Understanding βραδυπλοέω (bradyploeō) Strong’s G1020: The Slow Voyaging Term That Reveals Divine Timing in Life’s Storms

Pronunciation Guide: bra-dü-plo-e’-ō (brad-oo-plo-EH-oh)

Basic Definition

Strong’s G1020: βραδυπλοέω (bradyploeō) means “to sail slowly” or “to make slow progress by sea.” This nautical term describes difficult sailing conditions where a vessel’s progress is hindered by adverse winds or currents, causing significant delay in reaching its destination. In the New Testament, it represents the reality of situations where progress is frustrated by circumstances beyond human control, yet still within God’s sovereign timing.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of Speech: Verb
• Root Words: Compound of βραδύς (bradys, “slow”) + πλέω (pleō, “to sail”)
• Language Origin: Classical Greek maritime terminology
• Primary Usage: Narrative sections, particularly in Acts during Paul’s journey to Rome
• Occurrence: Used only once in the New Testament (Acts 27:7)

βραδυπλοέω Morphology:

• βραδυπλοέω (1st person singular present indicative active) – I sail slowly
• βραδυπλοοῦμεν (1st person plural present indicative active) – we sail slowly
• βραδυπλοήσαντες (aorist active participle, nominative masculine plural) – having sailed slowly
• βραδυπλοήσας (aorist active participle, nominative masculine singular) – having sailed slowly
• ἐβραδυπλοήσαμεν (1st person plural aorist indicative active) – we sailed slowly

Origin & History

βραδυπλοέω emerges from the rich maritime vocabulary of ancient Greece, where seafaring was essential to commerce, military operations, and cultural exchange. The term combines βραδύς (slow) with πλέω (to sail), creating a technical nautical expression that would have been familiar to experienced sailors and merchants of the Mediterranean world.

While the compound verb βραδυπλοέω itself is rare in extant classical Greek literature, both component parts were common. The adjective βραδύς appears in Homer’s works to describe slower movement or delayed action, while πλέω is abundantly attested in maritime contexts from Homer onwards. The historian Thucydides frequently used πλέω and related terms when describing naval movements during the Peloponnesian War, highlighting the strategic importance of sailing speed and navigation in ancient warfare.

In the Septuagint, πλέω appears in passages describing Solomon’s merchant fleet (1 Kings 9:26-27) and Jonah’s fateful journey (Jonah 1:3), though the compound βραδυπλοέω is not found. The term reflects the everyday reality of Mediterranean travel, where sailors were constantly at the mercy of winds, currents, and weather patterns that could either speed or impede their progress.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• Hindered Maritime Progress – To make way with difficulty against contrary winds or currents
• Delayed Nautical Journey – To experience significant slowdown in a sea voyage due to adverse conditions
• Frustrated Sailing – To navigate with restricted speed despite skilled seamanship

βραδυπλοέω Translation Options:

• “Sail slowly” – The most literal rendering that captures the basic action but may not fully convey the sense of external hindrance
• “Make slow headway” (NIV) – Effectively communicates the struggle against contrary forces while maintaining forward motion
• “Sail with difficulty” – Emphasizes the challenging nature of the journey rather than merely the reduced speed
• “Moved slowly” – A more general translation that loses some of the maritime specificity but retains the core meaning
• “Progress laboriously by sea” – Captures both the difficulty and the maritime context with greater precision

Biblical Usage

βραδυπλοέω appears only once in the New Testament, in Acts 27:7, during Luke’s detailed account of Paul’s perilous journey to Rome as a prisoner. The context reveals Luke’s remarkable attention to nautical detail as he chronicles their difficult voyage from Caesarea toward Italy. In this passage, the ship encounters persistent contrary winds that prevent normal progress, forcing them to sail under the lee of Crete for protection from the violent weather.

The term’s singular use occurs at a pivotal moment in the narrative, as the difficulties at sea foreshadow the eventual shipwreck that will demonstrate God’s faithfulness to Paul and fulfill His promise that the apostle would testify in Rome. Luke’s precise nautical terminology throughout this section (including βραδυπλοέω) has been noted by scholars and marine archaeologists as evidence of his firsthand knowledge of Mediterranean sailing practices, lending historical credibility to his account.

• “We sailed slowly [βραδυπλοοῦντες] for many days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, and as the wind did not allow us to go farther, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone.” Acts 27:7

Cultural Insights

The use of βραδυπλοέω in Acts 27:7 reveals much about ancient Mediterranean shipping practices and the limitations faced by sailors in the first century. Roman-era merchant vessels like the Alexandrian grain ship that carried Paul were primarily dependent on sails rather than oars, making them particularly vulnerable to adverse winds. The sailing season in the Mediterranean typically ended by mid-September, after which voyages became increasingly dangerous due to unpredictable winter storms. Paul’s journey took place near this cutoff (around September-October), explaining the difficult conditions they encountered.

When a ship “sailed slowly” (βραδυπλοέω), the crew would employ specific techniques to make headway against contrary winds, including “tacking” (sailing at angles to the wind) and keeping close to shorelines where possible. The port of Cnidus mentioned in Acts 27:7 was strategically important precisely because it offered shelter from the prevailing northwesterly winds that were hampering the ship’s progress. By recording that they “sailed under the lee of Crete,” Luke demonstrates his understanding that the southern coast of the island would provide some protection from these winds.

