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ἐπιβαίνω

epibaínō

G1910 verb

SILEX Entry

Root βαιν- to step, to go, to walk

Definition

To go onto or upon something, to step onto, ascend, or embark; to move oneself onto the surface or into a vehicle, vessel, or designated place. The term primarily denotes the physical act of stepping upon or mounting, as onto a ship, animal, or raised location, but by extension can mean to enter, embark, or arrive at a destination, especially by boarding a vessel or crossing a boundary.

Semantic Range

to step onto, to go upon, to mount, to ascend, to embark (on a ship), to arrive (at a location), to enter, to board, to sit upon

Root / Etymology

From ἐπί ('on, upon') and the verbal stem βαίνω ('to go, walk, step'). The composite verb literally means 'to go on/upon.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἐπιβαίνω appears commonly in contexts of mounting or stepping onto something, whether a platform, chariot, horse, or ship. In Hellenistic and Koine Greek, especially in the Septuagint and New Testament, it frequently refers to embarking on a ship or entering a specific location. The verb is generally used for a concrete, physical action rather than a metaphorical one. Septuagint use can parallel the Hebrew עָלָה (alah, 'to go up, ascend'). Standard English translations such as 'embark,' 'board,' 'mount,' or 'enter' may narrow the sense, especially where the text emphasizes movement onto or arrival at a location, not always capturing the connotation of the initial act of stepping or crossing. The term contrasts with καταβαίνω ('to go down') and διαβαίνω ('to cross over, pass through'). The semantic force can be both transitive and intransitive, depending on context. No significant theological or metaphorical use is attested in primary biblical sources.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἐπί and the base of βάσις; to walk upon, i.e. mount, ascend, embark, arrive:--come (into), enter into, go abroad, sit upon, take ship.

Root Family

ἐπιβαίνω (epibainō) — to step, to go, to walk; to go upon, to mount, to embark

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G1910-03 ἐπιβάντες epibantes V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL embarking having stepped onto 2
G1910-02 ἐπιβαίνειν epibainein V PRS ACT INF to go to step onto 1
G1910-04 ἐπιβὰς epibas V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG having arrived having stepped onto 1
G1910-01 ἐπέβην epeben V AOR ACT IND 1P SG I set foot I stepped onto 1
G1910-05 ἐπιβεβηκὼς epibebekos V PRF ACT PTCP NOM M SG having stepped onto 1

Occurrences in Scripture

6 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G1910-05 Matthew 21:5 ἐπιβεβηκὼς epibebekos V PRF ACT PTCP NOM M SG having stepped onto
G1910-01 Acts 20:18 ἐπέβην epeben V AOR ACT IND 1P SG I set foot I stepped onto
G1910-03 Acts 21:2 ἐπιβάντες epibantes V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL we went aboard having stepped onto
G1910-02 Acts 21:4 ἐπιβαίνειν epibainein V PRS ACT INF to go to step onto
G1910-04 Acts 25:1 ἐπιβὰς epibas V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG having arrived having stepped onto
G1910-03 Acts 27:2 ἐπιβάντες epibantes V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL embarking having stepped onto
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