Greek word · G1643

ἐλαύνω

elaunō

to drive

Basic sense: to drive or set something in motion, such as driving cattle or a chariot, or wind driving clouds and ships. Used without an object for boats, it means 'to row', literally to drive the vessel forward with oars.

Appears 5 times in 5 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἐλαύνω

[in LXX: Isaiah 41:7 (הָלַם) Isaiah 33:21 (שַׁיִט), etc. ;]

to drive: of the wind, James 3:4, 2 Peter 2:17; of sailors rowing or sailing a boat, Mark 6:48, John 6:19; of demons, Luke 8:29 (cf. ἀπ-, συν-ελαύνω).†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of John 6:19

Range of meaning

Basic sense: to drive or set something in motion, such as driving cattle or a chariot, or wind driving clouds and ships. Used without an object for boats, it means 'to row', literally to drive the vessel forward with oars.

Against the English

Most English versions say 'rowed', which is accurate. YLT's 'pushed onwards' keeps more of the effort in the verb. The perfect participle ('having rowed') shows the rowing as finished work that has brought them to where they are now. 'When they had rowed' captures this well.

Used elsewhere in the period

BDAG lists two NT senses: 'drive' (James 3:4, ships 'driven by strong winds'; 2 Peter 2:17, mists 'driven by a storm') and 'row' (Mark 6:48; John 6:19). Classical writers use it the same way for rowing. Mark's parallel has the disciples 'straining in the rowing' (βασανιζομένους ἐν τῷ ἐλαύνειν, Mark 6:48).

Where it appears

Mark · 1

  1. Mark 6:48 ἐλαύνειν, rowing,

    He could see that the disciples were straining to row, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea. He intended to pass by them,

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 8:29 ἠλαύνετο he was driven

    For Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was bound with chains and shackles, he had broken the chains and been driven by the demon into solitary places.

John · 1

  1. John 6:19 ἐληλακότες Having rowed

    When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the sea—and they were terrified.

    Here: Literally 'having driven', the normal Greek way to talk about pushing a boat along with oars. The perfect tense describes rowing already done and the point it has brought them to: they have worked their way well out from shore, against the strong wind of v.18.

James · 1

  1. James 3:4 ἐλαυνόμενα, being driven,

    Consider ships as well. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot is inclined.

    Here: "Being driven": the ship is pushed by a force outside itself. Present tense, so the driving is ongoing. The same verb is used of rowing (Mark 6:48) and of mists driven by a storm (2 Pet 2:17).

2 Peter · 1

  1. 2 Peter 2:17 ἐλαυνόμεναι, being driven,

    These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them.

    Here: A present passive participle: the mists are being pushed along, over and over, with no direction of their own. The picture is of something unstable and at the mercy of the weather.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.