ἐποκέλλω
epokéllō
G2027 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To drive or force (a ship) upon the shore, typically with the result of beaching or stranding the vessel. The term describes the action of intentionally or unintentionally making a vessel run aground, so that it comes to rest on the shore or a sandbank; in some contexts, it implies running aground as part of a navigation or emergency maneuver.
Semantic Range
to drive a ship onto the shore, to beach a vessel, to run aground (intentionally or unintentionally), to force a landing (marine context)
Root / Etymology
Formed from the preposition ἐπί (“upon, onto”) and the verb κέλλω (“to drive [a ship] upon shore”); ἐποκέλλω is a compound verb, intensifying the action of κέλλω with a sense of direction towards the shore. The etymology is transparent within Greek.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Attested primarily in maritime contexts of Hellenistic and Roman period Greek, especially relating to ships intentionally run aground during storms or in emergencies (e.g., Acts 27:26, 27:41 in the New Testament). The verb is rare in earlier classical Greek, with κέλλω and other compounds (e.g., προσκελλέω) more common. In the New Testament, ἐποκέλλω describes the action of running a ship aground in narratives of shipwreck. Standard English translations often render it as 'run aground' or 'beach (a ship),' capturing the main thrust but occasionally losing nuance where the action may be intentional or forced by circumstance. There is no significant shift in its meaning from nautical Greek usage outside the biblical texts. Cognate verbs: προσκελλέω (to drive upon, with a sense of proximity), ἀποκέλλω (to run aground away from).
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἐπί and (to urge); to drive upon the shore, i.e. to beach a vessel:--run aground.
Root Family
κελλ- (epokéllō) — to drive (a ship), to run aground
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2027-01 |
ἐπέκειλαν | epekeilan | V AOR ACT IND 3P PL |
they ran the ship aground | they drove ashore | they drove ashore | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2027-01 |
Acts 27:41 | ἐπέκειλαν | epekeilan | V AOR ACT IND 3P PL |
they ran the ship aground | they drove ashore | they drove ashore |