καταπλέω

I sail down

Definition

The verb καταπλέω means to sail down or to sail toward land, specifically describing the action of bringing a ship from the open sea to the shore. It is a compound word formed from κατά (down, toward) and πλέω (to sail). In its single New Testament occurrence in Luke 8:26, it describes Jesus and his disciples sailing across the Sea of Galilee and arriving at the region of the Gerasenes. The term inherently implies a completed journey, moving from the deeper waters to a destination on the coast. There are no other distinct biblical senses, as it is used only in this straightforward nautical context.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Luke 8:26. It describes the conclusion of a sea voyage, specifically Jesus's journey across the Sea of Galilee to the country of the Gerasenes. The usage is purely descriptive of travel and arrival, setting the geographical scene for the subsequent narrative where Jesus heals a demon-possessed man. There are no patterns of usage beyond this single, literal instance.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition κατά (kata), meaning 'down,' 'toward,' or 'against,' combined with the verb πλέω (pleō), meaning 'to sail' or 'to voyage.' The compound thus literally means 'to sail down,' typically implying sailing from the open sea down to the shore. It is a straightforward nautical term in Hellenistic Greek.

Semantic Range

In the ancient Mediterranean world, sea travel was common but perilous. 'Sailing down' to a specific region, as in Luke 8:26, would have been a recognizable description of completing a voyage. The destination, the region of the Gerasenes (or Gadarenes), was a largely Gentile area on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, which adds cultural significance to Jesus's ministry crossing into this territory.

ἀποπλέω (apopleō, G636) — to sail away or depart from a place. | πλέω (pleō, G4126) — the root verb, a more general term for sailing or voyaging.

Word Details

Scripture References