To come near
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
Engizo means to draw near, approach, come close, or be near in time or space. John the Baptist, Jesus, and the Twelve announce that the kingdom of heaven has drawn near, making proximity a summons to repent and receive God's reign.
Reader summary
Full entry for ἐγγίζω (G1448) · Open the biblical lexicon
Engizo means to draw near, approach, come close, or be near in time or space. John the Baptist, Jesus, and the Twelve announce that the kingdom of heaven has drawn near, making proximity a summons to repent and receive God's reign.
The BSB source-word alignment has 42 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include is near (11), drew near (4), He approached (3), they approached (3), . . . (2).
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Matthew 3:2. Its strongest book concentrations include Luke (18), Matthew (7), Acts (6), James (3).
This entry includes 1 verse guide that explain exact original-language forms in context.
Engizo means to draw near, approach, come close, or be near in time or space. John the Baptist, Jesus, and the Twelve announce that the kingdom of heaven has drawn near, making proximity a summons to repent and receive God's reign. Matthew also uses the verb for approaching Jerusalem and for harvest time drawing near in the vineyard parable. Nearness may therefore be spatial, temporal, or theological; it does not always mean identical presence or immediate completion.
Kingdom nearness centers on the King and His saving mission, not date-setting or vague spiritual atmosphere. Christian teaching should invite repentance, hope, and attentive obedience while refusing claims that every crisis proves the end is calculably imminent or that emotional intensity guarantees God's special proximity.
Engizo names approach or nearness. Matthew uses it for the kingdom's arrival in Jesus, physical approach to Jerusalem, and the coming harvest season that triggers the owner's claim.
And saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
Matthew 3:2 records John's call to repent because the kingdom of heaven has drawn near. The announcement prepares Israel for the coming Messiah.
From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
Matthew 4:17 gives Jesus the same proclamation as His public ministry begins: repent, for the kingdom of heaven has drawn near.
As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’
Matthew 10:7 commissions the Twelve to announce that the kingdom of heaven has drawn near as they extend Jesus' mission.
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent out two disciples,
Matthew 21:1 says Jesus and the disciples draw near to Jerusalem before the royal entry. The use is geographic and narratively decisive.
When the harvest time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit.
Matthew 21:34 says harvest time drew near, and the owner sent servants to receive fruit. Temporal approach initiates the tenants' violent accountability.
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders ItA compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
Verse-level guides showing how this original-language form works in its specific context, including grammar, verse function, and guarded interpretation.
Greek word. Arrival of God's kingdom or end times; emphasizes temporal/eschatological proximity rather than mere spatial closeness.
Textus Receptus witness, full corpus Greek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
16 of 43 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
I come near, approach
Read verseI come near, approach
Read verseI come near, approach
Read verseI come near, approach
Read verseI come near, approach
Read verseI come near, approach
Read verseI come near, approach
Read verseI come near, approach
Read verseI come near, approach
Read verseI come near, approach
Read verseI come near, approach
Read verseI come near, approach
Read verseI come near, approach
Read verseI come near, approach
Read verseI come near, approach
Read verseI come near, approach
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
How this verb appears across 41 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.
Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 42 lexical occurrence verses.
ἐγγίζω is built from this root:
Declares the kingdom’s arrival with continuing effect. Luke 10:1–12
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
Engizo makes nearness a call to response. John announces the approaching kingdom to prepare a people; Jesus announces it because the King and His works are present; the Twelve carry that proclamation into Israel's towns. This is more than a feeling that God is close. It is a redemptive claim demanding repentance and allegiance. Matthew also uses the verb ordinarily when Jesus approaches Jerusalem and temporally when harvest arrives, reminding readers not to force every occurrence into one theological mold.
Churches should proclaim God's reign as present in Christ and moving toward completion, invite concrete repentance, and cultivate hopeful watchfulness. They should not exploit fear through prophetic calendars or treat emotional experiences as proof that their movement uniquely mediates divine nearness.
Matt.4.17
Engizo is related to engys, near, and means draw near, approach, or come close. Objects and temporal expressions determine spatial, relational, temporal, or theological nuance.
The day of the Lord draws near in the prophets, God draws near in covenant mercy and judgment, and worshipers are summoned to approach Him with cleansed hearts.
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain