Brief Overview of πλέω (Strong’s G4126: pleō)
Strong’s G4126: A verb meaning “to sail, navigate, or travel by sea.” In ancient Greek maritime culture, it was the primary term for maritime travel. In New Testament usage, it appears in significant narrative contexts, particularly in Luke-Acts, describing missionary journeys and Paul’s voyage to Rome.
U- Unveiling the Word
πλέω represents more than simple maritime travel—it embodies the ancient world’s primary means of long-distance transportation and commerce. In the New Testament, it appears prominently in narratives of missionary activity and divine providence, particularly in Luke’s accounts of Jesus calming the storm and Paul’s journeys. Early church writers saw rich symbolism in sailing narratives, often using them to illustrate faith amid life’s storms and the church’s mission to reach distant shores. Today, it reminds us of both the practical and spiritual aspects of Christian mission.
N – Necessary Information
- Greek Word: πλέω, pleō, /PLEH-oh/
- Detailed pronunciation: PLEH-oh (emphasis on first syllable)
- Part of Speech: Verb
Etymology:
- Root: πλε- (ple-) ancient root meaning “to float”
- Related to Proto-Indo-European *plew- “to float, swim”
- Basic verb form without prefix or suffix
D – Defining Meanings
- To sail
- To navigate
- To travel by sea
For compound words: Not a compound word, but serves as root for many nautical terms
Translation Options:
- To sail – Most common biblical usage
- To navigate – Emphasizes directed movement
- To voyage – Captures longer journey aspect
E – Exploring Similar Words
- διαπλέω (diapleō) /dee-ah-PLEH-oh/ – to sail across
See G1277 - παραπλέω (parapleō) /par-ah-PLEH-oh/ – to sail past
See G3881
R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology
Verb Features:
- Tense: Present, Imperfect, Future, Aorist
- Voice: Active
- Mood: Indicative, Subjunctive, Optative, Imperative
- Person: First, Second, Third
- Number: Singular, Plural
Examples:
Present: πλέω (I sail)
Future: πλεύσομαι (I will sail)
Aorist: ἔπλευσα (I sailed)
Perfect: πέπλευκα (I have sailed)
- Cross-references to noun πλοῖον and adjective πλωτός
S – Studying Lexicon Insights
BDAG emphasizes its use in travel narratives. Thayer’s notes its basic meaning of maritime movement. LSJ documents extensive maritime usage. Vine’s highlights its appearance in missionary contexts. Strong’s connects it to seafaring. LEH provides Septuagint usage in commercial contexts. Moulton and Milligan cite examples from shipping documents.
T – Tracing the Scriptures
First appearance:
“But as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger.” Luke 8:23
Additional References:
Acts 21:3, Acts 27:2, Acts 27:6, Acts 27:24
A – Analyzing Classical Usage
| Author: Work | Text |
|---|---|
| Homer: Odyssey | “They sailed across the wine-dark sea” |
| Thucydides: History | “The Athenian fleet sailed toward Sicily” |
| Xenophon: Anabasis | “The Greeks sailed along the coast toward home” |
N – Noteworthy Summary
πλέω reminds us that the gospel often travels across waters to reach new shores. From Jesus calming the storm to Paul’s missionary journeys, maritime travel served God’s purposes in spreading His kingdom. This word encourages us that even in life’s storms, Christ remains sovereign over our journey.
D – Did You Know?
- Ancient Mediterranean sailing was typically limited to March through November.
- Early Christian symbols often incorporated sailing imagery.
- The term influenced modern nautical vocabulary through Latin translations.
Strong’s G4126: A verb describing maritime travel, particularly significant in New Testament narrative contexts of missionary journeys and divine providence. Central to understanding the practical means by which the gospel spread throughout the Mediterranean world.
Part of speech: Verb
Tags: sailing, navigation, sea travel, missions, Acts, Luke, Paul’s journeys, storms, maritime, biblical Greek, travel narratives, providence
Note: While this entry strives for accuracy, readers engaged in critical research should verify citations and keyword occurrences in their Bible translation of choice. For Biblical citations, the F.O.G Bible project recommends Logos Bible software.
