English · KJV
G1533

εἰσφέρω

eisphérō /ice-fer'-o/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom εἰς and φέρω
Meaningto carry inward (literally or figuratively)
KJV usagebring (in), lead into.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of eisphérō — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word eisphérō, represented by G1533, is defined as to carry inward. It is formed from the words εἰς (into) and φέρω (to carry) and is used to mean "bring (in)" or "lead into." It appears 9 times across 7 unique verses in the Bible, with applications that are both literal and figurative. Its usage ranges from the physical act of carrying a person into a room to the abstract concept of being led into a spiritual state.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In scripture, G1533 is applied in several distinct contexts. It is used literally to describe a physical action, as when a group of men "sought means to bring him in" who was paralyzed, so he could be laid before Jesus Luke 5:18. Another literal, though ceremonial, use is found in Hebrews, which speaks of the blood of sacrificial animals being brought into the sanctuary by the high priest Hebrews 13:11. Figuratively, the word is used in the Lord's Prayer, where believers ask God to "lead us not into temptation" (Matthew 6:13, Luke 11:4), and also to describe the introduction of new ideas, as when the Athenians told Paul, "thou bringest certain strange things to our ears" Acts 17:20.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the meaning and context of G1533:

  • G1627 ekphérō (to bear out): This word serves as a direct antonym. In 1 Timothy 6:7, the two are contrasted to make a point: we brought (eisphérō) nothing into the world, and we can carry (ekphérō) nothing out.
  • G4506 rhýomai (to rescue, deliver): This term appears alongside G1533 in the Lord's Prayer. The request is not to be led into (eisphérō) temptation, but rather to be delivered (rhýomai) from evil Matthew 6:13.
  • G2524 kathíēmi (to lower): In the account of the paralyzed man, when his friends could not bring him in (eisphérō) through the crowd, they chose another method and let him down (kathíēmi) through the roof Luke 5:19.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G1533 is evident in its various applications.

  • Petition for Divine Guidance: The use of the word in the request to "lead us not into temptation" frames a core Christian petition for God's protection and guidance away from spiritual trials that might prove overwhelming Matthew 6:13.
  • The Transience of Earthly Life: The declaration that "we brought nothing into this world" 1 Timothy 6:7 uses G1533 to establish a foundational truth about the temporary nature of worldly possessions and human life itself.
  • Sacrificial Atonement: In Hebrews, the word is key to describing the Old Covenant ritual where the high priest would bring the blood of sacrifices into the sanctuary, a central part of the rite for sin Hebrews 13:11.

Summary

In summary, G1533 is a versatile word whose meaning of "to carry inward" applies to both the physical and spiritual realms. It describes concrete actions like carrying a paralyzed man Luke 5:18 and abstract concepts like being led into temptation Luke 11:4 or introducing strange ideas Acts 17:20. Through its use, scripture conveys significant theological ideas about reliance on God, the fleeting nature of materialism, and the mechanics of sacrificial worship.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a verb across 8 occurrences, inflected in 7 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • εἰσενέγκῃς
  • εἰσενεγκεῖν
  • εἰσενέγκωσιν
  • εἰσηνέγκαμεν
  • εἰσφέρεις
  • εἰσφέρωσιν
  • εἰσφέρεται

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

G1627 ἐκφέρω to bear out (literally or figuratively) G4506 ῥύομαι to rush or draw (for oneself), i.e. rescue G2524 καθίημι to lower

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 7 verses across 5 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Luke (3 verses); never once in the other 22.

1
Matthew
3
Luke
1
Acts
1
1 Timothy
1
Hebrews

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.