Brief Overview of πίπτω (Strong’s G4098: piptō)

Strong’s G4098: A verb meaning “to fall.” In biblical contexts, used both literally for physical falling and metaphorically for moral failure, defeat, worship (falling down), and divine judgment. Significant in expressing both human frailty and proper response to divine presence.

U- Unveiling the Word

Πίπτω (piptō) encompasses both physical and spiritual falling. In the New Testament, it spans contexts from literal falling to worship prostration, moral failure, and divine judgment. While often carrying negative connotations of failure or judgment, it also appears positively in descriptions of reverent worship. Early church writers developed its range of meanings to discuss both human weakness and proper humility before God. Today, it continues to illustrate both our need for grace and appropriate response to God’s majesty.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: πίπτω, piptō, pip’-to
• Detailed pronunciation: pip (as in “pip”) + to (as in “toe”)
• Part of Speech: Verb

Etymology:
From Proto-Indo-European *peth₂- meaning “to fall”

D – Defining Meanings

• To fall down
• To collapse
• To prostrate oneself
• To fail
• To be defeated

Translation Options:

1. Fall – basic meaning
2. Collapse – emphasizes complete falling
3. Prostrate – specific to worship contexts

E – Exploring Similar Words

• καταπίπτω (katapiptō) [kat-ap-ip’-to] – to fall down completely
• προσπίπτω (prospiptō) [pros-pip’-to] – to fall toward/before
• ἐκπίπτω (ekpiptō) [ek-pip’-to] – to fall away

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Verb Features:

• Tense: Present, Future, Aorist, Perfect
• Voice: Active, Passive
• Mood: Indicative, Subjunctive, Imperative
• Person: First, Second, Third
• Number: Singular, Plural

Example conjugations:
Present: πίπτω (I fall)
Future: πεσοῦμαι (I will fall)
Aorist: ἔπεσον (I fell)

Cross-references:

• Noun: πτῶσις (fall)
• Adjective: πτωτός (fallen)

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes multiple contextual meanings. Thayer’s notes both literal and metaphorical uses. LSJ documents extensive classical usage. Vine’s connects it to worship contexts. Strong’s highlights its fundamental meaning. Moulton and Milligan note its frequent occurrence.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:

“And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down [πίπτω] and worshiped him.” (Matthew 2:11)

Additional References:
Matthew 4:9
Matthew 7:25
Mark 5:22
Luke 8:14
Acts 9:4
Romans 11:11
Revelation 4:10

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Πίπτω powerfully illustrates both human frailty and proper worship. The good news of King Jesus includes both His lifting of the fallen and our appropriate response of falling before Him in worship. This word reminds us that while we may fall in many ways, falling before Him in worship leads to being raised in grace.

D – Did You Know?

1. Used in ancient military accounts for battlefield deaths.
2. Common in Greek drama for tragic falls from power.
3. Early Christian art depicted worship using this word’s imagery.

Strong’s G4098: A verb expressing various types of falling, from physical collapse to moral failure to worship prostration. In biblical usage, illustrates both human weakness and proper response to divine presence, particularly in worship contexts.

Part of speech: Verb

Tags: #fall #worship #failure #judgment #prostration #humility #grace #NewTestament #BiblicalGreek #Theology #divine presence​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​