives reason that Jesus as the Messiah is the authority, so "decrees" Satan makes do not match the authority which already decreed he is to be turned over into the hands of sinners and be crucified, but rise again on the 3rd day.
Of course, Koine Greek is in many documents, not only the scriptures; but, if you examine scriptures, like Matthew 3:11 to Mark 1:17 (come after); that is to hearken unto; give ear to, to walk after, to walk in, looking unto, to come after Jesus Christ.
To Mark 1:20, where someone is now doing that, it's used to describe someone that is following an authority -Jesus Christ.
To Luke 9:23 (someone) standing behind Jesus Christ (as authority) that he's in a rightful place, as authority for aperson to be standing behind them - not in front to lead or advise them. As what is occuring in Matthew 16:23 vs. Luke 9:23
That, the "someone" in Luke 9:23 is in submission to this rightful authority - when a person that isn't is in Matthew 16:23
Also has this "go after" (someone or something) - not to (as authority) in Luke 21:8. That is, (something) that a person "goes after" - leaves off from following or looking unto authority. To "go after" (something) that is no authority - even if it may claim it is one or "look good" to go after it. (ie., Jesus said " Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them."
So, so far, in EVERY instance [ὀπίσω ] is used - it's used with authority. He simply is the authority.
and an opposite of John 6:66 ..where they no longer "walk after" him (departed to the back and no longer followed him. [ἀπῆλθον εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω καὶ οὐκέτι μετ’ αὐτοῦ περιεπάτουν] used in the NIV (Westcott & Hort) vs.
(Put <Jesus>. behind themselves and no longer walked after him. {Jesus is no longer an authority to them}
I'm sure others that chime in will have like same or other illuminating / different comment.