Quick Definition
ἐπιβάλλω v. I throw upon, lay, strike upon
Strong's Definition
from 1909 and 906; to throw upon (literal or figurative, transitive or reflexive; usually with more or less force); specially (with 1438 implied) to reflect; impersonally, to belong to
KJV Usage: beat into, cast (up-)on, fall, lay (on), put (unto), stretch forth, think on
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
verb | fut. ἐπιβαλῶ · aor. ἐπέβαλον | βάλλω
85.51 · Existence in Space · Put, Place
to put on, to place on, to lay on to place something on something
14.21 · Physical Events and States · Events Involving Liquids and Dry Masses
to splash into to strike upon and into (with special reference to the action of waves)
57.3 · Possess, Transfer, Exchange · Have, Possess, Property, Owner
to belong to to belong to or to come to belong to, with the possible implication of by right or by inheritance
30.7 · Think · To Think, Thought
to reflect on, to think about seriously, to think deeply about to give careful consideration to various implications of an issue For another interpretation of ἐπιβάλλω in MRK 14:72, see 68.5.
68.5 · Aspect · Begin, Start
to begin to begin an activity, with special emphasis upon the inception or possibly the suddenness with which the event takes place It would also be possible to understand ἐπιβάλλω in MRK 14:72 as meaning ‘when he thought of it’ or ‘when he reflected on it’ (see 30.7).
37.110 · Control, Rule · Seize, Take into Custody
Collocation: ἐπιβάλλω τὰς χεῖρας ἐπί
to seize, to arrest (an idiom, literally: to lay hands on) to take a person into custody for alleged illegal activity
MAT 26:50 · MRK 14:46 · LUK 20:19 · LUK 21:12 · JHN 7:30 · JHN 7:44 · ACT 4:3 · ACT 5:18 · ACT 12:1 · ACT 21:27
68.6 · Aspect · Begin, Start
Collocation: ἐπιβάλλω τὴν χεῖρα ἐπ᾽ ἄροτρον καὶ βλέπω εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω
to start to do something and then to hesitate, to begin but have second thoughts about continuing (a Semitic idiom, literally: one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back) to begin some activity requiring close attention but then to change one’s mind about proceeding It is probably best to regard the phrase ἐπιβαλὼν τὴν χεῖρα ἐπ ̓ ἄροτρον καὶ βλέπων εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω as a part of a traditional saying referring to anyone who has second thoughts about undertaking some new or different enterprise, but the particular manner in which this is adapted to a statement concerning ‘the kingdom of God’ makes its strictly idiomatic structure somewhat doubtful.
1 The meanings of ἐπιβάλλω[a] (15.218) and ἐπιρίπτω (15.219) parallel to a certain extent the distinction in βάλλω[a] (15.215) and ῥίπτω[a] (15.217) in that βάλλω[a] suggests a more deliberate action, while ῥίπτω[a] suggests an action characterized by being quicker, more energetic, and often somewhat more impetuous. 2 MRK 4:37 It would be possible to analyze the meaning of ἐπιβάλλω[c] as merely a matter of impact, but it is the evident action of the waves, not only in striking the boat but filling it with water, that would seem to justify setting up a separate meaning. 3 LUK 9:62 The phrases ἐπιβάλλω τὰς χεῖρας and ἐπιβάλλω τὴν χεῖρα ἐπί also occur with events, and as such focus attention on the beginning of an event, for example, οὐδεὶς ἐπιβαλὼν τὴν χεῖρα ἐπ᾽ ἄροτρον ‘no one puts his hand to the plow’ or ‘no one begins to plow’ LUK 9:62. A treatment of this meaning is in 68.6.
