the Week of Proper 17 / Ordinary 22
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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.These files are public domain.
Vines, W. E., M. A. Entry for 'Hand (2)'. Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words. https://www.studylight.org/​dictionaries/​eng/​ved/​h/hand-2.html. 1940.