ἐκκολυμβάω

I swim out

Definition

The verb ἐκκολυμβάω means 'to swim out' or 'to swim away from' a specific location, particularly from a body of water to land or safety. It is formed from the preposition ἐκ (ek, 'out of') and the verb κολυμβάω (kolymbaō, 'to swim'), giving it a directional sense of exiting the water. In its single New Testament occurrence in Acts 27:42, it describes the soldiers' plan to have the prisoners swim out from the shipwrecked vessel to escape. This usage emphasizes a deliberate, strenuous movement away from a perilous situation toward presumed safety on shore.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Acts 27:42, within the narrative of Paul's shipwreck on Malta. The context is a dramatic escape plan: the soldiers intended to kill the prisoners to prevent their escape, but the centurion intervened, ordering those who could swim to jump overboard first and 'swim out' (ἐκκολυμβάω) to land. This singular usage highlights a specific, life-or-death physical action within a historical account of divine preservation and Roman military procedure.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition ἐκ (ek, 'out of, from') combined with the verb κολυμβάω (kolymbaō, 'to swim, to dive'). Κολυμβάω itself is related to κολυμβήθρα (kolymbēthra, 'a swimming pool' or 'bathing place'), a term used in John 5:2-4 for the Pool of Bethesda. The compound ἐκκολυμβάω thus literally means 'to swim out from,' focusing on the point of departure from the water.

Semantic Range

While not a theologically dense term, ἐκκολυμβάω appears in a context underscoring God's providence and protection. In Acts 27, Paul had received a divine promise that all lives would be spared (Acts 27:22-24). The centurion's countermanding of the murderous plan and the order to swim to safety became the human means through which God's promise was fulfilled. Understanding this specific Greek verb enriches the reading by highlighting the active, physical deliverance experienced by the passengers, illustrating how divine sovereignty often works through ordinary human actions and decisions.

In the 1st-century Mediterranean world, swimming was a known but not universally practiced skill, often associated with survival, military training, or recreation. The action described in Acts 27:42 would have been understood as a desperate, strenuous effort for survival in a stormy sea, not a leisurely activity. The soldiers' assumption that prisoners might escape by swimming also reflects the perceived risk and the value placed on a Roman citizen's life (like Paul's), which influenced the centurion's decision.

κολυμβάω (kolymbaō, G2860) — The simpler root verb meaning 'to swim,' without the directional emphasis of 'swimming out.'

Word Details

Scripture References