Greek word · G1968

ἐπιπίπτω

epipiptō

to fall/press upon

Literally 'to fall on'. It is used for physically falling on or embracing someone (Luke 15:20; Acts 20:10, 37).

Appears 11 times in 11 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἐπι-πίπτω

[in LXX chiefly for נָפַל ;]

to fall upon (Field, Notes, 25): with dative of person(s), Mark 3:10 (see Swete, in l), Acts 20:10; before ἐπὶ τ. τράχηλον (as Genesis 46:29, Tobit 11:8, 3Ma.5:49, al.), Luke 15:20, Acts 20:37. Metaphorical, φόβος, Luke 1:12, Acts 19:17, Revelation 11:11; ὀνειδισμοί, Romans 15:3 (LXX); of the Holy Spirit: before ἐπί, with dative, Acts 8:16; ἐπί, with accusative, Acts 10:44 11:15; absol., Acts 23:7.†

(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 Acts 10:44

Range of meaning

Literally 'to fall on'. It is used for physically falling on or embracing someone (Luke 15:20; Acts 20:10, 37). It is also used for an overwhelming experience or power that comes on a person from outside: fear (Luke 1:12; Acts 19:17), a trance or dread (LXX Genesis 15:12), or God's Spirit (Acts 8:16; 10:44; 11:15).

Against the English

'Fell on/upon' (KJV, BSB, WEB, YLT and most others) is accurate and keeps the suddenness. 'Came on' (NIV) is smoother but loses the sense of something descending and taking hold.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament), 'a trance fell upon Abram' (Gen 15:12) uses this verb. The simple form 'fell' is used when 'the Spirit of the Lord fell upon me' and Ezekiel prophesies (Ezek 11:5). Luke uses the word for the Spirit only in Acts: in 8:16 the Samaritans had 'not yet' had the Spirit fall on them, and in 11:15 Peter reports that the Spirit 'fell on them just as on us at the beginning.'

From the study of Acts 11:15

Range of meaning

Literally 'to fall upon'. Used (1) physically, of falling on someone or embracing them by falling on their neck; (2) of feelings or states that overtake a person suddenly, such as fear, terror or a trance; (3) in Acts, of the Holy Spirit coming on people. The common thread is that something comes from outside, suddenly, and overwhelms. The person does not produce it.

Against the English

Most versions keep 'fell upon/on' (KJV, BSB, WEB, ESV, NASB, NLT). The NIV's 'came on' is smoother but loses the suddenness and the sense of being overtaken.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament) it is used for fear falling on peoples (Exod 15:16) and for a deep trance falling on Abraham (Gen 15:12). The closest Old Testament image is Ezek 11:5, where 'the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me', using the simple verb 'fall' in both the Hebrew and the Greek. In Luke–Acts it is used for fear falling on Zechariah (Luke 1:12) and on Ephesus (Acts 19:17), for the father falling on his son's neck (Luke 15:20), and for the Spirit in Acts 8:16, 10:44 and 11:15.

From the study of Acts 20:10

Range of meaning

To fall upon. It is used of physically throwing oneself on someone (in an embrace or in grief), of fear or the Spirit 'falling upon' people, and of pressing upon someone in a crowd.

Against the English

KJV/WEB 'fell on him' could sound like an accident to a modern reader. BSB/NIV 'threw himself on' captures the intent.

Used elsewhere in the period

Luke uses it for embraces: the father 'fell on his neck' (Luke 15:20), and the Ephesian elders do the same to Paul a few verses later (Acts 20:37). Elijah 'stretched himself on the child' three times (1 Kings 17:21). Elisha 'lay on the child, mouth on mouth… and stretched himself on him' (2 Kings 4:34–35).

Where it appears

Mark · 1

  1. Mark 3:10 ἐπιπίπτειν to press upon

    For He had healed so many that all who had diseases were pressing forward to touch Him.

    Here: Present infinitive, describing something that kept happening: people kept falling on him or throwing themselves at him. This is physical and nearly violent, and it matches 'crush' (thlibō) in verse 9.

Luke · 2

  1. Luke 1:12 ἐπέπεσεν fell

    When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear.

  2. Luke 15:20 ἐπέπεσεν he fell

    So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.

    Here: 'He fell upon.' Together with 'his neck' this is a fixed biblical phrase for throwing your arms around someone in an emotional embrace.

Acts · 6

  1. Acts 8:16 ἐπιπεπτωκός, having fallen,

    For the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.

  2. Acts 10:44 ἐπέπεσεν fell

    While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard his message.

    Here: Aorist, so a single sudden event. The verb pictures something coming down on people from outside and taking hold of them. No one requested it and no one arranged it.

  3. Acts 11:15 ἐπέπεσεν fell

    As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, just as He had fallen upon us at the beginning.

    Here: 'Fell upon'. The word describes something sudden and unasked-for that comes from outside and overtakes people. The same verb is used in 10:44 and 8:16. It portrays the Spirit's arrival as God's initiative, which nobody arranged.

  4. Acts 19:17 ἐπέπεσεν fell

    This became known to all the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, and fear came over all of them. So the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.

    Here: 'Fell upon': the fear came over people from outside them, sudden and overwhelming, rather than being a feeling they worked up. In the Bible this is the usual way to describe how people react when God's power breaks in.

  5. Acts 20:10 ἐπέπεσεν fell upon

    But Paul went down, threw himself on the young man, and embraced him. “Do not be alarmed!” he said. “He is still alive!”

    Here: Paul throws himself down onto the body and lies across it. It is a deliberate physical act, not a stumble, and recalls Elijah and Elisha stretching themselves over dead boys.

  6. Acts 20:37 ἐπιπεσόντες having fallen

    They all wept openly as they embraced Paul and kissed him.

    Here: "Having fallen upon." With "the neck" this is a fixed Greek phrase for throwing your arms around someone in an emotional embrace. Nobody falls to the ground.

Romans · 1

  1. Romans 15:3 ἐπέπεσαν fell

    For even Christ did not please Himself, but as it is written: “The insults of those who insult You have fallen on Me.”

    Here: Aorist: "fell upon." The word pictures something crashing down or attacking. Insults meant for God landed on the speaker.

Revelation · 1

  1. Revelation 11:11 ἐπέπεσεν fell

    But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered the two witnesses, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell upon those who saw them.

    Here: 'Fell upon': the fear lands on the crowd from outside like a weight. The same expression is used for dread sent by God in the Old Testament (e.g. Exod 15:16) and in Luke–Acts (Luke 1:12; Acts 19:17).

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