παραπλέω G3896
to sail past, coast along, bypass by sea
A nautical term describing sailing past a location without stopping or coasting along a shoreline. Classical authors used it for ships passing headlands or maritime cities. Acts 20:16 reports that Paul decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in Asia, hurrying to reach Jerusalem by Pentecost. The verb captures the strategic decision to bypass rather than visit—Paul's urgency driving him to skip even significant ministry locations when necessary.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Acts 20:16 records Paul's decision 'to sail past' (παραπλεῦσαι) Ephesus on his way to Jerusalem. The translations (English 'to-sail-past', Spanish 'pasar-de-largo', French 'naviguer-le-long-de') preserve the nautical bypassing. Paul's choice reflects mission prioritization: though Ephesus held deep ministry relationships, the urgency of reaching Jerusalem by Pentecost meant sailing on. Time constraints force even apostles to make hard choices about where to invest limited hours. 1×
AR["أَنْ-يُبْحِرَ-بِمُحَاذَاةِ"]·ben["পাশ-দিয়ে-যেতে"]·DE["παραπλεῦσαι"]·EN["to-sail-past"]·FR["naviguer-le-long-de"]·heb["לְהַפְלִיג-עַל-פְּנֵי"]·HI["होकर-चलना"]·ID["melewati"]·IT["navigare-lungo"]·jav["langkung"]·KO["지나가기를"]·PT["passar"]·RU["миновать"]·ES["pasar-de-largo"]·SW["kupita-kando-ya"]·TR["geçmek"]·urd["گزر-جانا"]
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
παραπλέω, Ionic dialect παρα-πλώω Refs 5th c.AD+aorist 2 παρέπλων (see. below):— sail by or past, absolutely, οἴη δὴ κείνῃ γε παρέπλω.. Ἀργώ was the only ship that sailed through that way, Refs 8th c.BC+; ἐν χρῷ παραπλέοντες sailing close in, Refs 5th c.BC+; π. τὴν Ἔφεσον sail past Ephesus, NT __2 coast by or along, ὃς τῆς Ἀττικῆς ταῦτα μὴ -πέπλωκε Refs 5th c.BC+; π. ἀπὸ κάλω, see at {κάλως}. __3 metaphorically, π. τὰς συμφοράς sail past, escape them, Refs 4th c.BC+