Abarim Publications' online Biblical Greek Dictionary
ηκω
The curious verb ηκω (eko) means to be present in the sense of to have just arrived. It's often translated with to come, but instead of describing the dynamic motion of going from somewhere else to here, our verb much rather describes the completion of the journey and the object's subsequent sitting there.
Our verb thus emphasizes the static novelty of the object in its present location rather than the dynamic act of getting there, or even what the object might be planning to do next. As such, our verb mostly emphasizes how fittingly our object sits in its present location, and how it will therefore not continue into whatever it sits so fittingly in front of. It may be used to emphasize that the object has reached a particular markable point (quite literally, in geometry it means just that), or that the object is well off, or particularly well-endowed in some aspect, or has arrived at some level or attribute or status, and so on. Our verb may express the fact that the object has returned, therewith emphasizing that the point of arrival was also the point of departure but staying vague about what happened in between. And our verb may be used in constructions where certain words concern/depend on/relate to certain topics.
Our verb is used 27 times in the New Testament, see full concordance, and from it derive:
- Together with the preposition ανα (ana), meaning on or upon: the verb ανηκω (aneko), meaning to be present or have come upon a specified point in time or space, or some condition. In the New Testament this verb is used in Ephesians 5:4, Colossians 3:18 and Philemon 1:8 only, where the specified point is of course the nature of Christ, and his incarnation in his people. Since Christ is there where two or three are gathered in his name (Matthew 18:20), our verb speaks of people interacting not merely in a proper or fitting way (because that speaks merely of adhering to the latest social fashion) but in a way that is synchronous to the nature of Christ (loving, forgiving, generous, considerate, informed and wise).
- Together with the preposition κατα (kata), meaning down from, down upon: the verb καθηκω (katheko), which literally means to be present from having come down. In the classics this verb is mostly used to describe the arrival of some proper time (of a feast, for instance) or occasion in its due course (say, of one's turn to speak), but also, a general and less specific: to be fitting, proper or suiting. In the New Testament, our verb is used in Acts 22:22 and Romans 1:28 only; both times in an examination of certain behavior relative to the norms of the times: In Acts, Paul's proposed interaction with the nations made the Jews think of conditions before the flood, and thus exclaim that Paul should likewise be lifted from the earth. In his letter to the Romans, Paul lists certain behavior that marks a primitive society, of which the people engage in activities that do not fit the enlightened present.