ἐφάλλομαι G2177
To leap upon, spring at; to attack by jumping on someone
This verb describes springing or leaping upon someone or something, typically with hostile intent—to attack by jumping on an opponent. Luke uses it in Acts 19:16 describing the demon-possessed man in Ephesus who 'leaped on' the seven sons of Sceva attempting exorcism, overpowering all of them. The word emphasizes sudden, violent assault, the aggressive leap of attack rather than gradual approach.
Senses
1. sense 1 — The Ephesian exorcism disaster (Acts 19:16) shows demonic power overwhelming unauthorized practitioners. When Sceva's sons invoked Jesus' name without true relationship, the demon-possessed man sprang on them with supernatural violence, beating them so severely they fled naked and wounded. The translations ('having-leaped,' 'saltándoles-encima,' 'sauter-sur') preserve the violent, sudden attack. This episode displays the danger of treating spiritual power as manipulable technique rather than relationship. 1×
AR["وَثَبَ"]·ben["লাফিয়ে-পড়ে"]·DE["ἐφαλόμενος"]·EN["having-leaped"]·FR["sauter-sur"]·heb["קָפַץ"]·HI["कूदकर"]·ID["melompat"]·IT["saltare-su"]·jav["mlumpat"]·KO["뛰어들어"]·PT["saltando"]·RU["набросившись"]·ES["saltándoles-encima"]·SW["akiruka"]·TR["sıçrayan"]·urd["کود-کر"]
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
ἐφάλλομαι, future - αλοῦμαι LXXaorist 2 ἐπᾶλτο, participle ἐπάλμενος, ἐπιάλμενος (see. below): regular aorist 2 infinitive -αλέσθαι Refs 4th c.BC+:—spring upon, so as to attack, with dative, Ἀστεροπαίῳ ἐπᾶλτο Refs 8th c.BC+; ἐπάλμενος ὀξέϊ δουρίRefs 8th c.BC+ having leaped upon the chariot, Refs 8th c.BC+; of fame, ἐς Αἰθίοπας ἐπᾶλτο Refs 5th c.BC+; ἐπὶ τὰν χῆρα NT+1st c.AD+; ζῴῳ, in hostile sense, Refs 3rd c.AD+; εἰς τοὐπίσω ἐ., of an exercise, LXX+2nd c.AD+