ὑποπνέω
hypopnéō
G5285 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
to breathe gently; to emit a soft or gentle movement of air, usually used of wind or breezes. Primary sense is of air moving gently, not forcefully; can denote the onset of a mild wind or breeze.
Semantic Range
to breathe gently, to emit a mild breeze, for the wind to begin blowing softly, to start blowing softly
Root / Etymology
From ὑπό (under, beneath, slightly) and πνέω (to blow, to breathe). The compound sense suggests a lesser or milder form of blowing or breathing.
Historical & Contextual Notes
ὑποπνέω is a rare verb attested mainly in Koine Greek, specifically appearing once in the New Testament (Acts 27:13) in reference to a gentle south wind. Classical Greek uses the simplex πνέω for blowing or breathing, while ὑποπνέω distinctly refers to a milder action. In literary Koine and nautical contexts, it often describes weather conditions favorable for sailing. Standard English translations often render the term as 'blow softly' or 'begin to blow gently,' which captures the immediate sense but may not convey the technical nuance relevant to seafaring. There is no significant religious or cultural connotation; it is a descriptive, meteorological term. Usage in the LXX and other contemporary Greek sources is rare to nonexistent; the word’s meaning is best confirmed by contextual application in Acts and some Hellenistic literature.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ὑπό and πνέω; to breathe gently, i.e. breeze:--blow softly.
Root Family
ὑποπνέω (hypopneō) — to breathe gently, to blow softly, to emit a mild breeze
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5285-01 |
ὑποπνεύσαντος | upopneusantos | V AOR ACT PTCP GEN M SG |
having blown gently | of having gently blown | of having gently blown | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5285-01 |
Acts 27:13 | ὑποπνεύσαντος | upopneusantos | V AOR ACT PTCP GEN M SG |
having blown gently | of having gently blown | of having gently blown |