ἐποκέλλω (epokellō)
epokellō
to run aground
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb epokellō describes a specific maritime disaster: forcing a ship onto land so that it runs aground. It is not merely drifting or stopping, but the violent impact of a vessel striking the shore. This word appears only once in the New Testament, in Acts 27:41, where Paul and his companions are shipwrecked on Malta.
The term combines a prefix suggesting "upon" with a root meaning to urge or drive forward. The imagery is active and forceful; the sea drives the ship against the land rather than the ship simply landing softly. This detail highlights the chaotic and dangerous nature of the storm described in Acts, where survival depended on escaping the wreckage that had been forced onto the beach.
Because this word occurs in such a narrow context, it serves as a precise marker of physical peril. It captures the moment when the ship’s journey ends abruptly in collision with the earth. The sources emphasize the force involved, distinguishing it from gentle docking or natural grounding. This single usage provides a vivid snapshot of the crew’s desperate situation.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word epokellō paints a startling picture of chaos. It describes a ship being driven violently onto land, not by choice, but by the force of the storm. In Acts 27:41, we see Paul and his companions caught in this terrifying moment. The vessel is forced aground, with the bow stuck fast and the stern breaking apart under the waves. This was no gentle landing; it was a sudden, violent end to their journey.
Yet even in such wreckage, there is hope. The storm did not catch Paul by surprise. God had promised that everyone would survive, despite the loss of the ship. When life feels like it is crashing against the rocks, this story reminds us that safety can come even when everything else falls apart. We are not abandoned in the chaos.
This word teaches us that our journey may end in unexpected ways. The ship was ruined, but the people were saved. It invites us to trust that God’s purpose remains secure, even when our plans are shattered by forces beyond our control.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they ran aground1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐπέκειλαν1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 27:41
But coming to a place where two seas met, they ran the vessel aground. The bow struck and remained immovable, but the stern began to break up by the violence of the waves.
This verse uses the word to mark the precise moment the ship is forced onto the shore, highlighting the violent end of the voyage rather than a controlled arrival.