What does ὑπάρχω (hypárchō) mean in the Bible?
Ὑπάρχω (hypárchō) commonly means to be, exist, be in a condition, or possess something. Jesus tells the rich man to sell the things that belong to him, exposing possessions as a rival allegiance.
Greek · G5225
ὑπάρχω
Be already
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.
ὑπάρχω G5225
Pronunciation hypárchō
What does ὑπάρχω (hypárchō) mean in the Bible?
Ὑπάρχω (hypárchō) commonly means to be, exist, be in a condition, or possess something. Jesus tells the rich man to sell the things that belong to him, exposing possessions as a rival allegiance.
Reader summary
Full entry for ὑπάρχω (G5225) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G5225?
The BSB source-word alignment has 60 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include possessions (10), is (5), to be (3), vvv (3), - (2).
Where does ὑπάρχω (hypárchō) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Matthew 19:21. Its strongest book concentrations include Acts (25), Luke (15), 1 Corinthians (5), 2 Peter (3).
What This Word Actually Means
Ὑπάρχω (hypárchō) commonly means to be, exist, be in a condition, or possess something. Jesus tells the rich man to sell the things that belong to him, exposing possessions as a rival allegiance. The rich man in Jesus' story exists in torment after death, a condition contrasted with Lazarus beside Abraham. Paul insists that he and Silas are Roman citizens, naming an existing civic status that makes their public beating unlawful.
First Corinthians speaks of man being the image and glory of God within an argument about worship and relational honor. Peter asks what kind of people believers ought to be because the present creation faces judgment. The verb is semantically broad and often serves the sentence's main claim rather than carrying a special theological meaning of its own. Complements establish possession, circumstance, identity, or moral condition.
How the Bible Uses It
Ὑπάρχω describes possession, condition, status, identity, or manner of life. Its selected uses concern owned goods, torment, Roman citizenship, being God's image and glory, and the holy character believers ought to display.
- Matt.19.21
Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”
Jesus tells the rich man to sell what he possesses, give to the poor, and follow Him, revealing that goods have become the practical barrier to wholehearted discipleship.
- Luke.16.23
In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham from afar, with Lazarus by his side.
The rich man exists in torment and sees Lazarus comforted far away, a condition within Jesus' warning about refusing Moses and the Prophets.
- Acts.16.37
But Paul said to the officers, “They beat us publicly without a trial and threw us into prison, even though we are Roman citizens. And now do they want to send us away secretly? Absolutely not! Let them come themselves and escort us out!”
Paul names existing Roman citizenship after an unlawful public beating, requiring magistrates to acknowledge their abuse rather than conceal it through a secret release.
- 1Cor.11.7
A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man.
Paul grounds his worship instruction in man being God's image and glory, within a passage that also insists woman and man are mutually related in the Lord.
- 2Pet.3.11
Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to conduct yourselves in holiness and godliness
Because the heavens and elements face dissolution, Peter asks what sort of people believers ought to be, answering with holy and godly conduct as they await God's day.
Passage contextBook context
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It possessions 10× Matthew 19:21, Matthew 24:47, Matthew 25:14, Luke 11:21
is 5× Luke 9:48, Acts 17:24, 1 Corinthians 7:26, Philippians 3:20
to be 3× Acts 19:36, 1 Corinthians 12:22, 2 Peter 3:11
vvv 3× Luke 23:50, Acts 4:34, Acts 19:40
- 2× Luke 8:41, Acts 27:34
. . . 2× Acts 3:6, Acts 10:12
are 2× Acts 16:20, 2 Peter 2:19
was 2× Acts 16:3, Acts 27:12
who are 2× Luke 11:13, Galatians 2:14
(since he was 1× Romans 4:19
[and] was 1× Galatians 1:14
[even though] we are 1× Acts 16:37
[since] he is 1× 1 Corinthians 11:7
[Stephen] 1× Acts 7:55
[the men] had gone 1× Acts 27:21
as I am 1× 2 Corinthians 12:16
being 1× Acts 17:29
existing 1× Philippians 2:6
has 1× Luke 14:33
he 1× 2 Corinthians 8:17
He is 1× Acts 17:27
he was 1× Acts 2:30
I was 1× Acts 22:3
live 1× Luke 7:25
means 1× Luke 8:3
of them are 1× Acts 21:20
owned 1× Acts 4:37
possess 1× 2 Peter 1:8
possess {to the poor} 1× 1 Corinthians 13:3
property 1× Hebrews 10:34
stood 1× Acts 28:7
there are 1× 1 Corinthians 11:18
there was 1× Acts 28:18
they had simply been 1× Acts 8:16
was it [not] 1× Acts 5:4
where he was 1× Luke 16:23
who was 1× Acts 3:2
who were 1× Luke 16:14
Show sample aligned rows
