Shelter in Journey: ὑποπλέω (Strong’s G5284: hypopleō) Reveals Divine Protection

Strong’s G5284: A compound verb joining hypo (under) with pleō (to sail), meaning to sail under the shelter of. In biblical usage, it describes navigating with protection from adverse winds, particularly in Paul’s journey narratives emphasizing divine guidance.

U- Unveiling the Word

ὑποπλέω (hypopleō) combines ὑπό (hypo, “under”) with πλέω (pleō, “to sail”), describing sailing under the shelter of something, typically a landmass for protection from winds. In Acts 27:4, it appears in Luke’s account of Paul’s journey to Rome, showing divine providence in finding shelter from contrary winds. The early church saw this nautical term as metaphorically significant for spiritual navigation through life’s storms. Today, it reminds us that God provides shelter and guidance through life’s challenging journeys.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: ὑποπλέω, hypopleō, hoop-op-LEH-oh
• Detailed Pronunciation: hoop (as in “hoop”) + op (as in “op”) + leh (as in “let”) + oh (as in “go”)
• Part of Speech: Verb

Etymology:

• ὑπό (hypo) – prefix meaning “under”
• πλέω (pleō) – verb meaning “to sail”
  Combined to mean “to sail under shelter”

D – Defining Meanings

• To sail under shelter
• To navigate protected
• To sail close to shore

For compound words:

• ὑπό indicates position under protection
• πλέω contributes sailing motion

Translation Options:

• “Sail under shelter” – emphasizes protection aspect
• “Navigate protected” – highlights safety
• “Sail close to” – describes physical position

E – Exploring Similar Words

• παραπλέω (parapleō, par-ap-LEH-oh) – “to sail past”
  See G3881
• διαπλέω (diapleō, dee-ap-LEH-oh) – “to sail through”
  See G1277
• ἐκπλέω (ekpleō, ek-PLEH-oh) – “to sail away”
  See G1602

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

As a verb, ὑποπλέω exhibits these features:

• Tense: Aorist
• Voice: Active
• Mood: Indicative
• Person: First
• Number: Plural
• Aspect: Perfective

The word would morph in English as:

• Present: sail under
• Past: sailed under
• Perfect: have sailed under
• Future: will sail under

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

The major lexicons emphasize ὑποπλέω’s technical nautical meaning. BDAG highlights its use in describing protected navigation. Thayer’s notes its specific reference to sailing under the lee of land. LSJ traces its usage in maritime literature. Vine’s connects it to the theme of divine guidance in Acts. Strong’s emphasizes its compound nature suggesting protected movement. Moulton and Milligan document its common use in shipping documents.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
Acts 27:4: “When we had put to sea from there, we [ὑποπλέω] sailed under the shelter of Cyprus because the winds were contrary.”

Additional References:
Acts 27:7

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

ὑποπλέω beautifully illustrates God’s protective guidance in life’s journeys. Just as Paul’s ship found shelter from contrary winds, believers can trust in divine protection through life’s storms. The good news is that King Jesus provides shelter and guidance for His people, leading them safely through challenges toward their eternal destination.

D – Did You Know?

• Ancient sailors regularly used this technique for safety
• The word appears in maritime handbooks
• Early Christians saw it as a metaphor for spiritual protection

Strong’s G5284: A compound verb joining hypo (under) with pleō (to sail), meaning to sail under the shelter of. In biblical usage, it describes navigating with protection from adverse winds, particularly in Paul’s journey narratives emphasizing divine guidance.

Part of speech: Verb

Tags: navigation, protection, guidance, Acts, Paul’s journey, divine providence, shelter, safety, maritime terms, journey​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​