UBS Greek Dictionary Article

Notes: There is no evidence that the figurative meaning of ἐπεκτείνομαι had become conventionalized by NT times. Accordingly, in RV PHP 3:13 · LV PHP 3:13 · Read together PHP 3:13 the occurrence of ἐπεκτείνομαι involves figurative usage rather than figurative meaning. It is rare that one can use a word meaning ‘to stretch out’ or ‘to reach toward’ in this context of RV PHP 3:13 · LV PHP 3:13 · Read together PHP 3:13. It may be far better to use an expression such as ‘to earnestly seek those things that are ahead’ or ‘to do one’s best to reach what is ahead’ or ‘to strongly desire to experience what is ahead of me’ or ‘… what lies in the future.’

Form 1

Part of speech: verb

Related lemmas: τείνω

Sense 1: to reach out, to stretch toward

Semantic entry: 16.20

Semantic domains: Non-Linear Movement

Definition: to reach out or stretch out toward some goal

Notes: In RV PHP 3:13 · LV PHP 3:13 · Read together PHP 3:13 ἐπεκτείνομαι is used figuratively to suggest intense effort as well as firm purpose.

PHP 3:13: RV PHP 3:13 · LV PHP 3:13 · Read together PHP 3:13

Show passage in OET

OET-RV PHP 3:13

13 Brothers and sisters, I’m not under the illusion that I’ve already grabbed it, but I do do this one thing: forgetting what’s behind me, and taking long strides towards what’s ahead of me,

OET-LV PHP 3:13

13 Brothers, I myself not am _counting to _have _grasped it, but I _do one thing:
the things on _one _hand behind forgetting, on _the _other _hand to _the things ahead stretching _out,

Sense 2: to seek strongly to, to try hard to

Semantic entry: 13.20

Semantic domains: Be, Become, Exist, Happen

Subdomains: State

Definition: to attempt energetically to attain a state or condition