Brief Overview of ἀποπλέω (G636: Apoplēō)

1. Brief Overview:

Transliteration: Apoplēō

Root Words: The term ἀποπλέω (apoplēō) is composed of the prefix ἀπό (apó, “from”) and πλέω (plēō, “to sail”), reflecting its maritime usage.

Primary Meanings:

• To sail away or set sail from a place.
• To depart by sea, often used in the context of leaving a port or destination.

2. Detailed Description:

BDAG (Bauer-Danker-Arndt-Gingrich): BDAG defines ἀποπλέω as “to sail away” or “to set sail from,” focusing on its usage in maritime contexts to describe the act of departing by sea.

Thayer’s: Thayer’s Greek Lexicon describes ἀποπλέω as “to sail away” or “to set sail,” emphasizing its application to departing from a location by sea.

Vines: Vines’ Expository Dictionary notes that ἀποπλέω means “to sail away” and is used in contexts involving maritime departure from a port or destination.

LSJ (Liddell-Scott-Jones): LSJ defines ἀποπλέω as “to sail away” or “to depart by sea,” with a focus on its usage in describing the action of leaving a place by means of a ship.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance: Strong’s describes ἀποπλέω as “to sail away” or “to set sail,” focusing on its meaning related to maritime departure.

3. Usage in Classic Greek Literature:

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Homer (Odyssey, 8th century BCE): Homer uses forms of πλέω (plēō) to describe the sailing and departure of characters, reflecting the maritime context of ἀποπλέω in epic voyages.

Herodotus (Histories, 5th century BCE): Herodotus describes naval expeditions and the act of sailing away from various ports, employing the concept of ἀποπλέω to depict maritime departures.

Xenophon (Anabasis, 4th century BCE): Xenophon uses nautical terminology related to ἀποπλέω to describe the departure of ships and the journey by sea, illustrating its application in historical and military contexts.

4. Summary:

ἀποπλέω (apoplēō) means “to sail away” or “to set sail,” referring to the act of departing by sea from a port or location. The term is used primarily in maritime contexts to describe the action of leaving by ship. In classical Greek literature, ἀποπλέω appears in narratives involving sea voyages and naval departures, reflecting its importance in both epic and historical accounts of maritime travel. Understanding this term provides insight into its use in describing seafaring activities and the practical aspects of ancient navigation.