ῥίπτω (G4496) — Greek Lexicon

ῥίπτω

rhíptō

G4496 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To throw, toss, or cast something, often with force or suddenness; to fling something quickly or forcefully from oneself. The word primarily denotes a forceful and quick movement, frequently involving the passing or discarding of an object. Depending on context, it can mean to scatter or disperse, to lay down or deposit something in a particular place, or to throw down or cast away, whether literally (as with physical objects) or figuratively (as with burdens, anxieties, or people).

Semantic Range

to throw (with force), to fling quickly, to cast out, to scatter, to deposit or lay down suddenly, to cast off or away (literally or figuratively)

Root / Etymology

ῥίπτω is a primary verb, likely related to the root ῥιπ- which suggests the meaning of flinging or throwing. The relationship to ῥαπίζω ('to strike, slap') is possible but not certain; both share a sense of rapid, forceful movement, though ῥίπτω focuses on throwing while ῥαπίζω emphasizes striking. Etymology remains within the Indo-European root for 'to strike' or 'to move violently.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ῥίπτω is commonly used for the action of hurling or flinging an object with force, often in contexts such as throwing weapons, casting nets, or discarding objects. In the Septuagint and New Testament, it appears both in literal contexts (throwing stones, casting nets) and metaphorically (casting cares or anxieties onto God, e.g., 1 Peter 5:7). The term often implies suddenness or a lack of retention, distinguishing it from βάλλω, which generally denotes a more general act of throwing and can lack the connotation of force or quickness. Later translations sometimes render ῥίπτω as 'cast,' 'throw,' or 'scatter,' but such renderings do not always capture the nuance of forceful or sudden action inherent in the Koine usage. The term persists with its distinctive sense into later Greek, though with somewhat diminished frequency; its usage in the New Testament emphasizes both literal and emotional or spiritual dimensions (e.g., casting away worries). It is also used in idioms relating to expulsion or purposeful discarding.

Translation Consistency

primary "throw" 0 occurrences

ῥίπτω primarily means to throw, fling, or cast with force or suddenness. "Throw" is the most natural, versatile English verb that covers the typical literal (throw, fling, cast out, throw down) and figurative (throw off burdens, cast away) uses. It is more contemporary and broadly readable than alternatives like "cast," while still allowing idiomatic compounds (e.g. "throw down," "throw out") to render specific senses.

Alternatives (8 occurrences):

"flung" (2x) "having flung" (2x) "having been flung" (1x) "having thrown" (1x) "those flinging" (1x) "threw overboard" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primary verb (perhaps rather akin to the base of ῥαπίζω, through the idea of sudden motion); to fling (properly, with a quick toss, thus differing from βάλλω, which denotes a deliberate hurl; and from (see in ἐκτείνω), which indicates an extended projection); by qualification, to deposit (as if a load); by extension, to disperse:--cast (down, out), scatter abroad, throw.

Root Family

ῥίπτω (rhiptō) — to throw, to fling, to cast

Root ῥιπ- to throw, to fling, to cast

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G4496-05`	ῥίψαν	ripsan	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM N SG`	having thrown	having flung	having thrown	1
`G4496-07`	ῥίψας	ripsas	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	having thrown	having flung	having flung	1
`G4496-06`	ῥίψαντες	ripsantes	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	they cast	having flung	having flung	1
`G4496-08`	ῥιπτούντων	riptounton	`V PRS ACT PTCP GEN M PL`	throwing	of those flinging	of those flinging	1
`G4496-02`	ἔριψαν	eripsan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	they threw overboard	they flung	they threw overboard	1
`G4496-04`	ἔρριπται	erriptai	`V PRF PASS IND 3P SG`	cast	has been flung	has been flung	1
`G4496-01`	ἐριμμένοι	erimmenoi	`V PRF PASS PTCP NOM M PL`	helpless	having been flung	having been flung	1
`G4496-03`	ἔρριψαν	erripsan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	they cast	they flung	they flung	1

Occurrences in Scripture

8 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G4496-01`	Matthew 9:36	ἐριμμένοι	erimmenoi	`V PRF PASS PTCP NOM M PL`	helpless	having been flung	having been flung
`G4496-03`	Matthew 15:30	ἔρριψαν	erripsan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	they cast	they flung	they flung
`G4496-07`	Matthew 27:5	ῥίψας	ripsas	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	having thrown	having flung	having flung
`G4496-05`	Luke 4:35	ῥίψαν	ripsan	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM N SG`	having thrown	having flung	having thrown
`G4496-04`	Luke 17:2	ἔρριπται	erriptai	`V PRF PASS IND 3P SG`	cast	has been flung	has been flung
`G4496-08`	Acts 22:23	ῥιπτούντων	riptounton	`V PRS ACT PTCP GEN M PL`	throwing	of those flinging	of those flinging
`G4496-02`	Acts 27:19	ἔριψαν	eripsan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	they threw overboard	they flung	they threw overboard
`G4496-06`	Acts 27:29	ῥίψαντες	ripsantes	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	they cast	having flung	having flung

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