Matthew 19:21 ὑπάρχοντα to possessions Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Neuter Plural Matthew 24:47 ὑπάρχουσιν to possessions Verb - Present Participle Active - Dative Neuter Plural Matthew 25:14 ὑπάρχοντα to possessions Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Neuter Plural Luke 7:25 ὑπάρχοντες to live Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural Luke 8:3 ὑπαρχόντων to means Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Neuter Plural Luke 8:41 ὑπῆρχεν to - Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Luke 9:48 ὑπάρχων to is Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular Luke 11:13 ὑπάρχοντες to who are Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural Luke 11:21 ὑπάρχοντα to possessions Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Neuter Plural Luke 12:15 ὑπαρχόντων to possessions Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Neuter Plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Matthew 19:21
Aligned rows 60
Books represented 11
Matthew 3 Luke 15 Acts 25 Romans 1 1 Corinthians 5 2 Corinthians 2 Galatians 2 Philippians 2 Hebrews 1 James 1 2 Peter 3
Source forms
ὑπάρχων 15x hyparchōn Luke 9:48, Luke 16:23, Luke 23:50, Acts 2:30
ὑπάρχοντα 7x hyparchonta Matthew 19:21, Matthew 25:14, Luke 11:21, Luke 12:33
ὑπάρχειν 6x hyparchein Acts 19:36, Acts 28:18, 1 Corinthians 7:26, 1 Corinthians 11:18
ὑπάρχοντες 6x hyparchontes Luke 7:25, Luke 11:13, Luke 16:14, Acts 16:20
ὑπαρχόντων 5x hyparchontōn Luke 8:3, Luke 12:15, Luke 19:8, Acts 4:32
ὑπῆρχεν 5x hypērchen Luke 8:41, Acts 5:4, Acts 10:12, Acts 16:3
ὑπάρχουσιν 4x hyparchousin Matthew 24:47, Luke 12:44, Luke 14:33, Acts 21:20
ὑπάρχει 3x hyparchei Acts 3:6, Acts 27:34, Philippians 3:20
Parsing patterns
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular 15x Luke 9:48, Luke 16:23, Luke 23:50, Acts 2:30
Verb - Present Infinitive Active 6x Acts 19:36, Acts 28:18, 1 Corinthians 7:26, 1 Corinthians 11:18
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural 6x Luke 7:25, Luke 11:13, Luke 16:14, Acts 16:20
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular 5x Luke 8:41, Acts 5:4, Acts 10:12, Acts 16:3
Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Neuter Plural 5x Matthew 19:21, Matthew 25:14, Luke 12:33, Luke 16:1
Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Neuter Plural 5x Luke 8:3, Luke 12:15, Luke 19:8, Acts 4:32
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular 3x Acts 3:6, Acts 27:34, Philippians 3:20
Verb - Present Participle Active - Dative Neuter Plural 3x Matthew 24:47, Luke 12:44, Luke 14:33
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Do not assign one specialized theological definition to every occurrence; the verb's complement and discourse carry the specific claim.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim that invoking legal rights is inherently faithless when Paul uses citizenship to confront unlawful public treatment.
- Do not claim that possessions are condemned merely for existing; Jesus addresses their mastery and the refusal to follow Him.
Evidence Summary
Greek word. Denotes an existing state or condition, emphasizing what already is or belongs to someone.
Strong's G5225
Lexical occurrences 60 verses Greek text appearances 62 times 16 shown below Word forms 4 forms 60 references Verse guides 0 guides
Source Gloss
be already
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpus Greek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
16 of 62 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
Matthew 19:21 Verb Present Active Participle Accusative Plural Neuter
ὑπάρχοντα uparconta
I am, exist, am in possession
Read verse Matthew 24:47 Verb Present Active Participle Dative Plural Neuter
ὑπάρχουσιν uparcousin
I am, exist, am in possession
Read verse Matthew 25:14 Verb Present Active Participle Accusative Plural Neuter
ὑπάρχοντα uparconta
I am, exist, am in possession
Read verse Luke 7:25 Verb Present Active Participle Nominative Plural Masculine
ὑπάρχοντες uparcontev
I am, exist, am in possession
Read verse Luke 8:3 Verb Present Active Participle Genitive Plural Neuter
ὑπαρχόντων uparcontwn
I am, exist, am in possession
Read verse Luke 8:41 Verb Third Person Singular Imperfect Active Indicative
ὑπῆρχε, uphrcen
I am, exist, am in possession
Read verse Luke 9:48 Verb Present Active Participle Nominative Singular Masculine
ὑπάρχων uparcwn
I am, exist, am in possession
Read verse Luke 11:13 Verb Present Active Participle Nominative Plural Masculine
ὑπάρχοντες uparcontev
I am, exist, am in possession
Read verse Luke 11:21 Verb Present Active Participle Nominative Plural Neuter
ὑπάρχοντα uparconta
I am, exist, am in possession
Read verse Luke 12:15 Verb Present Active Participle Genitive Plural Neuter
ὑπαρχόντων uparcontwn
I am, exist, am in possession
Read verse Luke 12:33 Verb Present Active Participle Accusative Plural Neuter
ὑπάρχοντα uparconta
I am, exist, am in possession
Read verse Luke 12:44 Verb Present Active Participle Dative Plural Neuter
ὑπάρχουσιν uparcousin
I am, exist, am in possession
Read verse Luke 14:33 Verb Present Active Participle Dative Plural Neuter
ὑπάρχουσιν, uparcousin
I am, exist, am in possession
Read verse Luke 16:1 Verb Present Active Participle Accusative Plural Neuter
ὑπάρχοντα uparconta
I am, exist, am in possession
Read verse Luke 16:14 Verb Present Active Participle Nominative Plural Masculine
ὑπάρχοντες, uparcontev
I am, exist, am in possession
Read verse Luke 16:23 Verb Present Active Participle Nominative Singular Masculine
ὑπάρχων uparcwn
I am, exist, am in possession
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.
