Bible Dictionaries
Hand (2)

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

"near, nigh," frequently rendered "at hand," is used (a) of place, e.g., of the Lord's sepulchre, John 19:42 , "nigh at hand;" (b) of time, e.g., Matthew 26:18; Luke 21:30,31 , RV, "nigh," AV, "nigh at hand;" in Philippians 4:5 , "the Lord is at hand," it is possible to regard the meaning as that either of (a) or (b); the following reasons may point to (b): (1) the subject of the preceding context has been the return of Christ, 3:20,21; (2) the phrase is a translation of the Aramaic "Maranatha," 1 Corinthians 16:22 , a Christian watchword, and the use of the title "the Lord" is appropriate; (3) the similar use of the adverb in Revelation 1:3; 22:10; (4) the similar use of the corresponding verb (see B) in Romans 13:12; Hebrews 10:25 , "drawing nigh," RV; James 5:8; cp. 1 Peter 4:7 . See NEAR , NIGH , READY.

See APPROACH , A.

Notes: (1) In 2 Thessalonians 2:2 , AV, the verb enistemi, "to be present" (en, "in," histemi, "to cause to stand"), is wrongly translated "is at hand;" the RV correctly renders it, "is (now) present;" the Apostle is counteracting the error of the supposition that "the Day of the Lord" (RV), a period of Divine and retributive judgments upon the world, had already begun.

(2) In 2 Timothy 4:6 , AV, the verb ephistemi, "to stand by, to come to or upon" (epi, "upon," histemi, "to make to stand"), is rendered "is at hand," of the Apostle's departure from this life; the RV "is come" represent the vivid force of the statement, expressing suddenness or imminence.