"can function as an improper prep., behind, after, at one’s back, Mt. 4:10; Lk. 7:38; Rev. 1:10; τὰ ὀπίσω, the things which are behind, Phil. 3:13; ὀπίσω and εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω, back, backwards, Mt. 24:18; Mk. 13:16; Lk. 9:62, when an improper prep., takes the gen."
Definition and meaning
can function as an improper prep., behind, after, at one’s back, Mt. 4:10; Lk. 7:38; Rev. 1:10; τὰ ὀπίσω, the things which are behind, Phil. 3:13; ὀπίσω and εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω, back, backwards, Mt. 24:18; Mk. 13:16; Lk. 9:62, when an improper prep., takes the gen.
In the original Greek the word is written: ὀπίσω
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 opiso (G3694) across the King James Bible.
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.
And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.
And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.
But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.
And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
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Common questions
Strong's G3694 (opiso) is a Greek word that means: can function as an improper prep., behind, after, at one’s back, Mt. 4:10; Lk. 7:38; Rev. 1:10; τὰ ὀπίσω, the things which are behind, Phil. 3:13; ὀπίσω and εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω, back, backwards, Mt. 24:18; M... It appears 31 times in the King James Bible.
The word opiso (G3694) appears 31 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G3694 is opiso, a Greek word defined as: can function as an improper prep., behind, after, at one’s back, Mt. 4:10; Lk. 7:38; Rev. 1:10; τὰ ὀπίσω, the things which are behind, Phil. 3:13; ὀπί. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
opiso is a Greek word found in the New Testament.