A compound verb from epi (upon) + krinō (judge), meaning to adjudicate, give a decisive ruling, or pronounce judgment. Used once in the New Testament at the trial of Jesus before Pilate.
Epikrinō appears at the precise moment of history's most consequential judicial decision. Luke 23:24: 'And Pilate decided (epekrinen) that their demand should be granted.' Pilate, who had declared Jesus innocent three times, ultimately yielded to the crowd and pronounced his ruling. The word conveys decisive finality — the gavel falling. Yet the divine irony is total: the man who decided to execute the Son of God was himself already judged in the cosmic court. The only truly innocent man was condemned by the only truly condemned institution — Roman power bowing to mob fear. This epikrisis was simultaneously the greatest injustice and the greatest redemption in history.