Quick Definition
ἐμβατεύω v. I enter, set foot on
Strong's Definition
from 1722 and a presumed derivative of the base of 939; equivalent to 1684; to intrude on (figuratively)
KJV Usage: intrude into
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
verb | βαίνω (go, walk)
53.15 · Religious Activities · Religious Practice
[Glosses - en] The meaning of ἐμβατεύω, which occurs only once in the NT, namely, in COL 2:18, is obscure. It may mean more or less literally ‘to set foot upon’ or ‘to enter’ or possibly ‘to come into possession of.’ It may also mean ‘to enter into’ in the sense of to go into detail in treating a subject, but it seems more likely that ἐμβατεύω in COL 2:18 is a technical term derived from the mystery religions, and it could be interpreted in the phrase ἅ ἑόρακεν ἐμβατεύων as meaning ‘who enters the sanctuary which he saw in ecstasy’ or ‘taking his stand on what he has seen in the mysteries.’ In view of the context, which speaks of someone being puffed up without cause, one might also render this Greek phrase as ‘by what he saw when he was initiated.’ For further data on this semantically difficult term, see A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, University of Chicago Press, third edition edited by Danker (BDAG).
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
ἐμβατεύω [see ἐν, III. 3]; (ἐμβάτης stepping in, going in); to enter; 1. prop.: πόλιν, Eur. El. 595; πατρίδος, Soph. O. T. 825; εἰς τὸ ὄρος, Joseph. antt. 2, 12,1: to frequent, haunt, often of gods frequenting favorite spots, as νῆσον, Aeschyl. Pers. 449; τῷ χωρίῳ, Dion. Hal. antt. 1, 77; often to come into possession of a thing: thus εἰς ναῦν, Dem. p. 894, 7 [6 Dind.]; τὴν γῆν, Josh. xix. 51 Sept.; to invade, make a hostile incursion into, εἰς with ace. of place, 1 Mace. xii. 25, ete. 2. _ tropically, (cf. Germ. eingehen); a. to go into details in narrating: absol. 2 Mace. ii. 30. ὍὌ. to investigate, search into, scrutinize minutely: ταῖς ἐπιστήμαις, Philo, plant. Noé § 19; ἃ μὴ ἑώρακε ἐμβατεύων, things which he has not seen, i. 6. things denied to the sight (cf. 1 Jn. iv. 20), Col. ii. 18, — where, if with GL [in ed. min., but in ed. maj. reinserted, yet in br.] T Tr WH Huther, Meyer, we expunge μή, we must render, “going into curious and subtile speculation about things which he has seen in visions granted him”; but ef. Baumg.-Crusius ad loc. and W. § 55, 8 e.; [also Reiche (Com. crit.), Bleek, Hofm., al., defend the μή. But see Tdf. and WH. ad loc., and Bp. Lghtft.’s ‘detached note’; ef. B. 349 (300). Some interpret “(conceitedly) taking his stand on the things which” ete.; see under 1]; Phavor. ἐμβατεῦσαι: ἐπιβῆναι τὰ ἔνδον ἐξερευνῆσαι ἣ σκοπῆσαι ; [similarly Hesych. 2293, vol. ii. p. 73 ed. Schmidt, ef. his note; further see reff. in Suidas, col. 1213 d.].
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
ἐμβατεύω embateuō 1x
pr. to step into or upon; met. to search into, investigate; to pry into intrusively, Col. 2:18*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
ἐμβατεύω
[in LXX: c. acc, Jos 19:49 (נָחַל, Jos 19:51 (חָלַק pi.); seq. εἰς, I Mac 12:25 13:20 14:31 15:40; metaph., II Mac 2:30 * ;] (< ἐμβάτης < ἐμβαίνω)
to step in or on (Soph.), hence
to frequent, haunt, dwell in (Æsch., Eur.); metaph., Col 2:18 (dwelling in, R, txt.; taking, R, mg.);
to invade (1Mac, ll c.; metaph., Col, l.c.).
to enter on, come into possession of (Eur., Dem.; LXX, Jos, ll. c.); on the difficulties of reading and interpretation in this passage, v. Lft, Col., 194 f., 252; ICC, 268 ff.; Field, Notes, 197; Milligan, NTD, 177; and for exx. from π., MM, Exp., xii (cf. κενεμβ.).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
ἐμβατεύω. For ἐ. = ‘‘ take possession of,” as in Josh 19° ἐπορεύθησαν ἐμβατεῦσαι τὴν γῆν, cf. a will of iii/B.c., P Eleph 214, where in the event of their parents leaving debts, right is reserved to the sons not to the inheritance— ἐξέστω τοῖς υἱοῖς μὴ ἐμβατεύειν, ἐὰμ μὴ βούλωνται. See also BGU IV. 116784 (n.c. 12) ἐξέστω... ἐμβαδεύειν εἰς τὰς τρεῖς [apov(pas), P Oxy VIII. 11187 (i/ii A.D.) 8rJos... γεινώσκωσι ἐμβαδεύσον[τά pe εἰς τὰ ὑπ[ο]τεθειμένα, ** that they may know that I shall enter on the mortgaged property ” (Ed.), BGU 1. rorl@ (a.p. 114-5) μὴ ἐξεῖναι δὲ pol λυτρῶσαι μηδὲ ἐνβαδεύειν αν. νυν... p. The verb and the corresponding noun ἐμβαδεία are also used technically of a -ς enter on
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
ἐμβατεύω (embateuō) — to investigate. ἐμβᾰτ-εύω, step in or on, frequent, haunt: with accusative, of tutelary gods, νῆσος.. ἣν ὁ φιλόχορος Πὰν ἐμβατεύει [Refs 5th c.BC+]: with genitive, in simple sense, set foot upon, μήτ᾽ ἐμβατεύειν πατρίδος [Refs 5th c.BC+]: absolutely, enter a sacred cave, [Refs]
II. ἐ. κλήρους χθονός enter on, come into possession of, [LXX+5th c.BC+] enter on possession of the vessel, [Refs 4th c.BC+]: absolutely, enter on an inheritance, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.2. metaphorically, νέων ψυχάς [Refs 4th c.AD+]
III. mount, cover, of the male, [Refs 4th c.AD+]
IV. to be initiated into the mysteries, [NT]