Greek word · G1913

ἐπιβιβάζω

epibibazō

to mount

A causative verb: 'to make someone go up onto,' 'to set or seat someone on' an animal or vehicle. It is also used for putting someone on board a ship. In every case another person does the mounting for the rider.

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

What it means

ἐπι-βιβάζω

[in LXX chiefly for רָכַב hi. ;]

to place upon: with accusative of person(s), Luke 10:34 19:35, Acts 23:24.†

(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 Luke 19:35

Range of meaning

A causative verb: 'to make someone go up onto,' 'to set or seat someone on' an animal or vehicle. It is also used for putting someone on board a ship. In every case another person does the mounting for the rider.

Against the English

BSB and NASB 'put Jesus on it,' KJV 'set Jesus thereon' and ESV 'set Jesus on it' all keep the disciples as the ones acting. WEB 'sat Jesus on them' keeps it too. Paraphrases that say Jesus 'got on' or 'rode' lose the point that others seated him.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint), the verb appears in David's command: 'set Solomon my son on my own mule' (3 Kingdoms [= 1 Kings] 1:33). The fulfilment repeats it in 1:38 and 1:44, when Solomon is taken down to Gihon, anointed, and acclaimed king. Luke uses the verb twice more: the Samaritan 'set him on his own animal' (Luke 10:34) and the mounts for Paul (Acts 23:24). Mark 11:7 and Matthew 21:7 say instead that Jesus 'sat' (ἐκάθισεν / ἐπεκάθισεν).

Where it appears

Luke · 2

  1. Luke 10:34 ἐπιβιβάσας having put

    He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

    Here: 'Having set him up on.' He lifts a man who cannot move himself onto the animal, which implies that the Samaritan now walks alongside.

  2. Luke 19:35 ἐπεβίβασαν they put on [it]

    Then they led the colt to Jesus, threw their cloaks over it, and put Jesus on it.

    Here: 'They set him on.' Jesus does not simply climb on: the disciples seat him. The Greek Old Testament uses this same verb when David orders Solomon to be set on the king's own mule and taken to be anointed (1 Kings 1:33, 38, 44).

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 23:24 ἐπιβιβάσαντες having set upon [them]

    Provide mounts for Paul to take him safely to Governor Felix.”

    Here: “Having set [him] on.” The soldiers are the subject. They seat Paul on an animal, so he rides instead of marching on foot with the infantry. Luke uses the same verb, with the same word for “animal,” for the Samaritan putting the wounded man on his own beast (Luke 10:34).

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