Strong's Lexicon

G5348

G5348 — φθάνω

Greek entry for Bible study and original-language reference.

GreekphthanoverbOccurrences: 7

Definition / Gloss

Strong's Number:G5348
Word:φθάνω
Part of Speech:verb
Etymology:apparently a primary verb
Language:Greek
Occurrences:7
Transliteration:phthano
Phonetic Spelling/Pronunciation:fthan'-o
Meaning:1. to be beforehand, i.e. anticipate or precede 2. (by extension) to have arrived at
KJV Renderings:(already) attain, come, prevent

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Thayer's Greek Lexicon

φθάνω: 1 aorist ἔφθασα (Winer’s Grammar, § 15 under the word); perfect ἐφθακα (1Th 2:16 L text WH marginal reading); from Homer down;

1. to come before, precede, anticipate: ἡμεῖς οὐ μή φθάσωμεν (see μή, IV. 2) τούς κοιμηθέντας, we shall not get the start of those who have fallen asleep, i. e. we shall not attain to the fellowship of Christ sooner than the dead, nor have precedence in blessedness, 1Th 4:15; ἔφθασεν ἐπαὐτούς ἡ ὀργή, (God’s penal) wrath came upon them unexpectedly, 1Th 2:16; ἔφθασεν ἐφὑμᾶς ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ Θεοῦ, the kingdom of God has come upon you sooner than you expected, Mat 12:28; Luk 11:20; (but all the preceding examples except the first are referred by the majority of recent interpretations to the following heading; — a meaning especially common when the verb is construed with prepositions).

2. in the Alex. (and other later) writings the idea of priority disappears, to come to, arrive at: εἰς τί, Php 3:16; to reach, attain to, a thing, Rom 9:31; ἄχρι τίνος, 2Co 10:14; (τίνι, to a thing, Tob 5:19; ἕως τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, Test xii. Patr., p. 530 (i. e. test. Rub. 5 at the end); ἡ μεγαλωσύνη σου ἐμεγαλύνθη καί ἔφθασεν εἰς τόν οὐρανόν, Dan 4:19, Theod. (cf. 17, 25; φθάνειν ἕως τῶν οὐρανῶν, 2Ch 28:9; ἔφθασεν ὁ μήν ὁ ἕβδομος, 2Es 3:1; Philo de mund. opif. § 1; de legg. alleg. 3:76; de confus. lingg. § 29; Plutarch, apotheg. Lacon. § 28; de Alex. s. virt. s. fort. orat. 2:5. Cf. Sophocles Lexicon, under the word; Geldart, Modern Greek, p. 206; Winer’s Grammar, § 2, 1 b.)). (Compare: προφθάνω.)

Other Resources

Dictionary of New Testament Theology
Colin Brown

Englishman's Greek Concordance

φθάνω ((already) attain)

Matthew 12:28

KJV: But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God then the kingdom of God is come unto you
GK: ει δε εγώ εν πνεύματι θεού εκβάλλω τα δαιμόνια άρα έφθασεν εφ΄ υμάς η βασιλεία του θεού

Luke 11:20

KJV: But if I with the finger of God cast out devils no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you
GK: ει δε εν δακτύλω θεού εκβάλλω τα δαιμόνια άρα έφθασεν εφ΄ υμάς η βασιλεία του θεού

Romans 9:31

KJV: But Israel which followed after the law of righteousness hath not attained to the law of righteousness
GK: Ισραήλ δε διώκων νόμον δικαιοσύνης εις νόμον δικαιοσύνης ουκ έφθασε

2 Corinthians 10:14

KJV: For we stretch not ourselves beyond as though we reached not unto you for we are come as far as to you also in the gospel of Christ
GK: ου γαρ ως μη εφικνούμενοι εις υμάς υπερεκτείνομεν εαυτούς άχρι γαρ και υμών εφθάσαμεν εν τω ευαγγελίω του χριστού

Philippians 3:16

KJV: Nevertheless where to we have already attained let us walk by the same rule let us mind the same thing
GK: πλην εις ο εφθάσαμεν τω αυτώ στοιχείν κανόνι το αυτό φρονείν

1 Thessalonians 2:16

KJV: Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved to fill up their sins alway for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost
GK: κωλυόντων ημάς τοις έθνεσι λαλήσαι ίνα σωθώσιν εις το αναπληρώσαι αυτών τας αμαρτίας πάντοτε έφθασε δε επ΄ αυτούς η οργή εις τέλος

1 Thessalonians 4:15

KJV: For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord that we which are alive remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep
GK: τούτο γαρ υμίν λέγομεν εν λόγω κυρίου ότι ημείς οι ζώντες οι περιλειπόμενοι εις την παρουσίαν του κυρίου ου φθάσωμεν τους κοιμηθέντας
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