βυθίζω (G1036) — Greek Lexicon

βυθίζω

bythízō

G1036 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To cause to sink, to submerge, or to go down beneath the surface, typically of water. In various contexts, refers to the literal action of sinking ships or persons, as well as the metaphorical sense of plunging or being overwhelmed. The primary sense is that of descending into the depths, especially of water.

Semantic Range

to sink (of objects), to submerge or submerse (of people or things), to begin to go under (of boats or persons), to be overwhelmed (metaphorical), to drown (by implication)

Root / Etymology

Derived from βυθός (bythos, 'depth, bottom of the sea'). Formed with the verbal ending -ίζω, indicating the action of rendering something to the state of the root term (here: making something go to the bottom or deep).

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, βυθίζω appears chiefly in maritime contexts, referring to ships or objects being sunk. In Hellenistic and Koine Greek, the verb retains this literal sense but also can bear metaphorical nuance, such as being overwhelmed or brought low. In the Septuagint, it translates Hebrew terms relating to sinking, submerging, or perishing in water, often in the context of divine judgment (e.g., the drowning of the Egyptians in Exodus). In the New Testament (e.g., Matthew 14:30, when Peter 'begins to sink'), it retains the literal sense but may also imply danger or impending destruction. English translations often render it as 'to sink' or 'to drown,' sometimes obscuring the nuance between physical sinking and being engulfed or overwhelmed. The verb is distinct from καταποντίζω (katapontizō, 'to drown') in that βυθίζω focuses on the act of sinking/submerging, whereas καταποντίζω emphasizes complete submersion or destruction by water.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from βυθός; to sink; by implication, to drown:--begin to sink, drown.

Root Family

βυθίζω (bythizō) — to sink, to submerge, to cause to go down into the depths

Root βυθ- to sink, to submerge, to cause to go down

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G1036-01`	βυθίζεσθαι	buthizesthai	`V PRS PASS INF`	they were sinking	to be submerged	to be sinking	1
`G1036-02`	βυθίζουσι	buthizousi	`V PRS ACT IND 3P PL`	plunge	they are sinking	sink	1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G1036-01`	Luke 5:7	βυθίζεσθαι	buthizesthai	`V PRS PASS INF`	they were sinking	to be submerged	to be sinking
`G1036-02`	1 Timothy 6:9	βυθίζουσι	buthizousi	`V PRS ACT IND 3P PL`	plunge	they are sinking	sink

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