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ἐν ᾧ ὑπῆρχε πάντα τὰ τετράποδα τῆς γῆς καὶ τὰ θηρία καὶ τὰ ἑρπετὰ καὶ τὰ πετεινὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ.
RBT Greek Interlinear:
Strongs 1722  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
en
ἐν
within
Prep
Strongs 3739  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus


which/whichever
RelPro-DNS
Strongs 5225  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
hypērchen
ὑπῆρχεν
was pre-existing
V-IIA-3S
Strongs 3956  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
panta
πάντα
all
Adj-NNP
Strongs 3588  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
ta
τὰ
the
Art-NNP
Strongs 5074  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
tetrapoda
τετράποδα
quadrupeds
Adj-NNP
Strongs 2532  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
kai
καὶ
and
Conj
Strongs 2062  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
herpeta
ἑρπετὰ
creeping things
N-NNP
Strongs 3588  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
tēs
τῆς
the
Art-GFS
Strongs 1093  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
gēs
γῆς
earth
N-GFS
Strongs 2532  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
kai
καὶ
and
Conj
Strongs 4071  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
peteina
πετεινὰ
birds
N-NNP
Strongs 3588  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
tou
τοῦ
the
Art-GMS
Strongs 3772  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
ouranou
οὐρανοῦ
heaven
N-GMS
RBT Translation:
within which all the Quadrupeds and slithering ones of the Earthly One, and Winged Ones of the Heavenly One, were pre-existing.50
Julia Smith Literal 1876 Translation:
In which were all the quadrupeds of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and the flying things of heaven.
LITV Translation:
in which were all the four-footed animals of the earth, and the wild beasts, and the creeping things, and the birds of the heaven.

Footnotes

50

The verb ὑπάρχω (from ὑπό + ἄρχω, “to begin under”) carries richer ontological nuance than the simple copula εἰμί. Classical usage ranges from “to exist already, to be the beginning” to “to take the initiative, to be the case,” but in Hellenistic and NT contexts it often signifies being in an underlying state or condition. Thus, ὑπῆρχεν (imperfect) should not be reduced to "was" or "were," but rather “already underlay,” indicating existence grounded in a substratum beneath surface appearance.

In an Aonic Möbius framework, ὑπάρχειν marks the hidden fold of being: εἶναι refers to the visible side of the loop, while ὑπάρχειν denotes the underside sustaining it. For example, Phil 2:6 (ὃς ἐν μορφῇ θεοῦ ὑπάρχων) portrays not a contingent present state but an underlying divine substratum; likewise Acts 2:30 (προφήτης ὑπάρχων) and Luke 16:23 emphasize condition-in-depth rather than simple presence. Theologically or anthropologically, ὑπάρχειν expresses a depth dimension of existence—being that has always already begun from beneath. In the queen metaphor: her ὑπάρχειν in the tower is not mere location but hidden essence, either degenerative if confined or radiant if released.

(cf. LSJ ὑπάρχω)