ὑποβάλλω (G5260) — Greek Lexicon

ὑποβάλλω

hypobállō

G5260 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To place, insert, or introduce something or someone, often secretly or with ulterior motive; to instigate or procure action (such as testimony) by covert means. In specific contexts, especially legal, to suborn or induce another (typically a witness) to act deceitfully or give false testimony. Broader uses include general notions of covert introduction, imposition, or instigation.

Semantic Range

to introduce or insert secretly, to instigate covertly, to suborn (procure false testimony), to send in surreptitiously, to bring in by collusion

Root / Etymology

ὑποβάλλω is a compound formed from ὑπό ('under', often with a sense of secrecy, subordination, or covert action) and βάλλω ('to throw, to cast'). Thus, the term literally means 'to throw under', which in metaphorical usage acquires the sense of introducing or inserting something or someone underneath the surface, often covertly. Related forms include ὑποβολή (the act of suborning or instigation).

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ὑποβάλλω could refer generally to placing something under or subjecting. In later Greek, particularly Hellenistic and Koine, the term acquires legal and social connotations of acting covertly or underhandedly, especially in the context of instigating testimony or introducing individuals or evidence through collusion. In the New Testament (Luke 20:20), it describes the action of sending agents who feign sincerity in order to entrap by stealth, illustrating the covert, deceptive nuance of the term at this period. 'Suborn' in English captures the legal sense but may not fully encompass the broader semantic field of covert introduction or instigation. LXX usage is rare, but the verb appears with similarly covert or surreptitious connotations in other Koine literature. Contrasts with words like παραβάλλω (to set beside, compare), which lack the covert aspect. The verb's meaning in the New Testament leans toward a sense of deceitful introduction or subterfuge rather than mere physical placement.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ὑπό and βάλλω; to throw in stealthily, i.e. introduce by collusion:--suborn.

Root Family

ὑποβάλλω (hypoballō) — to place under, to throw under, to introduce covertly, to instigate secretly

Root ὑποβάλλω (ὑπο- + βάλλω) to place under, to throw under, to introduce covertly

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G5260-01`	ὑπέβαλον	upebalon	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	they secretly induced	they covertly introduced	they secretly induced	1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G5260-01`	Acts 6:11	ὑπέβαλον	upebalon	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	they secretly induced	they covertly introduced	they secretly induced

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