Hand (at hand) - Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words
Hand (at hand)
[ A-1,Adverb,G1451, engus ]near, nigh," frequently rendered "at hand," is used
(a) of place, e.g., of the Lord's sepulchre, John 19:42, "nigh at hand;"
(b) of time, e.g., Matthew 26:18; Luke 21:30-Luke 21:31, RV, "nigh," AV, "nigh at hand;" in Philippians 4:5, "the Lord is at hand," it is possible to regard the meaning as that either of
(a) or
(b); the following reasons may point to
(b):
(1) the subject of the preceding context has been the return of Christ, Philippians 3:20-Philippians 3:21;
(2) the phrase is a translation of the Aramaic "Maranatha," 1 Corinthians 16:22, a Christian watchword, and the use of the title "the Lord" is appropriate;
(3) the similar use of the adverb in Revelation 1:3; Revelation 22:10;
(4) the similar use of the corresponding verb (See B) in Romans 13:12; Hebrews 10:25, "drawing nigh," RV; James 5:8; cp. 1 Peter 4:7. See NEAR, NIGH, READY.
[ B-1,Verb,G1448, engizo ]
See APPROACH, A.
Notes:
(1) In 2 Thessalonians 2:2, AV, the verb enistemi, "to be present" (en, "in," histemi, "to cause to stand"), is wrongly translated "is at hand;" the RV correctly renders it, "is (now) present;" the Apostle is counteracting the error of the supposition that "the Day of the Lord" (RV), a period of Divine and retributive judgments upon the world, had already begun.
(2) In 2 Timothy 4:6, AV, the verb ephistemi, "to stand by, to come to or upon" (epi, "upon," histemi, "to make to stand"), is rendered "is at hand," of the Apostle's departure from this life; the RV "is come" represent the vivid force of the statement, expressing suddenness or imminence.