ἐποκέλλω

I force forward, run aground

Definition

ἐποκέλλω is a nautical verb meaning 'to run aground' or 'to force a ship onto the shore.' It describes the deliberate or accidental act of driving a vessel onto land, typically in a way that causes it to become stuck or stranded. In its single New Testament occurrence in Acts 27:41, it refers to the ship carrying Paul being driven onto a sandbar or reef during a storm, leading to its destruction. The term implies a forceful, uncontrolled landing, distinct from a gentle beaching.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Acts 27:41, within the narrative of Paul's perilous sea voyage to Rome. It describes the climactic moment when the ship, caught in a storm, strikes a sandbar (a place of two seas) and becomes immovable, with the stern breaking up from the violence of the waves. The usage is purely descriptive of a dramatic maritime accident in a historical account, with no figurative application elsewhere.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition ἐπί (epi, 'upon') and the verb ὀκέλλω (okellō, 'to drive' or 'to urge on'). ὀκέλλω itself is related to ὠθέω (ōtheō, 'to push' or 'to thrust'). Thus, ἐποκέλλω literally means 'to drive upon,' perfectly capturing the action of forcing a ship onto land or a shoal.

Semantic Range

While ἐποκέλλω itself is a technical nautical term, its use in Acts 27:41 is theologically significant within the narrative of God's faithfulness. The shipwreck, described with this vivid word, becomes the means through which God's promise to Paul—that all aboard would survive (Acts 27:24)—is fulfilled despite apparent disaster. It illustrates God's sovereignty over chaotic circumstances and His ability to preserve His people and purposes even through catastrophic events. Understanding the force of this term enriches the reader's appreciation of the peril and the miraculous deliverance.

In the 1st-century Mediterranean world, sea travel was hazardous. The term ἐποκέλλω would have been a familiar, dreaded concept to sailors and travelers, evoking the real danger of shipwreck from storms, unseen sandbars, or rocky coasts. Luke's precise use of this technical term adds historical authenticity and vividness to the account, helping modern readers grasp the genuine life-and-death stakes of the voyage.

ἐξώκειλα (exōkeila, G1601) — a related term also meaning 'to run aground,' used in the same verse (Acts 27:41) in some ancient manuscripts, possibly emphasizing the finality of the stranding. ναυαγέω (nauageō, G3489) — a broader term meaning 'to suffer shipwreck' (used in 2 Corinthians 11:25), focusing on the disaster's result rather than the specific action of driving ashore.

Word Details

Scripture References