Greek word · G1877

ἐπανάγω

epanagō

to put up/back/off

(1) To lead or bring up or back. (2) Used intransitively (with no object), to go back or return. (3) As a sailing term, to put out from shore (Luke 5:3–4). In ordinary Greek of the period, sense (2) is well attested.

Appears 3 times in 3 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἐπ-αν-άγω

[in LXX: Zechariah 4:12 (רוּק hi.), Sirach 17:26 26:28, 2Ma.9:21 2Mac 12:4 * ;]

to bring up or back (sc. ναῦς); to put out to sea (DB, iii, 63b): Luke 5:3-4; intrans., to return: Matthew 21:18.†

(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 Matthew 21:18

Range of meaning

(1) To lead or bring up or back. (2) Used intransitively (with no object), to go back or return. (3) As a sailing term, to put out from shore (Luke 5:3–4). In ordinary Greek of the period, sense (2) is well attested.

Against the English

'Returning' or 'returned' (BSB, KJV, WEB, NIV, ESV, NASB) is correct. YLT's 'turning back' is more literal but could suggest he changed his mind on the road, which the Greek does not mean.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the New Testament it appears only here and in Luke 5:3–4, where it means 'put out' to sea. Lexicons such as BDAG list the intransitive sense 'return' for this verse, and it is widely used that way in ordinary Greek of the time.

Where it appears

Matthew · 1

  1. Matthew 21:18 ἐπανάγων he is coming back

    In the morning, as Jesus was returning to the city, He was hungry.

    Here: 'While going back.' The present-tense participle shows Jesus is still on the road when the hunger hits. He is making his way back into Jerusalem from Bethany.

Luke · 2

  1. Luke 5:3 ἐπαναγαγεῖν to put off

    Jesus got into the boat belonging to Simon and asked him to put out a little from shore. And sitting down, He taught the people from the boat.

  2. Luke 5:4 ἐπανάγαγε do put off

    When Jesus had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”

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