The practical realities behind βραδυπλοέω would have resonated deeply with ancient readers familiar with sea travel, conveying not just slow movement but the entire experience of struggling against the elements with determination and navigational skill. This nautical term thus becomes a powerful metaphor for the believer’s journey through trials—moving forward despite resistance, employing wisdom regarding when to press on and when to seek shelter.

Theological Significance

While βραδυπλοέω may appear to be merely a technical maritime term, its context in Acts 27 reveals profound theological implications. Paul’s difficult journey to Rome represents the believer’s path through trials and opposition when following God’s call. Just as the ship made slow progress against contrary winds, so too do believers often encounter resistance when advancing God’s kingdom purposes. Yet importantly, this “slow sailing” does not indicate failure or abandonment—rather, it reveals God’s sovereign timing and provision even in difficult circumstances.

The entire narrative of Acts 27-28 demonstrates how Yahweh works through what appears to be delay and danger to accomplish His purposes. Though their progress was hindered (βραδυπλοέω), God’s promise that Paul would reach Rome was never in jeopardy. In fact, the slowness of their journey placed them precisely where God intended—in a position to witness His deliverance through shipwreck and to impact Malta with the gospel. This reminds us that when we experience βραδυπλοέω moments in our spiritual journey—seasons of frustrating slowness or apparent setback—we can trust that the Messiah Jesus remains in control, using even delays to position us for greater impact.

Moreover, the word illuminates God’s patient character. Just as the ship moved slowly but surely toward its divine appointment, God often works gradually in human hearts and circumstances, not rushing but steadily advancing His redemptive purposes through what may seem to us unnecessary delays. In a culture obsessed with speed and immediate results, βραδυπλοέω reminds us that God’s timing is perfect, His methods are wise, and apparent slowness may be precisely what we need for spiritual formation and effective witness.

Personal Application

When we find ourselves “sailing slowly” through life’s challenging seasons, βραδυπλοέω reminds us to trust God’s navigation rather than demanding immediate deliverance from contrary winds. Just as Paul continued forward despite difficult conditions, we can persevere through resistance with confidence that our journey remains under divine direction. The slow progress that frustrates us may be positioning us exactly where God intends us to be for His greater purposes.

Consider the areas in your life where you feel you’re making inadequate progress—perhaps in spiritual growth, relational healing, vocational advancement, or ministry impact. Rather than seeing these as failures or evidence of God’s absence, reframe them as βραδυπλοέω seasons—times of divinely permitted slowness that develop patience, deepen faith, and prepare you for what lies ahead. Ask yourself: “What might God be teaching me in this slow passage that I couldn’t learn at greater speed? Who might I impact during this delay that I would otherwise miss? How might this challenging journey be preparing me for greater effectiveness?”

Related Words

• βραδύς (bradys) – slow, delayed, hesitant. Describes general slowness in physical movement or mental processes. While βραδυπλοέω specifically refers to slow sailing, βραδύς can apply to any form of slowness, including understanding (Luke 24:25) or action (James 1:19). See G1021
• πλέω (pleō) – to sail, navigate. The basic verb form that constitutes the second half of βραδυπλοέω, referring to general sailing without the connotation of difficulty or slowness. Used more frequently in the New Testament to describe various sea journeys (Luke 8:23; Acts 21:3; 27:2). See G4126
• διαπλέω (diapleō) – to sail across or through, indicating the completion of a sea crossing from one point to another (Acts 27:5). While βραδυπλοέω emphasizes the difficulty of the journey, διαπλέω focuses on the traversing of a body of water. See G1276
• ἀποπλέω (apopleō) – to sail away or depart by ship, focusing on the beginning of a journey rather than its progression (Acts 13:4; 14:26; 20:15). Unlike βραδυπλοέω, it contains no indication of the journey’s speed or difficulty. See G636
• ὑπομονή (hypomonē) – endurance, steadfastness, patient waiting. Though not etymologically related to βραδυπλοέω, it shares the conceptual connection of perseverance through difficulty and delayed progress (Romans 5:3-4; 2 Corinthians 6:4). See G5281

Did you Know?

• Did you know? Modern sailors still experience the phenomenon described by βραδυπλοέω when navigating the same Mediterranean routes Paul traveled. The prevailing northwesterly winds (called the Etesian winds) that hindered Paul’s ship continue to challenge sailors today, particularly in the narrow passage between Crete and mainland Greece. These winds can delay modern vessels even with engine power, demonstrating the accuracy of Luke’s nautical observations nearly 2,000 years later.
• Did you know? The archaeological discovery of ancient shipwrecks has confirmed the historical accuracy of Luke’s account in Acts 27, including the sailing techniques implied by terms like βραδυπλοέω. The remains of first-century merchant vessels show design features specifically intended to help ships make progress against contrary winds—including removable topmasts and specialized sail configurations that could be adjusted based on wind conditions. These archaeological findings provide physical evidence for the maritime challenges described by Luke’s precise terminology.
• Did you know? βραδυπλοέω represents part of a rich nautical vocabulary in Acts 27-28 that includes at least sixteen specialized seafaring terms. This maritime technical language has convinced many scholars, including some previously skeptical of the Bible’s historical accuracy, that the author had firsthand knowledge of Mediterranean sailing practices. Sir William Ramsay, initially a critic of Luke’s historical reliability, became convinced of its authenticity partly through studying the precise nautical terminology in this passage, including βραδυπλοέω.

Remember This

βραδυπλοέω reminds us that in God’s kingdom, slowed progress is not stopped purpose—our apparent delays are often divine detours that position us for greater impact and deeper trust in the Messiah’s sovereign timing.