What does πίπτω (píptō) mean in the Bible?
Pipto means to fall, drop, collapse, fall down, or come to ruin, literally or figuratively. Paul warns confident believers to watch lest they fall, yet says love never falls or fails.
Greek · G4098
πίπτω
To fall (literally or figuratively)
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πίπτω G4098
Pronunciation píptō
What does πίπτω (píptō) mean in the Bible?
Pipto means to fall, drop, collapse, fall down, or come to ruin, literally or figuratively. Paul warns confident believers to watch lest they fall, yet says love never falls or fails.
Reader summary
Full entry for πίπτω (G4098) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G4098?
The BSB source-word alignment has 91 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include fell (22), He fell (8), fell down (5), will fall (5), fall (4).
Where does πίπτω (píptō) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Matthew 2:11. Its strongest book concentrations include Revelation (23), Matthew (19), Luke (18), Acts (9).
What This Word Actually Means
Pipto means to fall, drop, collapse, fall down, or come to ruin, literally or figuratively. Paul warns confident believers to watch lest they fall, yet says love never falls or fails. Acts portrays Saul falling to the ground before the risen Jesus. Jesus uses a grain falling into the earth as the path to fruitful death and life, while seed in the parable falls on different soils.
The verb does not make every physical fall a moral failure or every setback apostasy. Context identifies the subject, cause, direction, and result. Christian teaching should hold sober self-watchfulness with grace, distinguish suffering from sin, help fallen people safely, and center the paradox that Christ's death produces life and steadfast love outlasts temporary gifts.
How the Bible Uses It
Pipto describes literal and figurative falling: cautionary collapse, love's unfailing endurance, Saul struck down before Christ, seed entering soil, and a grain's death yielding fruit.
- 1Cor.10.12
So the one who thinks he is standing firm should be careful not to fall.
First Corinthians 10:12 warns the person who thinks he stands to take heed lest he fall. Israel's examples confront presumption while the next verse affirms God's faithful provision in temptation.
- 1Cor.13.8
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be restrained; where there is knowledge, it will be dismissed.
First Corinthians 13:8 says love never falls or fails, unlike prophecies, tongues, and partial knowledge that reach their appointed end.
- Acts.9.4
He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?”
Acts 9:4 says Saul fell to the ground and heard Jesus address him. Physical collapse accompanies the interruption and redirection of his persecuting course.
- John.12.24
Truly, truly, I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a seed. But if it dies, it bears much fruit.
John 12:24 says a grain of wheat remains alone unless it falls into the earth and dies, but if it dies it bears much fruit. Jesus interprets His approaching death.
- Luke.8.5
“A farmer went out to sow his seed. And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, where it was trampled, and the birds of the air devoured it.
Luke 8:5 says seed fell beside the path and was trampled and eaten. The falling itself is neutral; the soil and outcome carry the parable's force.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It fell 22× Matthew 13:4, Matthew 13:5, Matthew 13:7, Matthew 13:8
He fell 8× Matthew 26:39, Mark 5:22, Mark 9:20, Mark 14:35
fell down 5× Matthew 18:29, Acts 5:5, Revelation 5:8, Revelation 5:14
will fall 5× Matthew 10:29, Matthew 15:14, Matthew 24:29, Luke 11:17
fall 4× Mark 13:25, Luke 10:18, Luke 23:30, Revelation 6:16
falls 4× Matthew 21:44, Luke 14:5, John 12:24, Romans 14:4
collapsed 3× Luke 13:4, Revelation 11:13, Revelation 16:19
I fell 3× Acts 22:7, Revelation 1:17, Revelation 19:10
Fallen 2× Revelation 14:8, Revelation 18:2
fallen is 2× Revelation 14:8, Revelation 18:2
it falls 2× Matthew 21:44, Luke 20:18
it fell 2× Matthew 7:27, Luke 6:49
[and] fell 1× Acts 10:25
[landed] 1× Revelation 8:10
beat down 1× Revelation 7:16
