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Abarim Publications' Biblical Dictionary: The New Testament Greek word: ερχομαι
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Source: https://www.abarim-publications.com/DictionaryG/e/e-r-ch-o-m-a-i.html

ερχομαι

Abarim Publications' online Biblical Greek Dictionary

ερχομαι

The verb ερχομαι (erchomai) is the New Testament's common verb for to come and is used pretty much equivalent to our English verb "to come"; it describes a movement toward the storyteller's point of reference.

The Biblical mode of storytelling sometimes allows for this verb to be used in a way that would naturally invite an English translation by means of the verbs "to go" or "to pass," and the actual direction of movement our verb expresses (coming, going, passing or otherwise appearing onto the scene; see for instance Mark 4:21) must be established from the context.

This verb, in its many forms, occurs 642 times in the New Testament, see full concordance, and combined with all the usual prefixes, a few hundred times more:

  • Together with the preposition ανα (ana), meaning on or upon: the verb ανερχομαι (anerchomai), meaning to go up. This verb occurs a mere three times, namely in John 6:3 (Jesus up the mountain), and Galatians 1:17 and 1:18 (Paul to Jerusalem). From this verb in turn comes:
    • Together with the preposition επι (epi), meaning on or upon: the verb επανερχομαι (epanerchomai), meaning to come back up. This verb occurs only twice, namely in Luke 10:35 and 19:15.
  • Together with the preposition απο (apo), mostly meaning from: the verb απερχομαι (aperchomai), meaning to go from (spread out from; Matthew 4:24), or (most often): to depart. This verb occurs 119 times in the New Testament, again with no real surprises; see full concordance.
  • Together with the preposition δια (dia), meaning through or throughout: the verb διερχομαι (dierchomai), meaning to go through, pass among or journey about. This verb occurs 42 times in the New Testament; see full concordance.
  • Together with the preposition εις (eis) meaning in, to or toward: the verb εισερχομαι (eiserchomai), meaning to go in, to enter. It's the opposite of εξερχομαι (exerchomai), going out (as used juxtaposed in Acts 1:21; see below), and occurs 196 times; see full concordance. From it in turn derive:
    • Together with the preposition παρα (para), meaning near or nearby: the verb παρεισερχομαι (pareiserchomai), meaning to-(first)-approach-and-(then)-enter. This verb occurs only two times: in Romans 5:20 it quite tellingly describes how Law came to mankind, and Galatians 2:4 it describes the sleight infiltration of false brethren.
    • Together with the preposition συν (sun), meaning together or with: the verb συνεισερχομαι (suneiserchomai), meaning to enter with someone (John 6:22 and 18:15 only).
  • The noun ελευσις (eleusis), meaning a coming. This noun occurs only once, in Acts 7:52, where it describes the coming of the Righteous One.
  • Together with the preposition εκ (ek), meaning out: the verb εξερχομαι (exerchomai), meaning a going out, the opposite of the verb εισερχομαι (eiserchomai), meaning to go in (see above). Our verb εξερχομαι (exerchomai) occurs 223 times in the New Testament; see full concordance.
  • Again together with the preposition επι (epi), meaning on or upon: the verb επερχομαι (eperchomai), meaning to come upon or to arrive at a place or person. This verb occurs 10 times; see full concordance.
  • Together with the preposition κατα (kata), meaning down: the verb κατερχομαι (katerchomai), meaning to go or come down; to descend or arrive. This verb occurs 13 times; see full concordance.
  • Again together with the preposition παρα (para) meaning near or nearby: the verb παρερχομαι (parerchomai), meaning to pass nearby, or closely over, mostly in the sense of to transpire (of a time or situation). This verb occurs 31 times, see full concordance, and from it in turn derives:
    • Together with the preposition αντι (anti), meaning over or against: the verb αντιπαρερχομαι (antiparerchomai), meaning to pass by on the opposite side. This verb occurs only twice in the New Testament, namely in Luke 10:31 and 10:32, where the priest and Levite famously pass by on the other side, leaving the victim for the Good Samaritan to deal with.
  • Together with the preposition περι (peri), meaning around or about: the verb περιερχομαι (perierchomai), meaning to go about or around. This verb occurs 4 times; see full concordance.
  • Together with the preposition προ (pro), meaning before or in front of: the verb προερχομαι (proerchomai), meaning to come, go or pass before or in front of. This verb occurs 5 times; see full concordance.
  • Together with the preposition προς (pros), which describes a motion toward: the verb προσερχομαι (proserchomai), meaning to come or go to some place or person, to approach. This verb occurs 90 times, see full concordance, and from it derives:
    • The noun προσηλυτος (proselutos), which describes someone who comes from somewhere else: a stranger. This word was also used to describe converts to Judaism, and is the origin of our English word "proselyte". The noun προσηλυτος (proselutos) occurs 4 times in the New Testament; see full concordance.
  • Again together with the preposition συν (sun), meaning together or with: the verb συνερχομαι (sunerchomai), meaning to come or go together with someone. This verb occurs 32 times; see full concordance.