προσπίπτω (prospiptō)
prospiptō
to fall/beat
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 8 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb prospiptō describes falling down or prostrating oneself before another person, often as an act of deep reverence or urgent supplication. In the Gospels, it captures moments where individuals recognize Jesus’ divine authority and respond with physical humility. For instance, in Mark 3:11 and 5:33, unclean spirits and a woman with a hemorrhage fall down before Him, acknowledging His power to heal or cast out evil.
Its meaning extends beyond simple bowing; it implies a complete surrender of status. The word appears in Luke 8:28 when a demon-possessed man falls at Jesus’ feet, and in Acts 16:29 when the Philippian jailer, terrified by the earthquake, falls down before Paul and Silas. Even winds are described using this term in Matthew 7:25, where they beat against a house, showing its broader sense of striking or falling upon something.
Etymologically, it combines pros- (“toward”) with piptō (“to fall”), emphasizing movement toward someone in submission. Translators typically render it “fall down” or “prostrate,” though the emotional weight varies from fear to worship. This posture reflects a universal human response to encountering the sacred — whether through awe, desperation, or adoration.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word προσπίπτω paints a vivid picture of total surrender. It is not merely a bow or a polite nod; it describes falling face-forward to the ground before someone else. In the Gospels, we see this posture used by those who recognized a power greater than themselves. Whether it was the woman with the hemorrhage trembling in fear or the demon-possessed man crying out in desperation, their physical collapse signaled a spiritual reality: they knew they could not help themselves.
For your faith, this word invites you to bring your whole self to Jesus. It reminds us that approaching God requires humility. We do not need to maintain a facade of strength or control when we pray. Instead, we can admit our need and lay down our burdens at His feet. This act of falling is an invitation to trust that He is strong enough to hold what we cannot carry.
Even in moments of terror, like the jailer in Acts, this posture leads to salvation and peace. It shows that no matter how broken or afraid you feel, coming fully before Christ is the right response. You are invited to rest in His authority, knowing that your surrender is met with grace, not rejection.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 8 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- he fell down before2×
- they were falling down1×
- she fell down1×
- she fell1×
- having fallen down1×
- fell at1×
- beat1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- προσέπεσεν5×
- προσέπιπτον1×
- προσέπεσαν1×
- προσπεσοῦσα1×
Key Verses
-
Mark 5:33
But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had been done to her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.
This verse highlights how fear and trembling can coexist with honest confession when a person falls before Jesus.
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Luke 5:8
But Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord.”
Peter’s fall at Jesus’ knees demonstrates the sudden realization of personal sinfulness in the presence of divine holiness.
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Acts 16:29
He called for lights, sprang in, fell down trembling before Paul and Silas,
The jailer’s trembling fall shows how a moment of crisis can lead to an urgent turning toward spiritual authority.
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Luke 8:47
When the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before him declared to him in the presence of all the people the reason why she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.
Here the word emphasizes public honesty, as the woman falls down to declare the truth of her healing openly.