came 1× Acts 13:11
crumbs that fell 1× Luke 16:21
died 1× 1 Corinthians 10:8
fails 1× 1 Corinthians 13:8
fall down 1× Revelation 4:10
have fallen 1× Revelation 17:10
He often falls 1× Matthew 17:15
he will fall 1× 1 Corinthians 14:25
I fell down 1× Revelation 22:8
it did not fall 1× Matthew 7:25
she fell 1× John 11:32
she fell down 1× Acts 5:10
that fall 1× Matthew 15:27
that had fallen 1× Revelation 9:1
the fallen 1× Acts 15:16
they fell 1× Matthew 17:6
they fell down 1× Matthew 2:11
they fell facedown 1× Revelation 7:11
They will fall 1× Luke 21:24
to drop out 1× Luke 16:17
to fall 1× 1 Corinthians 10:12
to fall beyond recovery 1× Romans 11:11
who falls 1× Luke 20:18
you have fallen 1× Revelation 2:5
You will fall down 1× Matthew 4:9
you will not fall 1× James 5:12
Show sample aligned rows
Matthew 2:11 πεσόντες to they fell down Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural Matthew 4:9 πεσὼν to You will fall down Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular Matthew 7:25 ἔπεσεν to it did not fall Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Matthew 7:27 ἔπεσεν to it fell Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Matthew 10:29 πεσεῖται to will fall Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular Matthew 13:4 ἔπεσεν to fell Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Matthew 13:5 ἔπεσεν to fell Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Matthew 13:7 ἔπεσεν to fell Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Matthew 13:8 ἔπεσεν to fell Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Matthew 15:14 πεσοῦνται to will fall Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Matthew 2:11
Aligned rows 91
Books represented 10
Matthew 19 Mark 8 Luke 18 John 3 Acts 9 Romans 3 1 Corinthians 4 Hebrews 3 James 1 Revelation 23
Source forms
ἔπεσεν 26x epesen Matthew 7:25, Matthew 7:27, Matthew 13:4, Matthew 13:5
ἔπεσαν 12x epesan Matthew 17:6, John 18:6, 1 Corinthians 10:8, Hebrews 11:30
πεσὼν 11x pesōn Matthew 4:9, Matthew 21:44, Mark 9:20, Luke 5:12
πέσῃ 5x pesē Matthew 21:44, Luke 20:18, 1 Corinthians 10:12, Hebrews 4:11
πίπτει 5x piptei Matthew 17:15, Mark 5:22, Luke 11:17, Romans 14:4
πεσοῦνται 4x pesountai Matthew 15:14, Matthew 24:29, Luke 21:24, Revelation 4:10
ἔπεσα 3x epesa Revelation 1:17, Revelation 19:10, Revelation 22:8
Ἔπεσεν 3x Epesen Acts 5:10, Revelation 14:8, Revelation 18:2
Parsing patterns
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular 30x Matthew 7:25, Matthew 7:27, Matthew 13:4, Matthew 13:5
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular 13x Matthew 4:9, Matthew 18:26, Matthew 18:29, Matthew 21:44
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural 12x Matthew 17:6, John 18:6, 1 Corinthians 10:8, Hebrews 11:30
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular 5x Matthew 21:44, Luke 20:18, 1 Corinthians 10:12, Hebrews 4:11
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular 5x Matthew 17:15, Mark 5:22, Luke 11:17, Romans 14:4
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular 4x Acts 22:7, Revelation 1:17, Revelation 19:10, Revelation 22:8
Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Plural 4x Matthew 15:14, Matthew 24:29, Luke 21:24, Revelation 4:10
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural 2x Luke 23:30, Revelation 6:16
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Do not describe accidents, disability, illness, abuse, trauma, unemployment, or bereavement as a spiritual fall without textual and factual warrant.
- Do not confuse forgiveness after moral failure with automatic restoration to trust, access, or leadership before truth, repair, and qualification are established.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not describe accidents, disability, illness, abuse, trauma, unemployment, or bereavement as a spiritual fall without textual and factual warrant.
- Do not confuse forgiveness after moral failure with automatic restoration to trust, access, or leadership before truth, repair, and qualification are established.
Evidence Summary
Greek word. Fall carries both physical descent and moral/spiritual ruin; often paired with repentance or judgment themes.
