Word Study for G1684 (ἐμβαίνω)

embaínō /em-ba'-hee-no/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom ἐν and the base of βάσις

Meaningto walk on, i.e. embark (aboard a vessel), reach (a pool)

KJV usagecome (get) into, enter (into), go (up) into, step in, take ship.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of embaínō — 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 embaínō, represented by G1684, means to walk on, embark, or enter. It appears 18 times across 18 unique verses in the Bible. Its primary application is to embark aboard a vessel, but it is also used to describe the act of reaching or stepping into a pool. The various translations include to come into, get into, enter, go up into, step in, and take ship.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, G1684 is overwhelmingly used to describe the physical act of boarding a ship, a frequent action in the ministry of Jesus and his disciples. For example, after teaching great multitudes by the shore, Jesus went into a ship and sat Matthew 13:2. In another instance, he constrained his disciples to get into a ship to go before him to the other side Matthew 14:22. A notable alternative use is found in the account of the pool of Bethesda, where an angel would trouble the water, and the first person to stepped in afterward would be healed John 5:4.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide further context for the action of entering and moving:

G1276 diaperáō (to cross entirely): This word often describes the purpose for which one would use G1684. After Jesus entered into a ship, he then passed over to his own city Matthew 9:1.
G1877 epanágō (to lead up on, i.e. (technical) to put out (to sea)): This describes the action taken immediately after embarking. Jesus entered into one of the ships and prayed that Simon would thrust out a little from the land Luke 5:3.
G2597 katabaínō (to descend): In the context of the pool of Bethesda, this word is used for the angel who went down into the pool, which then prompted the sick to seek healing by having one stepped in John 5:4.
G4897 syneisérchomai (to enter in company with): This highlights the communal nature of embarking. It is noted that Jesus did not go with his disciples into the boat at the same time they entered John 6:22.

Theological Significance

The use of G1684 carries significant narrative weight, often marking a transition or a precursor to a major event.

Facilitating Ministry: Embarking on a ship is the primary means by which Jesus and his disciples travel to new regions to teach and minister, such as when He commanded them, "Let us go over unto the other side of the lake" Luke 8:22.
Demonstrating Authority: The act of entering a ship frequently precedes a demonstration of Christ's power. After they entered a ship, a tempest arose, which Jesus would later calm Matthew 8:23. Similarly, when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased Matthew 14:32.
An Act of Faith or Seeking: In the case of the pool, to stepped in is the decisive action required to receive healing John 5:4. The crowds also took shipping as a deliberate act of seeking for Jesus John 6:24.

Summary

In summary, G1684 is a word of action and transition. While most often denoting the simple act of getting into a boat, it is a crucial narrative device in the Gospels. The act of entering a ship or stepping into a pool is never insignificant; it consistently serves as the catalyst for teaching, travel, miracles, or a demonstration of faith, moving the biblical account forward into the next display of divine purpose.

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 20 occurrences, inflected in 10 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

2nd Aorist Active Participle Nominative Singular Masculine 6×
2nd Aorist Active Indicative 3rd Plural 3×
2nd Aorist Active Indicative 3rd Singular 2×
2nd Aorist Active Infinitive 2×
2nd Aorist Active Participle Accusative Singular Masculine 2×
2nd Aorist Active Indicative 1st Plural 1×
2nd Aorist Active Participle Dative Singular Masculine 1×
2nd Aorist Active Participle Genitive Plural Masculine 1×
2nd Aorist Active Participle Nominative Plural Masculine 1×
Present Active Participle Genitive Singular Masculine 1×

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
Genitive: Possession or source — often "of".
Dative: The indirect object — often "to" or "for".
Accusative: The direct object of the verb.
Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
1st: First person — the speaker ("I"/"we").
2nd: Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Present: Action in progress or repeated — happening now or continually.
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Active: The subject performs the action.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Infinitive: The verb as a noun — "to do".
Participle: A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.

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 18 verses across 4 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Matthew (6 verses); never once in the other 23.

Matthew

Mark

Luke

John

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, 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.