ἐμβαίνω G1684
To step into, embark; to board a boat or vessel.
Embainō means to step into or board something, and in the New Testament it is used exclusively of getting into a boat. Jesus and his disciples are constantly crossing the Sea of Galilee, and this verb marks those transitions — embarking after the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 8:23), before the feeding of the five thousand (Matt 14:22), and at many other crossings. The compound form (en- + bainō, 'step in') makes the physical action vivid. Spanish 'embarcaron,' French 'monter,' and German 'einsteigen' all preserve the directional sense of entering a vessel.
Senses
1. embark, step into (a boat) — To step into or board a boat, to embark upon a vessel. Every NT occurrence involves entering a boat for travel across water, typically the Sea of Galilee. The verb captures the specific physical action of climbing aboard. It appears in narrative transitions as Jesus moves between ministry locations (Matt 8:23; 9:1; 13:2; 14:22; 15:39; Mark 4:1; 5:18; 6:45; 8:10, 13; Luke 5:3; 8:22, 37; John 6:17, 22, 24; 21:3). Inflectional variations — participle, indicative, infinitive — reflect grammar, not semantic difference. 17×
AR["أَنْ يَرْكَبوا", "أَنْ-يَدْخُلُوا", "دَاخِلٌ", "دَخَلَ", "راكِبًا", "رَاكِبًا", "رَكِبَ", "صاعِدًا", "صَعِدوا", "صَعِدَ", "صَعِدُوا"]·ben["উঠতে", "উঠল-তারা", "উঠলে", "উঠলেন", "উঠে", "উঠে,", "প্রবেশ-করে"]·DE["einsteigen", "steigt-ein"]·EN["embarked", "embarking", "got-into", "having-embarked", "having-gotten-into", "having-stepped-in", "he-stepped-in", "to-embark"]·FR["monter"]·heb["יָרַד", "כַּ-עָלָה", "לַעֲלוֹת", "נִכְנְסוּ", "עָלָה", "עָלוּ", "עוֹלִים"]·HI["उतरकर", "चढ़-गए", "चढ़कर", "चढ़ते", "चढ़ते-हुए", "चढ़ा", "चढ़े", "चध-कर", "चधने", "चधे", "नाव-में", "बैठना"]·ID["ketika-masuk", "masuk", "naik", "naik,", "naiklah"]·IT["imbarcarsi"]·jav["minggah", "minggah,", "mlebet", "piyambakipun-mlebet", "sasampunipun-Panjenenganipun-mlebet", "sasampunipun-minggah"]·KO["들어간-자는", "오르시고", "올라", "올라-타고", "타게", "타고", "타는", "타도록", "타서", "타셨다", "타시고", "타시니", "탔다"]·PT["a-entrar", "entrando", "entrando,", "entraram", "entrou", "tendo-embarcado", "tendo-entrado"]·RU["войдя", "войти", "вошедшему", "вошедший", "вошли", "вошёл", "входящему"]·ES["a-embarcar", "embarcaron", "embarcó", "entrando", "entrar", "entraron", "habiendo-embarcado", "habiendo-entrado", "que-entró", "subiendo", "subió"]·SW["akaingia", "akiingia", "akiingia,", "akipanda", "aliingia", "aliyeingia", "kuingia", "wakapanda", "wakiingia", "waliingia"]·TR["bindi", "bindiler", "bindiğinde", "binerek", "binerken", "binip", "binmesini", "binmeye", "binmiş,", "giren"]·urd["اُترنے-والا", "داخل-ہو-کر", "سوار-ہو-کر", "سوار-ہوا", "سوار-ہوتے-ہوئے", "سوار-ہونا", "سوار-ہونے-کو", "میں", "چڑھ-کر", "چڑھا", "چڑھے"]
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
ἐμβαίνω, future -βήσομαι: perfect -βέβηκα; Epic dialect participle ἐμβεβᾰώς, -υῖα, Refs 8th c.BC+aorist 2 ἐνέβη; Epic dialect 3rd.pers. singular ἔμβη Refs 8th c.BC+:—step in, μή τις.. ἐμβήῃ let none step in (so as to interfere), Refs 5th c.BC+ __2 go on, go quickly, ἔμβητον, says Antilochus to his horses, Refs 8th c.BC+advance! Refs 5th c.BC+ __3 embark on a ship, ἐρέται δ᾽ ἐν ἑκάστη πεντήκοντα…