Strong's G4098
Lexical occurrences 90 verses Greek text appearances 90 times 16 shown below Word forms 5 forms 90 references Verse guides 0 guides
Study link Luke 6:46-49 Source Gloss
to fall (literally or figuratively)
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpus Greek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
16 of 90 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
Matthew 2:11 Verb Second Aorist Active Participle Nominative Plural Masculine
πεσόντες pesontev
I fall, fall under
Read verse Matthew 4:9 Verb Second Aorist Active Participle Nominative Singular Masculine
πεσὼν peswn
I fall, fall under
Read verse Matthew 7:25 Verb Third Person Singular Second Aorist Active Indicative
ἔπεσε· epesen
I fall, fall under
Read verse Matthew 7:27 Verb Third Person Singular Second Aorist Active Indicative
ἔπεσε· epesen
I fall, fall under
Read verse Matthew 10:29 Verb Third Person Singular Future Middle Deponent Indicative
πεσεῖται peseitai
I fall, fall under
Read verse Matthew 13:4 Verb Third Person Singular Second Aorist Active Indicative
ἔπεσε epesen
I fall, fall under
Read verse Matthew 13:5 Verb Third Person Singular Second Aorist Active Indicative
ἔπεσεν epesen
I fall, fall under
Read verse Matthew 13:7 Verb Third Person Singular Second Aorist Active Indicative
ἔπεσεν epesen
I fall, fall under
Read verse Matthew 13:8 Verb Third Person Singular Second Aorist Active Indicative
ἔπεσεν epesen
I fall, fall under
Read verse Matthew 15:14 Verb Third Person Plural Future Middle or Passive Deponent Indicative
πεσοῦνται. pesountai
I fall, fall under
Read verse Matthew 15:27 Verb Present Active Participle Genitive Plural Neuter
πιπτόντων piptontwn
I fall, fall under
Read verse Matthew 17:6 Verb Third Person Plural Second Aorist Active Indicative
ἔπεσον epeson
I fall, fall under
Read verse Matthew 17:15 Verb Third Person Singular Present Active Indicative
πίπτει piptei
I fall, fall under
Read verse Matthew 18:26 Verb Second Aorist Active Participle Nominative Singular Masculine
πεσὼν peswn
I fall, fall under
Read verse Matthew 18:29 Verb Second Aorist Active Participle Nominative Singular Masculine
πεσὼν peswn
I fall, fall under
Read verse Matthew 21:44 Verb Second Aorist Active Participle Nominative Singular Masculine
πεσὼν peswn
I fall, fall under
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
Grammatical Forms
How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups 5 Aligned forms 90 Tenses Aorist, Present, Future, Imperfect, Perfect Voices Active, Middle
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
Tenses
Voices
Indicative states a fact or reality 58×
Aorist Active Matt 7:25 · Matt 7:27 · Matt 13:4 · Matt 13:5 · Matt 13:7 · Matt 13:8 · Matt 26:39 · Mark 4:4 · Mark 4:5 · Mark 4:7 · Mark 4:8 · Luke 8:5 · Luke 8:7 · Luke 8:8 · Luke 13:4 · Luke 17:16 45×
Future Middle Matt 15:14 · Matt 24:29 · Luke 21:24 · Rev 4:10 · Matt 10:29 · Luke 14:5 6×
Present Active Matt 17:15 · Mark 5:22 · Luke 11:17 · Rom 14:4 · 1 Cor 13:8 5×
Imperfect Active Mark 14:35 1×
Perfect Active Rev 2:5 1×
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 22×
Aorist Active Matt 4:9 · Matt 18:26 · Matt 18:29 · Matt 21:44 · Mark 9:20 · Luke 5:12 · Luke 8:41 · Luke 20:18 · John 12:24 · Acts 5:5 · Acts 9:4 · Acts 10:25 · 1 Cor 14:25 · Matt 2:11 · Luke 8:14 · Luke 10:18 17×
Present Active Matt 15:27 · Luke 16:21 · Mark 13:25 3×
Perfect Active Acts 15:16 · Rev 9:1 2×
Subjunctive possibility, probability, or purpose 7×
Aorist Active Matt 21:44 · Luke 20:18 · 1 Cor 10:12 · Heb 4:11 · Rev 7:16 · Rom 11:11 · Jas 5:12 7×
Imperative command or strong request 2×
Aorist Active Luke 23:30 · Rev 6:16 2×
Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract 1×
Aorist Active Luke 16:17 1×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 89 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
aorist 73 present 6 future 6 perfect 3 imperfect 1
Voice
active 83 middle 6
Mood
indicative 58 participle 21 subjunctive 7 imperative 2 infinitive 1
NT Occurrences
