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ἐπιβάλλω

epibállō

G1911 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To throw or place upon; to put or lay something on or onto another, either physically or figuratively. Primary sense involves deliberate physical action of placing or throwing upon. In broader contexts, used for putting on hands or clothing, assigning responsibility, inflicting, or directing attention or thought upon something or someone.

Semantic Range

to throw upon, to lay or put upon, to place on (something or someone), to impose (burdens or responsibility), to direct (thought or eyes), to inflict, to attribute or ascribe (in abstract senses), to be incumbent upon or belong to (impersonal), to reflect or consider (with ἐαυτοῦ implied)

Root / Etymology

From ἐπί (upon, on) + βάλλω (to throw, cast). Simple composition of prepositional prefix ἐπί with βάλλω. Root sense is 'to throw upon.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἐπιβάλλω is primarily used in the literal sense—throwing or placing something onto another object or person. In the Septuagint, it commonly translates Hebrew idioms such as 'laying hands' upon someone (often for blessing, healing, or arrest). In Koine and New Testament usage, the verb expands to include metaphoric senses: imposing conditions, attributing blame or responsibility, or directing thought (e.g., ἐπιβάλλειν τι ἐπὶ τινός, to ascribe something to someone). Can be reflexive (to lay upon oneself, or to reflect/consider) and impersonal (it 'belongs to' or 'concerns'). English translations as 'cast upon,' 'lay upon,' or 'put upon' may not fully capture the contextual nuance, especially in metaphorical uses or idiomatic expressions. Not to be confused with similar compounds like προσβάλλω (to attack or charge at).

Translation Consistency

primary "put" 10 occurrences

"Put" is the most natural, versatile English verb that covers the primary senses of ἐπιβάλλω — placing or laying something on, putting on clothing or hands, imposing burdens or responsibilities, and figurative senses (ascribing, directing attention). It maps well to the attested renderings (laid, placed, cast, lay) while remaining simple and consistent for all inflected forms.

Alternatives (8 occurrences):
"striking upon" (1x) "place upon" (1x) "threw upon" (1x) "thinking about" (1x) "falling portion" (1x) "lay" (1x) "lay upon" (1x) "throw upon" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἐπί and βάλλω; to throw upon (literal or figurative, transitive or reflexive; usually with more or less force); specially (with ἑαυτοῦ implied) to reflect; impersonally, to belong to:--beat into, cast (up-)on, fall, lay (on), put (unto), stretch forth, think on.

Root Family

ἐπιβάλλω (epiballō) — to throw, to cast, to put, to lay upon

Root βάλλ- to throw, to cast, to put, to lay

Word Forms

11 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1911-04 ἐπέβαλον epebalon V AOR ACT IND 3P PL laid they cast upon they put upon 4
G1911-02 ἐπέβαλεν epebalen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG laid he/she threw upon he/she put upon 3
G1911-10 ἐπιβαλὼν epibalon V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG having put having cast upon having put upon 2
G1911-06 ἐπιβάλλει epiballei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG puts he/she/it lays upon he/she/it is putting upon 2
G1911-07 ἐπιβάλλον epiballon V PRS ACT PTCP ACC N SG that falls placing upon falling portion 1
G1911-09 ἐπιβάλω epibalo V AOR ACT SUBJ 1P SG I may cast I may throw upon I may throw upon 1
G1911-01 ἐπέβαλαν epebalan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL laid they threw upon they threw upon 1
G1911-11 ἐπιβαλοῦσιν epibalousin V FUT ACT IND 3P PL they will lay they will throw upon they will lay upon 1
G1911-05 ἐπιβαλεῖν epibalein V AOR ACT INF to lay to throw upon to lay 1
G1911-03 ἐπέβαλλεν epeballen V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG were breaking he was throwing upon were striking upon 1

Occurrences in Scripture

18 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1911-06 Matthew 9:16 ἐπιβάλλει epiballei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG puts he/she/it lays upon he/she/it is putting upon
G1911-04 Matthew 26:50 ἐπέβαλον epebalon V AOR ACT IND 3P PL laid they cast upon they put upon
G1911-03 Mark 4:37 ἐπέβαλλεν epeballen V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG were breaking he was throwing upon were striking upon
G1911-08 Mark 11:7 ἐπιβάλλουσιν epiballousin V PRS ACT IND 3P PL they cast they throw upon they place upon
G1911-01 Mark 14:46 ἐπέβαλαν epebalan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL laid they threw upon they threw upon
G1911-10 Mark 14:72 ἐπιβαλὼν epibalon V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG when he thought thereon having cast upon thinking about it
G1911-06 Luke 5:36 ἐπιβάλλει epiballei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG puts he/she/it lays upon he/she/it is putting upon
G1911-10 Luke 9:62 ἐπιβαλὼν epibalon V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG having put having cast upon having put upon
G1911-07 Luke 15:12 ἐπιβάλλον epiballon V PRS ACT PTCP ACC N SG that falls placing upon falling portion
G1911-05 Luke 20:19 ἐπιβαλεῖν epibalein V AOR ACT INF to lay to throw upon to lay
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