Greek · G1968

ἐπιπίπτω

To fall/press upon

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ἐπιπίπτωG1968
Pronunciationepipíptō

What does ἐπιπίπτω (epipíptō) mean in the Bible?

G1968 describes falling or pressing upon someone and can portray the Spirits sudden coming, fear or reproach overtaking people, a crowd pressing forward, or a person embracing another. The subject and object control the sense: divine action, an emotion, hostile pressure, transferred reproach, and affectionate bodily contact are distinct uses of the same movement verb.

Reader summary

Full entry for ἐπιπίπτω (G1968) · Open the biblical lexicon

Questions this entry answers

What does ἐπιπίπτω (epipíptō) mean in the Bible?

G1968 describes falling or pressing upon someone and can portray the Spirits sudden coming, fear or reproach overtaking people, a crowd pressing forward, or a person embracing another. The subject and object control the sense: divine action, an emotion, hostile pressure, transferred reproach, and affectionate bodily contact are distinct uses of the same.

How does the BSB render G1968?

The BSB source-word alignment has 11 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include fell (3), came (1), embraced him (1), fallen (1), gripped (1).

Where does ἐπιπίπτω (epipíptō) appear in Scripture?

The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Mark 3:10. Its strongest book concentrations include Acts (6), Luke (2), Mark (1), Revelation (1).

What This Word Actually Means

G1968 describes falling or pressing upon someone and can portray the Spirits sudden coming, fear or reproach overtaking people, a crowd pressing forward, or a person embracing another. The subject and object control the sense: divine action, an emotion, hostile pressure, transferred reproach, and affectionate bodily contact are distinct uses of the same movement verb.

In Acts. 10. 44, while Peter is still speaking the gospel, the Holy Spirit falls upon all who hear, interrupting the human sequence and confirming Gentile inclusion. In Luke. 15. 20, the father sees his returning son at a distance, runs in compassion, embraces him, and kisses him before the sons prepared appeal is complete. G1968 opens teaching on experiences that come upon people with force, from the Spirits sovereign action to a fathers compassionate embrace and the reproach borne by Christ.

It corrects formulas that make the Spirits coming controllable, and it prevents every intense emotion, crowd response, physical touch, or frightening experience from receiving the same spiritual meaning. G1968 gathers forceful but sharply different movements: the Holy Spirit falls on Corneliuss household while Peter speaks, the father falls upon the returning sons neck in compassionate welcome, and Paul cites reproaches falling upon Christ.

The verb contributes sudden contact or pressure, while each passage supplies the actor, moral character, and theological significance. For G1968, responsible teaching keeps lexical meaning, passage context, canonical synthesis, and present application distinguishable. G1968 cannot authenticate a spiritual manifestation by intensity alone, authorize unwanted touch, or turn fear and social pressure into reliable signs of Gods favor or judgment.

Sources