ὑποτρέχω

hypotréchō

G5295 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To move swiftly beneath or under something, particularly to pass underneath while in motion; in maritime contexts, to sail past or under the shelter of a landmass or cape, often as a protective or tactical maneuver. Used specifically of a ship running beneath the lee or shelter provided by an island or cape.

Semantic Range

to run underneath, to sail past or under shelter of (specifically of ships), to take protective cover by passing under

Root / Etymology

From the preposition ὑπό ('under, beneath') and the verb τρέχω ('to run'), forming a compound meaning 'to run under' or 'to pass under in motion.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

ὑποτρέχω is rare, attested primarily in Hellenistic Greek and used in maritime contexts, most notably in Acts 27:16 of the New Testament, referring to a ship running under the lee of an island for shelter from storms. Distinguished from the general verb τρέχω ('to run'), ὑποτρέχω is specialized in nautical usage, where 'running under' describes a protective sailing maneuver. Neither Classical Greek nor earlier texts use it in this way, indicating a technical Koine maritime usage. English translations often render it as 'run under the lee of' or 'sail under the shelter of,' which reflects the specialized sense, though the idiom may be unfamiliar to modern readers. The term does not appear to have strong theological or metaphorical usage, and is primarily functional, describing navigational actions.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ὑπό and τρέχω (including its alternate); to run under, i.e. (specially), to sail past:--run under.

Root Family

ὑπό-, τρεχ- (hypotréchō) — to run, to move swiftly under

Root ὑπό-, τρεχ- to run, to move swiftly under

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G5295-01 ὑποδραμόντες upodramontes V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL running under having run under shelter having run under shelter 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G5295-01 Acts 27:16 ὑποδραμόντες upodramontes V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL running under having run under shelter having run under shelter