"inspection, oversight, visitation; of God, visitation, interposition, whether in mercy or judgment, Lk. 19:44; 1 Pet. 2:12; the office of an ecclesiastical overseer, 1 Tim. 3:1; from the Hebrew, charge, function, Acts 1:20*"
Definition and meaning
inspection, oversight, visitation; of God, visitation, interposition, whether in mercy or judgment, Lk. 19:44; 1 Pet. 2:12; the office of an ecclesiastical overseer, 1 Tim. 3:1; from the Hebrew, charge, function, Acts 1:20*
In the original Greek the word is written: ἐπισκοπή
Historical context
Luke wrote as a historian addressing a Greek audience. He carefully interviewed eyewitnesses and arranged events in order. The social and economic realities he describes — Roman taxation, Jewish religious hierarchy, the marginalization of women and the poor — are consistent with first-century Judea under Roman administration.
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 episkope (G1984) across the King James Bible.
And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.
For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.
This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
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Common questions
Strong's G1984 (episkope) is a Greek word that means: inspection, oversight, visitation; of God, visitation, interposition, whether in mercy or judgment, Lk. 19:44; 1 Pet. 2:12; the office of an ecclesiastical overseer, 1 Tim. 3:1; from the Hebrew, charg... It appears 4 times in the King James Bible.
The word episkope (G1984) appears 4 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G1984 is episkope, a Greek word defined as: inspection, oversight, visitation; of God, visitation, interposition, whether in mercy or judgment, Lk. 19:44; 1 Pet. 2:12; the office of an ecclesias. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
episkope is a Greek word found in the New Testament.