ἐπάγω
epágō
G1863 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To bring upon, lead or cause something to happen to someone or something, often with a sense of imposing or inflicting, especially negative outcomes or accusations. In contexts, frequently refers to the imposition of evil, disaster, or blame upon a person or group; by extension, to introduce or cause something unfavorable or burdensome, such as an accusation or calamity.
Semantic Range
to bring upon, to inflict (evil, calamity), to impose (blame, accusation), to cause or introduce (something negative or burdensome), to charge (with a crime)
Root / Etymology
From the prepositional prefix ἐπί ('upon, over') and the verb ἄγω ('to lead, bring'). The compound thus originally means 'to lead upon' or 'to bring down upon.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, ἐπάγω often meant 'to bring upon' in a neutral or positive sense, but in later periods—especially in the Septuagint and New Testament contexts—the word predominantly carries the negative nuance of inflicting something harmful, such as calamity, accusation, or punishment. In legal contexts, it can mean 'to charge' someone with a crime. The word is comparatively rare in the New Testament and is typically used in contexts of juridical accusation or divine or human infliction of misfortune. English translations as 'bring upon' or 'inflict' sometimes fail to capture the contextually implied sense of responsibility or agency. Related terms: φέρω ('to bear, bring'), προσάγω ('to bring to'), ἐπιφέρω ('to bring upon'), though ἐπάγω often emphasizes the consequence affecting the object or victim. In some classical and Hellenistic sources, it can have a broader range, including 'to induce' or 'to superadd.'
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἐπί and ἄγω; to superinduce, i.e. inflict (an evil), charge (a crime):--bring upon.
Root Family
ἐπάγω (epagō) — to bring upon, to inflict, to lead upon
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1863-01 |
ἐπαγαγεῖν | epagagein | V AOR ACT INF |
to bring | to bring upon | 1 |
G1863-02 |
ἐπάγοντες | epagontes | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
bringing | bringing upon | 1 |
G1863-03 |
ἐπάξας | epaxas | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
bringing | having brought upon | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1863-01 |
Acts 5:28 | ἐπαγαγεῖν | epagagein | V AOR ACT INF |
to bring | to bring upon |
G1863-02 |
2 Peter 2:1 | ἐπάγοντες | epagontes | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
bringing | bringing upon |
G1863-03 |
2 Peter 2:5 | ἐπάξας | epaxas | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
bringing | having brought upon |