Grammatical Forms
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.
Form groups 4 Aligned forms 60 Tenses Present, Imperfect Voices Active
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
Tenses
Voices
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 42×
Present Active Luke 9:48 · Luke 16:23 · Luke 23:50 · Acts 2:30 · Acts 3:2 · Acts 7:55 · Acts 17:24 · Acts 22:3 · Rom 4:19 · 1 Cor 11:7 · 2 Cor 8:17 · 2 Cor 12:16 · Gal 1:14 · Gal 2:14 · Phil 2:6 · Luke 7:25 42×
Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract 6×
Present Active Acts 19:36 · Acts 28:18 · 1 Cor 7:26 · 1 Cor 11:18 · 1 Cor 12:22 · 2 Pet 3:11 6×
Indicative states a fact or reality 11×
Imperfect Active Luke 8:41 · Acts 5:4 · Acts 10:12 · Acts 16:3 · Acts 28:7 · Acts 4:34 · Acts 8:16 7×
Present Active Acts 3:6 · Acts 27:34 · Phil 3:20 · Acts 21:20 4×
Subjunctive possibility, probability, or purpose 1×
Present Active Jas 2:15 1×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 9 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
present 8 imperfect 1
Voice
active 9
Mood
participle 5 indicative 3 infinitive 1
NT Occurrences
Luke 7:25 ὑπάρχοντες present active participle participle Luke 16:23 ὑπάρχων present active participle participle Acts 3:6 ὑπάρχει present active indicative ongoing Acts 19:40 ὑπάρχοντος present active participle participle Acts 27:21 ὑπαρχούσης present active participle participle Acts 28:7 ὑπῆρχεν imperfect active indicative background 1 Corinthians 11:18 ὑπάρχειν present active infinitive infinitive Philippians 2:6 ὑπάρχων present active participle participle Philippians 3:20 ὑπάρχει present active indicative ongoing
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 Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Witnesses
Luke 8:1–3 ὑπαρχόντων hypárchō
Possessions, means
Showing 1 selected witness from 60 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
For the Preacher and Teacher
What a person has and what a person is can both become sites of discipleship. The rich ruler's possessions are not neutral inventory once Jesus' call exposes their mastery. In the Lazarus story, the rich man's condition after death overturns the security his abundance appeared to provide. Paul's Roman citizenship shows that an existing civil status may be invoked not for vanity but to confront public injustice and protect the mission from quiet administrative evasion.
First Corinthians places human identity under creation and worship, not self-invention, while keeping woman and man mutually dependent in the Lord. Second Peter brings existence under eschatological scrutiny: since the present order will not endure, believers must be people marked by holiness and godliness. Ὑπάρχω does not unify these claims through a secret sense; it serves each passage by naming possession, condition, status, or being.
Anchor passage
Matt.19.21
Doctrinal connections
- Matthew 19:16-30, possessions and following Jesus
- Luke 16:19-31, present wealth and the reversal after death
- Acts 16:35-40, Roman status and public accountability
- 1 Corinthians 11:2-16, created identity and mutuality in worship
- 2 Peter 3:8-14, coming judgment and holy conduct
- Psalm 24:1, all possessions under the Lord's ownership
Ὑπάρχω is a broad verb of being, existing, belonging, or possessing. A participle or predicate may describe one's present condition, while a neuter plural often refers to possessions. Context determines whether English should use “be,” “possess,” or a fuller phrase.
From Old to New Testament
Everything belongs to the Lord, human status remains accountable to justice, and earthly possessions cannot secure life. Scripture repeatedly asks what kind of people God's servants are under His ownership and coming judgment.
Sources
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