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ἐπισφαλής

episphalḗs

G2000 predicate adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

Having a tendency to cause stumbling or falling; susceptible to mishap or instability. By extension, describing situations or conditions that are perilous, hazardous, or insecure. The term can refer both to physical danger (a slippery or precarious place) and to metaphorical insecurity (an uncertain, risky state of affairs).

Semantic Range

likely to cause a fall, perilous, hazardous, insecure, precarious, unstable (literally or figuratively)

Root / Etymology

From the preposition ἐπί (“upon, over”) and the verbal root σφαλ- (related to σφάλλω, 'to cause to fall, to trip, to overthrow'). The sense is 'at risk of falling, liable to error or mishap.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

The adjective ἐπισφαλής is rare in classical and Koine Greek. In Greek literature, it typically describes physical conditions—such as ground or circumstances—that are unstable or promoting the possibility of a fall. It may also be used metaphorically for situations involving risk or danger. In the Septuagint and New Testament, the term most often reflects the notion of danger or insecurity, but does not always correspond to the English 'dangerous' in a specifically physical sense. The notion of insecurity may include the moral or social peril, not merely bodily risk. English translations, such as 'dangerous' or 'insecure,' may obscure the term's broader connotation of 'liable to cause downfall.'

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from a compound of ἐπί and (to trip); figuratively, insecure:--dangerous.

Root Family

ἐπισφαλής (episphalēs) — likely to cause a fall, precarious, hazardous, insecure, unstable

Root σφαλ- to trip, to make fall, to stumble

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2000-01 ἐπισφαλοῦς episphalous ADJ.P GEN M SG dangerous of a precarious one precarious 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2000-01 Acts 27:9 ἐπισφαλοῦς episphalous ADJ.P GEN M SG dangerous of a precarious one precarious
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