πλησίον

πλησίον (in form, the neut. of πλησίος, α, ον, an adj. that goes back to Hom.; Schwyzer I 461) adv. (Hom.+)

① marker of a position quite close to another position, nearby, near, close

ⓐ abs. (Diod S 11, 4, 1 πλησίον εἶναι; Dionys. Byz. §102; SIG 344, 83; 888, 127; Mitt-Wilck. I/2, 11, 6 ἐκ τῶν πλ[ησίο]ν κωμῶν; 2 Macc 6:11; Ath. 35, 2 πλ. εἶναι) πλ. ἑκάτερον πεφύτευται they were planted close to each other Dg 12:4.

ⓑ functions as prep. w. gen. (Hom.+; Schwyzer II 548) near, close to someth. πλ. τοῦ χωρίου (Menand., Epitr. 242 πλ. τῶν χωρίων S. [=66 Kö.]) J 4:5. πλ. τοῦ τόπου ἐκείνου ApcPt 11:26. πλ. ἐκείνων 13:28.

② as subst. ὁ πλησίον: the one who is near or close by, neighbor, fellow human being (Theognis et al.; X., Mem. 3, 14, 4; Pla., Theaet. 174b ὁ πλησίον καὶ ὁ γείτων; Polyb. 12, 25, 5; Plut., Mor. 40c; 57d; Ael. Aristid. 23, 28 K.=42 p. 777 D. al.; Epict. 4, 13, 2; 9; M. Ant. 4:18 al.; Ps.-Lucian, Philopatr. 16 ἐὰν κτάνῃς τὸν πλησίον, θανατωθήσῃ παρὰ τ. δίκης; LXX; En 99:15; PsSol 8:10; TestIss 5:1f; Philo, Virt. 116; Jos., Bell. 7, 260; Just., Tat.; Schwyzer II 547) with and without gen., of a compatriot Ac 7:27 (cp. Ex 2:13). Of fellow-Christians Ro 15:2; Eph 4:25 (Zech 8:16); Js 4:12; 1 Cl 38:1; Dg 10:6; IMg 6:2; ITr 8:2; Pol 3:3. In the teaching about the Two Ways: B 19:3, B 5f, B 8; D 1:2 (cp. Lev 19:18); 2:3 (cp. Ex 20:17), vs. 6. Quite freq. as a quot. from or in close connection with the OT: B 2:8 (Zech 8:17). Esp. oft. the passage involved is Lev 19:18 (Philosoph. Max., FPhGr I, 489, 27 warns against λυπεῖν τὸν πλησίον): Mt 5:43 (here the NT introduces the contrast ὁ πλησίον … ὁ ἐχθρός); 19:19; 22:39; Mk 12:31, 33; Lk 10:27; Ro 13:9; cp. vs. 10; Gal 5:14; Js 2:8. Without the art., as pred. (s. B-D-F §266; Rob. 547 and SSol 5:16) καὶ τίς ἐστίν μου πλησίον; and who is my neighbor? Lk 10:29; cp. vs. 36.—Pl. οἱ πλησίον (Ar. 10, 8; 15, 4; Ath. 11, 3; Alex. Aphr., An. Mant. p. 162, 19 Br.) of fellow Christians 1 Cl 2:6; 51:2; Dg 10:5.—Billerb. I 353–68, Nathanael 34, 1918, 12ff; JGspann, Die Nächstenliebe im NT: Der Katholik 87, 1907, 376–91; MRade, Der Nächste: Jülicher Festschr. 1927, 70–79; RBultmann, Aimer son prochain: RHPR 10, 1930, 222–41; EFuchs, ThBl 11, ’32, 129–40; HWeinel, D. Nächstenliebe: Arch. f. d. gesamte Psychol. 86, ’33, 247–60; ANikolainen, D. Nächste als rel. Frage im NT ’37 (s. Theol. Fennica 1, ’39, 13–22); HPreisker, D. Ethos des Urchristentums ’49, 68–81; JBowman, ET 59, ’47/48, 151–3; 248 f.; ANissen, Gott u. der Nächste im Antiken Judentum, ’74.—B. 867.—DELG s.v. πέλας IV. M-M. EDNT. TW.