ἐπανάγω
epanágō
G1877 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To lead or bring up to a higher place or to another location, especially to set out to sea, to launch (nautical technical term), or (intransitively) to return to a previous place. The word's primary sense is to bring, lead, or move something or someone back to or onto a place, often used in maritime contexts for setting out on the water, but also generally for returning or bringing back.
Semantic Range
to lead or bring up, to launch or put out (to sea), to restore, to return, to bring back, to start a journey (especially by sea)
Root / Etymology
From the preposition ἐπί ('upon, on to') and the verb ἀνάγω ('to bring, lead up, to bring to a higher place'), thus literally 'to lead or carry up/upon.' Composite verb formation common in Koine Greek.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical and Hellenistic Greek, ἐπανάγω appears with the sense of 'to bring up again,' 'to restore,' or 'to return.' In technical maritime usage of the Hellenistic and Roman eras, especially in the New Testament and contemporaneous literature, ἐπανάγω commonly refers specifically to putting out (a vessel) to sea or launching a boat (Luke 5:3,4). The technical character is confirmed in both maritime papyri and literary sources. Intransitively, it may also mean 'to return' (to a previous point), though this is less common. Standard English translations (e.g., 'launch out,' 'put out,' 'return') often reflect only the prevailing local sense—the nuance of returning or bringing a vessel (or people) back and forth is more apparent in Greek than translations may convey. It is distinct from simple forms like ἀνάγω or ἀπάγω, emphasizing the movement either 'upward' or 'back onto a place.'
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἐπί and ἀνάγω; to lead up on, i.e. (technical) to put out (to sea); (intransitively) to return:--launch (thrust) out, return.
Root Family
ἐπανάγω (epanagō) — to lead, to bring, to conduct
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1877-03 |
ἐπανάγων | epanagon | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
returning | leading back | going back | 1 |
G1877-01 |
ἐπανάγαγε | epanagage | V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG |
put out | Bring back! | Put out | 1 |
G1877-02 |
ἐπαναγαγεῖν | epanagagein | V AOR ACT INF |
to put out | to lead back up | to put out | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1877-03 |
Matthew 21:18 | ἐπανάγων | epanagon | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
returning | leading back | going back |
G1877-02 |
Luke 5:3 | ἐπαναγαγεῖν | epanagagein | V AOR ACT INF |
to put out | to lead back up | to put out |
G1877-01 |
Luke 5:4 | ἐπανάγαγε | epanagage | V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG |
put out | Bring back! | Put out |