Brief Overview of ἐπιπορεύομαι (Strong’s G1975: epiporeuomai)

Introduction

Understanding Greek words such as ἐπιπορεύομαι (epiporeuomai) is crucial in Biblical studies because it offers insight into the actions and movements described in scripture. This verb, which generally means “to travel” or “to go on a journey,” is significant in understanding the movement and journeys of individuals in the New Testament, providing context to narratives involving travel, ministry, and the spread of the early church. Its use also reflects aspects of ancient Greek culture where journeys were often undertaken for a purpose—be it spiritual, philosophical, or practical.

Key Information

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• The Greek Word: ἐπιπορεύομαι (epiporeuomai) [eh-pee-po-REY-oo-mai]
• Etymology root words and their meanings: Derived from ἐπί (epi, “upon” or “over”) and πορεύομαι (poreuomai, “to go” or “to travel”), ἐπιπορεύομαι conveys the idea of “going on a journey” or “traveling over” a distance.
• Part of Speech: Verb (deponent); Middle voice, present indicative. It functions without an active form and is typically used in narrative contexts to describe travel or movement.
• The F.O.G Word Choice: Coming Soon.

Primary Meanings

• To journey
• To travel
• To go on a journey or expedition
• To proceed over or across a distance

Similar Words: πορεύομαι (poreuomai) [po-REY-oo-mai], meaning “to go,” “to proceed,” or “to travel.” While πορεύομαι is a more general term for “going” or “proceeding,” ἐπιπορεύομαι adds an additional layer, often implying “traveling over” a distance or going on a specific journey with intention or purpose.

Further Insights: ἐπιπορεύομαι is a middle deponent verb, meaning it only appears in the middle voice in Greek and has no active form. The middle voice indicates that the subject of the verb is both performing and receiving the action. This verb’s usage often emphasizes the action of traveling or proceeding, suggesting intentionality. It follows the regular conjugation pattern for middle verbs in the present tense. Below is the declension table:

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Lexicon Insights

• BDAG: Defines ἐπιπορεύομαι as “to go on a journey” or “to travel,” emphasizing the act of proceeding over a distance. It often appears in contexts that describe missionary journeys or significant travels in narrative passages of the New Testament.
• Thayers: Describes ἐπιπορεύομαι as “to journey” or “to travel,” noting that it is primarily used in a figurative sense in scriptural texts to convey purposeful movement or spiritual journeys.
• Vines: Highlights ἐπιπορεύομαι as “to travel over” or “to go forth on a journey,” and is frequently seen in New Testament passages where the action of going forth is coupled with a divine or missional objective.
• LSJ: Provides a broader classical interpretation, describing ἐπιπορεύομαι as “to go over” or “to proceed over a certain distance,” commonly found in historical texts to describe expeditions or voyages.
• Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance: Lists ἐπιπορεύομαι as “to journey” or “to travel,” with a focus on its use in describing various missionary or exploratory travels of early church figures.

Related Scripture References

• Luke 8:23: “But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him. And they arrived (ἐπιπορεύομαι) at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.”

Classical Usage

Summary of ἐπιπορεύομαι (G1975)

The Greek verb ἐπιπορεύομαι (epiporeuomai) is an essential term in Biblical studies for understanding the concept of travel and journeying in the New Testament. As a middle deponent verb, it uniquely captures the idea of purposeful movement, often in the context of missionary work or divine guidance. It underscores the importance of physical and spiritual journeys within scripture. The word’s classical usage also aligns with this understanding, where it describes travel, exploration, and purposeful movement across distances.

Did You Know?

The Greek word ἐπιπορεύομαι is deeply tied to the theme of spiritual journeys in the Bible. Unlike the more generic verb πορεύομαι, which simply means “to go” or “to proceed,” ἐπιπορεύομαι often implies a significant or purposeful journey. In early Christian contexts, this could mean a journey undertaken for ministry, spreading the Gospel, or seeking divine guidance—echoing the broader Greek concept of travel not just as a physical action but as a transformative experience.