"some view as an improper prep., followed by gen. or dat., near, as to place, Lk. 19:11; close at hand, Rom. 10:8; near, in respect of ready interposition, Phil. 4:5; near, as to time, Mt. 24:32, 33; near to God, as being in covenant with him, Eph. 2:13; οἱ ἐγγύς, the people near ..."
Definition and meaning
some view as an improper prep., followed by gen. or dat., near, as to place, Lk. 19:11; close at hand, Rom. 10:8; near, in respect of ready interposition, Phil. 4:5; near, as to time, Mt. 24:32, 33; near to God, as being in covenant with him, Eph. 2:13; οἱ ἐγγύς, the people near to God, the Jews, Eph. 2:17
In the original Greek the word is written: ἐγγύς
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of engys (G1451) across the King James Bible.
Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.
Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near:
So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.
And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.
When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.
So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,
And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
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Common questions
Strong's G1451 (engys) is a Greek word that means: some view as an improper prep., followed by gen. or dat., near, as to place, Lk. 19:11; close at hand, Rom. 10:8; near, in respect of ready interposition, Phil. 4:5; near, as to time, Mt. 24:32, 33; n... It appears 30 times in the King James Bible.
The word engys (G1451) appears 30 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G1451 is engys, a Greek word defined as: some view as an improper prep., followed by gen. or dat., near, as to place, Lk. 19:11; close at hand, Rom. 10:8; near, in respect of ready interposit. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
engys is a Greek word found in the New Testament.