Attain
Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words [1]
a strengthened form of antao, "to come opposite to," signifies "to reach, to arrive at." It is used in its local significance several times in the Acts, e.g., 27:12, RV, "could reach." In its metaphorical sense of "attaining" to something it is used in three places: Acts 26:7 , of the fulfillment of the promise of God made to the ancestors of Israel, to which promise the twelve tribes "hope to attain" (RV); in Ephesians 4:13 , of "attaining" to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God; in Philippians 3:11 , of the paramount aims of the Apostle's life, "if by any means," he says, "I might attain unto the resurrection from the dead," not the physical resurrection, which is assured to all believers hereafter, but to the present life of identification with Christ in His resurrection. For the metaphorical sense in 1—Corinthians 10:11; 14:36 , see Arrive , A, No. 1. See also Come , No. 28.
"to seize, to apprehend," whether physically or mentally, is rendered "attain" in the sense of making something one's own, appropriating a thing, Romans 9:30 , said of the Gentiles, who through the Gospel have "attained" to, or laid hold of, the righteousness which is of faith, in contrast to the present condition of Israel; in 1—Corinthians 9:24 , of securing a prize, RV, "attain," for AV, "obtain." See Apprehend.
"to anticipate," also means "to reach, attain to a thing;" negatively of Israel (see Arrive , No. 5). The only other passage where it has this significance is Philippians 3:16 , "we have attained." See Come , Prevent.
"to reach, meet with," signifies "to attain to," in Luke 20:35 , RV (for AV, "obtain"). See Chance , Enjoy , Obtain.
1—Timothy 4:6 2—Timothy 3:10 Mark 16:17 Luke 1:3FollowKnowUnderstand. Philippians 3:12
King James Dictionary [2]
Atta'In, L attingo, to reach, come to or overtake ad and tango, to touch, reach or strike that is, to thrust, urge or push to. it has no connection with L. attineo. See Class.
1. To reach to come to or arrive at, by motion, bodily exertion, or efforts towards a place or object.
If by any means they might attain to Phenice. Acts 28 .
2. To reach to come to or arrive at, by an effort of mind.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me it is high I cannot attain to it. Psalms 139 .
Regularly this verb should be always followed by to the omission of to, and the use of the verb, in a transitive sense, may have originated in mistake, from the opinion that the verb is from the L. attineo, and equivalent to obtain.
ATTA'IN,
1. To gain to compass to achieve or accomplish, that is, to reach by efforts without to following.
Is he wise who hopes to attain the end without the means?
This use of the verb is now established but in strictness to is here implied attain to the end. The real sense, as in the intransitive use of the verb is, to reach or come to the end or purpose in view. This word always implies an effort towards an object. Hence it is not synonymous with obtain and procure, which do not necessarily imply such effort. We procure or obtain a thing by purchase or loan, and we obtain by inheritance, but we do not attain it by such means. An inattention to this distinction has led good authors into great mistakes in the use of this word.
2. To reach or come to a place or object by progression or motion.
But ere such tidings shall his ears attain.
Canaan he now attains.
3. To reach in excellence or degree to equal.
Webster's Dictionary [3]
(1): (v. t.) To overtake.
(2): (v. t.) To reach in excellence or degree; to equal.
(3): (n.) Attainment.
(4): (v. i.) To come or arrive, by an effort of mind.
(5): (v. i.) To come or arrive, by motion, growth, bodily exertion, or efforts toward a place, object, state, etc.; to reach.
(6): (v. t.) To achieve or accomplish, that is, to reach by efforts; to gain; to compass; as, to attain rest.
(7): (v. t.) To reach or come to, by progression or motion; to arrive at.
(8): (v. t.) To get at the knowledge of; to ascertain.
(9): (v. t.) To gain or obtain possession of; to acquire.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible [4]
Attain . In Acts 27:12 ‘attain’ has the literal meaning of reach a place (so RV [Note: Revised Version.] ). Elsewhere it has the figurative sense still in use.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia [5]
a - tān ´: The rendering of קנה , ḳānāh = "buy," "get" ( Proverbs 1:5 ); נשׂג , nāsagh ̌ = "reach," "a meal-offering ... according as he is able" ( Ezekiel 46:7 margin), "not attained unto the days" ( Genesis 47:9 ); יכל , yakhol or יכול , yākhōl ="be able," "overcome," "attain to innocency" ( Hosea 8:5 ); בּוא , bō' = "come," "follow" ( 2 Samuel 23:19 , 2 Samuel 23:23; 1 Chronicles 11:21 , 1 Chronicles 11:25 ); καταντάω , katantáō ̌ ="arrive at" ( Acts 27:12 the King James Version; Philippians 3:11 ); καταλαμβάνω , katalambáno ="take eagerly," "seize," "apprehend," "attained to righteousness" ( Romans 9:30 ); φθανο , φθάνω , phthánō ="have arrived at" ( Romans 9:31 the King James Version; Philippians 3:16 ); λαμβάνω , lambáno -"take," "get a hold of," "catch," the Revised Version (British and American) "already obtained" ( Philippians 3:12 ); παρακολουθέω , parakolouthéō = "follow," "trace out," "conform to" ( 1 Timothy 4:6 ). Here the Revised Version (British and American) corrects the King James Version.
