ἐκπλέω G1602
to sail out, sail away, set sail; maritime departure from port, beginning a voyage
The verb ἐκπλέω (from ἐκ + πλέω 'sail') means to sail out from harbor or away from shore—the nautical equivalent of departing or setting out on a journey. In Acts it punctuates Paul's missionary movements, marking transitions between ministry locations. Each sailing represents not merely travel logistics but narrative momentum—new territories, new audiences, continued obedience to the apostolic commission across the Mediterranean world.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Acts 15:39 records the sharp disagreement between Paul and Barnabas: 'so Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus.' Acts 18:18 describes Paul's departure from Corinth: 'after this Paul...sailed away to Syria.' Acts 20:6 narrates: 'but we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we came to them at Troas.' The Spanish (navegamos, navegó, zarpar) and French (naviguer) use sailing verbs, while German preserves Greek forms (ἐκπλεῦσαι, ἐξέπλει, ἐξεπλεύσαμεν). Each departure marks missionary advance—the gospel spreading via ancient shipping routes, propelled not just by wind but by apostolic urgency. The verb makes Mediterranean geography an instrument of divine purpose. 3×
AR["أَبحَرَ", "أَبْحَرَ", "أَبْحَرْنَا"]·ben["জাহাজে-যেতে", "তিনি-যাত্রা-করলেন", "যাত্রা-করলাম"]·DE["ἐκπλεῦσαι", "ἐξέπλει", "ἐξεπλεύσαμεν"]·EN["sailed", "sailed-away"]·FR["naviguer"]·heb["הִפְלִיגָה", "הִפְלַגְנוּ"]·HI["जहाज-से-गया", "जहाज़-से-गया", "जहाज़-से-चले"]·ID["berlayar"]·IT["navigare"]·jav["bidhal,", "layar"]·KO["배로-갔다", "출항했다", "항해했다"]·PT["navegamos,", "navegou"]·RU["отплыл", "отплыли,"]·ES["navegamos", "navegó", "zarpar"]·SW["alisafiri-baharini", "kusafiri-baharini", "tulisafiri-kwa-meli"]·TR["yelken-açmak", "yelken-açtı", "yelken-açtık"]·urd["روانہ-ہوئے", "روانہ-ہوا"]
Related Senses
H0935 1. come, arrive (Qal) (2413×)G1473 1. first person singular pronoun (2084×)H3318 1. Qal: go out, depart, come forth (891×)H7725 1. to return, come/go back (Qal) (874×)H5927 1. go up, ascend (Qal) (779×)H7971 1. to send, dispatch (Qal) (701×)G2064 1. come / arrive (physical movement toward) (588×)H5307 1. Qal: fall down physically (339×)H5375 1. Qal: to lift up, raise (330×)H5975 1. to stand, stand up (310×)H5674a 1. Qal: pass by, pass through (256×)H3381 1. Qal: to go down, descend (physical movement) (242×)G1831 1. go/come out physically (193×)H5337 1. deliver, rescue, save (Hifil) (188×)H7901 1. lie down, rest, sleep (183×)G1525 1. enter a place physically (179×)H7812 1. prostrate oneself, bow down, worship (173×)H3318 2. Hifil: bring out, lead out, take out (persons) (172×)H7725 2. to bring back, restore (Hifil) (151×)H5674a 2. Qal: cross over (134×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἐκπλέω, future -πλεύσομαι: perfect - πέπλευκα Refs: Ionic dialect ἐκπλώω, aorist -έπλωσα: perfect πέπλωκα Refs 3rd c.BC+:—sail out or away, τοῦ Πόντου Refs 5th c.BC+; ἐκ τῆσδε γῆςRefs 5th c.BC+; κατ᾽ Εὐρώπης ζήτησιν, κατὰ ληΐην, Refs; ἐπί τινα against.., Refs 5th c.BC+; of fish, swim out, ἀγεληδὸν ἐ. ἐς θάλασσαν Refs 5th c.BC+ __2 metaphorically, ἐκπλεῖν τῶν φρενῶν go out of one's mind, lose…