Lexical Summary pleó: to sail, to navigate Original Word: πλέω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance sail. Another form for pleuo (plyoo'-o); which is used as an alternate in certain tenses; probably a form of pluno (through the idea of plunging through the water); to pass in a vessel -- sail. See also pletho. see GREEK pluno see GREEK pletho NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. word Definition to sail NASB Translation passenger* (1), sail (1), sailing (4). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4126: ΠΛΑΩΠΛΑΩ, see πίμπλημι. STRONGS NT 4126: πλέωπλέω; imperfect 1 person plural ἐπλέομεν; (allied with πλύνω, Latinpluo, fluo, our float, flow, etc.; Curtius, § 369); from Homer down; to sail, navigate, travel by ship: Luke 8:23; Acts 27:24; followed by εἰς with an accusative of place, Acts 21:3; Acts 27:6; ἐπί τόπον, Revelation 18:17 G L T Tr WH; by a use common only to the poets (cf. Matthiae, § 409, 4{a}; Kühner, ii. § 409, 6; (Jelf, § 559; Winer's Grammar, 224 (210))), with a simple accusative indicating the direction: Acts 27:2 (Euripides, Med. Acts 27:7), where L T Tr WH add εἰς (Compare: ἀποπλέω, διαπλέω, ἐκπλέω, καταπλέω, παραπλέω, ὑποπλέω.) Strong’s Greek 4126 depicts the action of voyaging by water. Although the verb appears only six times, it anchors pivotal moments in Gospel narrative, apostolic mission, and prophetic warning. The passages trace a line from Galilee’s inland lake to the Great Sea and finally to the apocalyptic commerce of Babylon, revealing Scripture’s seamless unity in presenting divine sovereignty over the nations and the elements. Occurrences in Scripture Luke 8:23; Acts 21:3; Acts 27:2; Acts 27:6; Acts 27:24; Revelation 18:17 Literal Maritime Context 1. Luke 8:23 pictures the disciples crossing the Sea of Galilee with Jesus: “As they sailed, He fell asleep. A violent windstorm came down on the lake, and the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger”. The verb frames the ordinary rhythm of seasoned fishermen that swiftly turns into a crisis showcasing Christ’s authority over creation. 2. Acts 21:3 and 27:2,6 portray Paul’s strategic journeys. Sailing links Antioch, Caesarea, Crete, and Italy, underscoring Roman roads’ maritime counterpart and God’s providence in spreading the gospel beyond the Levant. 3. Acts 27:24 records the angelic assurance, “God has graciously given you the lives of all who are sailing with you”. Here the verb gathers a ship’s diverse company—soldiers, prisoners, merchants—into a single sphere of divine mercy, prefiguring the church’s global reach. 4. Revelation 18:17 moves from narrative to eschatological lament: “Every shipmaster, passenger, and sailor, and all who make their living on the sea, stood at a distance”. The maritime guilds that once prospered by Babylon’s trade now mourn her sudden judgment, illustrating the fragility of worldly security. Symbolic and Prophetic Resonance Sailing imagery often conveys human enterprise at the mercy of forces beyond control—weather, politics, or divine decree. In Luke 8:23 the storm tests faith; in Acts 27 the voyage to Rome becomes a microcosm of salvation history, with Paul as the gospel witness whose presence preserves lives; in Revelation 18:17 commerce-driven navigation epitomizes earthly systems destined for collapse. The verb therefore bridges everyday labor and eschatological destiny. First-Century Nautical Background Mediterranean shipping relied on seasonal winds (Etesians) and well-charted routes hugging coastlines. Grain ships from Alexandria, like the one in Acts 27:6, could exceed one hundred feet in length and carry several hundred people. Passengers were subject to the shipowner’s timetable, the centurion’s authority, and nature’s unpredictability—realities reflected in Luke’s meticulous travel notes. Pastoral and Missional Insights • Dependence on God in Transition: Each occurrence happens while believers are en route. Ministry often unfolds “while sailing,” not merely at disembarkation points. Christ and the Gospel at Sea Jesus sleeps through the storm yet stills it with a word, revealing both true humanity and sovereign deity. Paul, conformed to Christ’s image, becomes the calm center of another tempest, interceding for all on board. Thus, the verb invites believers to emulate their Lord in faith-borne composure amid chaos. Eschatological Warnings Revelation 18:17 contrasts present prosperity with sudden ruin. Those “sailing” for profit without regard to righteousness stand far off in fear. The passage warns modern economies, globalized and maritime-dependent, that they too answer to the Judge of all. Application for Today Believers engage an increasingly interconnected world where travel is swift and commerce vast. The scriptural uses of Strong’s 4126 encourage Christians to: Conclusion From calming a Galilean squall to proclaiming judgment on a mercantile empire, Scripture’s employment of this maritime verb affirms that the same Lord who directs the currents of history also guides the individual vessel of each believer’s life. Englishman's Concordance Luke 8:23 V-PPA-GMPGRK: πλεόντων δὲ αὐτῶν NAS: But as they were sailing along He fell asleep; KJV: But as they sailed he fell asleep: and INT: they sailed moreover of them Acts 21:3 V-IIA-1P Acts 27:2 V-PNA Acts 27:6 V-PPA-ANS Acts 27:24 V-PPA-AMP Revelation 18:17 V-PPA-NMS Strong's Greek 4126 |
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