Matthew 2:11 πεσόντες aorist active participle participle Matthew 4:9 πεσὼν aorist active participle participle Matthew 7:25 ἔπεσεν aorist active indicative completed Matthew 7:27 ἔπεσεν aorist active indicative completed Matthew 10:29 πεσεῖται future middle indicative prospective Matthew 13:4 ἔπεσεν aorist active indicative completed Matthew 13:5 ἔπεσεν aorist active indicative completed Matthew 13:7 ἔπεσεν aorist active indicative completed Matthew 13:8 ἔπεσεν aorist active indicative completed Matthew 15:14 πεσοῦνται future middle indicative prospective Matthew 15:27 πιπτόντων present active participle participle Matthew 17:15 πίπτει present active indicative ongoing Matthew 17:6 ἔπεσαν aorist active indicative completed Matthew 18:26 πεσὼν aorist active participle participle Matthew 18:29 πεσὼν aorist active participle participle Matthew 21:44 πεσὼν aorist active participle participle Matthew 21:44 πέσῃ aorist active subjunctive subjunctive Matthew 24:29 πεσοῦνται future middle indicative prospective Matthew 26:39 ἔπεσεν aorist active indicative completed Mark 4:4 ἔπεσεν aorist active indicative completed Mark 4:5 ἔπεσεν aorist active indicative completed Mark 4:7 ἔπεσεν aorist active indicative completed Mark 4:8 ἔπεσεν aorist active indicative completed Mark 5:22 πίπτει present active indicative ongoing Mark 9:20 πεσὼν aorist active participle participle Mark 14:35 ἔπιπτεν imperfect active indicative background Luke 5:12 πεσὼν aorist active participle participle Luke 6:49 συνέπεσεν aorist active indicative completed Luke 8:14 πεσόν aorist active participle participle Luke 8:41 πεσὼν aorist active participle participle Luke 8:5 ἔπεσεν aorist active indicative completed Luke 8:7 ἔπεσεν aorist active indicative completed Luke 8:8 ἔπεσεν aorist active indicative completed Luke 10:18 πεσόντα aorist active participle participle Luke 11:17 πίπτει present active indicative ongoing Luke 13:4 ἔπεσεν aorist active indicative completed Luke 14:5 πεσεῖται future middle indicative prospective Luke 16:17 πεσεῖν aorist active infinitive infinitive Luke 16:21 πιπτόντων present active participle participle Luke 17:16 ἔπεσεν aorist active indicative completed
+49 more occurrences
Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.
Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Physical collapse of a house, literal falling to ruin and destruction
Prostration at someone's feet in supplication and homage, reverent gesture
Metaphorical falling into transgression or spiritual failure, opposite of standing
Literal descent of things from above, physical falling motion
Showing 4 selected witnesses from 90 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
πίπτω is built from this root:
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
For the Preacher and Teacher
Pipto gains meaning from trajectory. The self-confident believer is warned that standing does not remove dependence on God's faithful help. Love, by contrast, never falls from its enduring vocation even when partial gifts cease. Saul's bodily fall becomes the beginning of his encounter with the Lord he persecuted. In John, a grain's fall into earth and death interprets Jesus' self-giving path toward abundant fruit.
Seed in the parable shows that landing place matters. Churches should not use fall language to blame people for accidents, illness, abuse, or grief. They should warn against presumption, establish safe restoration processes after moral failure, and distinguish forgiveness from immediate reinstatement. Christ transforms apparent defeat into life without calling evil good.
Anchor passage
John.12.24
Doctrinal connections
- Christology: Jesus' death is the grain's fall that bears abundant life.
- Humility: those who think they stand remain dependent and watchful.
- Divine faithfulness: temptation's warning is accompanied by God's provision of endurance.
- Love: agape does not fail when temporary gifts complete their role.
- Conversion: Saul's fall marks Christ's sovereign interruption of violent zeal.
- Restoration and care: moral collapse requires truth and repair, while physical falls call for help rather than blame.
Pipto is a broad motion verb for falling, dropping, collapsing, or falling down and extends metaphorically to failure or ruin. Subject, complement, and discourse context determine the nuance.
From Old to New Testament
Pride goes before a fall, kingdoms collapse under judgment, worshipers fall before God, and seed imagery joins burial with promised harvest.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain