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ἀντλέω

antléō

G501 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To draw liquid (especially water) from a well, cistern, or vessel, typically by means of a bucket or similar implement; more broadly, to scoop or bail out water, including the removal of water from a boat's hold. The primary sense concerns the physical action of extracting water, but in context may refer generally to the act of drawing any liquid.

Semantic Range

to draw water from a well or vessel, to bail water from a ship, to scoop or dip liquid, to remove fluid from a container

Root / Etymology

Rooted in the verb ἀντλέω, related to the noun ἀντλία (water-drawing vessel, ship's bilge), possibly pre-Greek in origin; attested since Classical Greek period.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Classical Greek, ἀντλέω is commonly used for the action of drawing or bailing water, especially with reference to marine contexts (removing water from a vessel's bilge), as well as general retrieval of water from wells or cisterns. In Hellenistic and later Koine usage, including the Septuagint and New Testament, the term most frequently appears in scenes of women drawing water from wells (e.g., John 2:8–9; 4:7, 15). The vocabulary is mundane and does not inherently carry metaphorical or technical meaning—its use is concrete, focusing on the physical act itself. English translations often render the term as 'draw (water)' or 'bale (water),' which reflects this primary sense, but the nuance of bailing (removing bilge water from a ship) is sometimes missed in non-maritime contexts. Unlike ἐρύω (to pull, drag) or ἀντλέω's compounded forms, ἀντλέω is more narrowly associated with liquids, especially water.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from (the hold of a ship); to bale up (properly, bilge water), i.e. dip water (with a bucket, pitcher, etc.):--draw (out).

Root Family

ἀντλέω (antleō) — to draw liquid, to bail water, to scoop

Root ἀντλ- to draw (liquid), to bail (water), to scoop

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G501-04 ἠντληκότες entlekotes V PRF ACT PTCP NOM M PL who had drawn those having drawn having drawn 1
G501-02 ἀντλῆσαι antlesai V AOR ACT INF to draw to draw water to draw water 1
G501-01 ἀντλεῖν antlein V PRS ACT INF to draw to draw water to draw water 1
G501-03 ἀντλήσατε antlesate V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL Draw out Draw out liquid draw out liquid 1

Occurrences in Scripture

4 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G501-03 John 2:8 ἀντλήσατε antlesate V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL Draw out Draw out liquid draw out liquid
G501-04 John 2:9 ἠντληκότες entlekotes V PRF ACT PTCP NOM M PL who had drawn those having drawn having drawn
G501-02 John 4:7 ἀντλῆσαι antlesai V AOR ACT INF to draw to draw water to draw water
G501-01 John 4:15 ἀντλεῖν antlein V PRS ACT INF to draw to draw water to draw water
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