παραπλέω
parapléō
G3896 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
to sail near or alongside (of a ship), with the sense of moving past closely by water; commonly used to denote a vessel passing along the shore, another ship, or a specific location, without necessarily making landfall or stopping. In broader contexts, can imply bypassing or passing in proximity to something while sailing.
Semantic Range
to sail near, to sail alongside, to pass by sea, to sail past closely, to continue along the coast
Root / Etymology
from παρά (beside, near) + πλέω (to sail, to go by ship); a compound verb formed according to standard Greek compounding patterns for directional or spatial sense. Basic root πλέω is attested from Homeric through Koine Greek for 'sail, travel by sea.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
παραπλέω occurs rarely in extant Greek literature, with attestations largely confined to Koine and later Greek (Hellenistic period onward). In the New Testament (Acts 27:8), it describes the journey of a ship sailing close by or along the coast. In earlier naval or geographic contexts, the term could be used in military, commercial, or travel narratives. The spatial prefix παρα- indicates proximity rather than full engagement (such as landing or entering). Standard English translations as 'sail by' or 'pass by (by sea)' are generally accurate, but do not always reflect the emphasis on nearness or parallel course implied by the Greek. The verb is distinct from ἀποπλέω ('to sail away from'), προσπλέω ('to sail towards') or διαπλέω ('to sail through/over').
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from παρά and πλέω; to sail near:--sail by.
Root Family
παρά, πλέω (parapléō) — to sail, to move near
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3896-01 |
παραπλεῦσαι | parapleusai | V AOR ACT INF |
to sail past | to sail alongside | to sail past | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3896-01 |
Acts 20:16 | παραπλεῦσαι | parapleusai | V AOR ACT INF |
to sail past | to sail alongside | to sail past |