παραλέγω (paralegō)
paralegō
to sail past
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb paralegō describes the act of sailing past a location or coasting along a shoreline. It combines the prefix para, meaning "beside," with legō in its nautical sense of sailing. This precise terminology appears only twice in the New Testament, both within the detailed narrative of Paul’s journey to Rome in Acts 27.
In these accounts, the word captures the specific maneuver of ships moving alongside a coast rather than stopping or turning away. The text uses it to describe how vessels sailed past Cape Salmone and then along the coast of Crete (Acts 27:8, 13). This usage highlights the practical realities of ancient maritime travel, where navigating by sight and wind required constant adjustment relative to land features.
Translators typically render this term as "sailed past" or "coasted along." The word emphasizes the physical trajectory of the ship in relation to the shore. It provides a vivid, technical detail that grounds the biblical story in the actual experiences of sailors on the Mediterranean Sea.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When we read about Paul’s voyage in Acts 27, the phrase 'sailed past' (paralegō) might seem like a minor navigational detail. Yet it reveals how God works through the ordinary rhythms of life. The ship did not stop at every landmark; it moved steadily along the coast, adjusting to the wind and the shore. This mirrors our own spiritual journey, where we often move forward through seasons that require patience and attention rather than dramatic stops.
Even when circumstances feel uncertain, as they did for Paul facing the storm ahead, God remains present in the movement itself. We are not always called to anchor down or turn back; sometimes we are simply called to keep sailing, trusting that the same Lord who guided the ship also guides our steps. This word reminds us that progress often happens quietly, mile by mile, under His care.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they were coasting along1×
- coasting along1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- παρελέγοντο1×
- παραλεγόμενοι1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 27:8
With difficulty sailing along it we came to a certain place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea.
This verse marks the first use of the term as the ship struggles to keep pace with the coastline near Fair Havens, showing the physical effort required to stay on course.
-
Acts 27:13
When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to shore.
Here the sailors seize a favorable wind to sail along Crete’s shore, illustrating how human plans and natural conditions intersect before the storm arrives.