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
ἐπι-βάλλω ; impf. ἐπέβαλλον ; fut. ἐπιβαλῶ; 2 aor. ἐπέβαλον, [8 pers. plur.-Aav, Acts xxi. 27 Τ Tr WH; Mk. xiv. 46 T WH, (see ἀπέρχομαι, init.)]; 1. Transitively, a. to cast upon: τινὶ βρόχον, 1 Co. vii. 35 ; τινὶ τὰ ἱμάτια, Mk. xi. 7; [χοῦν ἐπὶ ras κεφ. Rev. xviii. 19 WH mre. ]; to lay upon, ἐπί τινα τὴν χεῖρα OY Tas χεῖρας, used of seizing one to lead him off as a prisoner: Mt. xxvi. 50; Mk. xiv.46 RGL; Lk. xx. 19; xxi.12; Jn. vii. 30 [Τὸ mre. Bade], 44 (L Tr WH the simple βάλλειν); Acts v. 18; xxi. 27, (for the Hebr. “2 5s Ὑ mow, Gen. xxii. 12); also τὰς χεῖράς τινι, Mk. xiv. 46 T Tr WH; Acts iv. 3, (Polyb. 3, 2,8; 5,5; Leian. Tim. 4); ἐπιβάλλειν τὰς χεῖρας foll. by the inf. indicating the purpose, Acts xii. 1; τὴν χεῖρα ἐπ᾽ ἄροτρον, to put the hand to the plough (to begin work), Lk. ix. 62. b. to put (i.e. sew) on: ἐπίβλημα ἐπὶ ἱμάτιον, Lk. v. 36 37 ἐπὶ ἱματίῳ, Mt. ix. 16. 2. Intrans. (asin Grk. writ. fr. Hom. down, [ef. W. 251 (236) ; J. 144 (126) sq.]) to throw one’s self upon, rush upon: εἰς τὸ πλοῖον, Of waves rushing intoa ship, Mk. iv. 87; to put one’s mind upon a thing, attend to, with the dat. of the thing: τούτῳ γὰρ ἐπιβάλλων for if you think thereon, Antonin. 10, 30; μηδενὶ yap ἐπιβάλλειν μηδετέραν (i. 6. τὴν αἴσθησιν καὶ τὴν νόησιν) χωρὶς τοῦ προσπίπτοντος εἰδώλου, Plut. plac. phil. 4, 8; absol. ἐπιβαλών, sc. τῷ ῥήματι τοῦ Ἰησοῦ, when he had considered the utterance of ἐπιβαίνω 2 Jesus, Mk. xiv. 72; ef. Kypke, [Wetst., McClellan] ad loc.; B. 145 (127); [and for the diff. interpp. see Mey. and esp. Morison ad loe. }. 3. Impersonally, ἐπιβάλλει μοι it belongs to me, falls to my share: τὸ ἐπιβάλλον (sc. pol) μέρος τῆς οὐσίας, Lk. xv. 12 (κτημάτων τὸ ἐπιβάλλον, Hat. 4, 115; τὸ ἐπιβάλλον αὐτοῖς μέρος, Diod. 14, 17, and the like often in other writ. [see Meyer; σοὶ ἐπιβάλλει ἡ κληρονομία, Tob. vi. 12 (ef. 11. 17; 1 Mace. x. 30, ete.) ]).
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
ἐπιβάλλω epiballō 18x
to cast or throw upon, Mk. 11:7; 1 Cor. 7:35; to lay on, apply to, Lk. 9:62; to put on, sew on, Mt. 9:16; Lk. 5:36; τὰς χεῖρας, to lay hands on, offer violence to, seize, Mt. 26:50; also, to lay hand to, undertake, commence, Acts 12:1; intrans. to rush, dash, beat into, Mk. 4:37; to ponder, reflect on, Mk. 14:72; to fall to one’s share, pertain to, Lk. 15:12
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
ἐπι-βάλλω
[in LXX for שָׁלַח, שִׁית, etc. ;]
trans., to cast, lay or put upon: c. acc et dat., Mk 11:7, I Co 7:35; c. acc, seq. ἐπί c. acc, Re 18:19, WH, mg.; τ. Χεῖρα (-ας) ἐπί (B1., § 37, 7), of seizing a prisoner, Mt 26:50, Lk 20:19 21:12, Jo 7:30, Ac 5:18 21:27; c. dat. (Polyb.), Mk 14:46 Ac 4:3; c. inf., Ac 12:1; τὴν χ. ἐπ’ ἄροτρον, Lk 9:62; ἐπίβλημα ἐπὶ ἱμάτιον, Lk 5:36; ἐπὶ ἱματίῳ, Mt 9:16.
Intrans.,
to throw oneself or rush upon: τ. κύματα εἰς τ. πλοῖον, Mk 4:37; metaph., to put one's mind upon (but v. Field, Notes, 41 ff.), ἐπιβαλὼν ἔκλαιεν, when he thought thereon (sc. τ. ῥήματι), he wept (EV, txt.; R, mg., he began to weep; cf. M, Pr., 131): Mk 14:72 (v. also Swete, in l);
to fall to one's share: τὸ ἐπιβάλλον (sc. dat.; Hdt., a1., a technical formula freq. in π.; Deiss., BS, 230, LAE, 152), Lk 15:12.†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
ἐπιβάλλω. A.D.) οἷς (sc. τοῖς λύχνοις) οὐκέτι ἐπιβαλεῖς ἔλαιον, so ΧΥ 57, In P kyl II. 609% (B.c. 34) we have a complaint against a man—émPadd(vros) . . . τὰ ἑαυτοῦ πρόβατα ἐφ᾽ ὃν ἔχομεν ἐν τῶι ψυγμῶι.. loose on the cnecus which we have in the drying-place (Edd.), while in P Leid G?* (B.c. 181-145) the phrase ἐπιβάλλειν [ἐπ᾽ ἐμὲ] τὰς χεῖρας is used with the idea of violence, as in Mt 265° α΄. For the intrans. use meaning “*attack,”’ cf. P. Ryl IL. 127!° (a.p. 29) ἔπιβαλόντες τινὲς λῃστρικῶι τρόπωι ὑπώρυξαν . . τὸ ἀπὸ βορρᾶ τεῖχος τοῦ οἴκου, ‘certain individuals making a thievish incursion undermined the northern wall of the house’’ (Edd.), 7d. 133) (A.D. 33) ἐπιβαλὼν ᾽Ο. εἰς τὸ λεγόμενον T. ἔμβλημία), ““Ο. making an attack upon the dam (Ὁ) called that κνῆκον, ‘having let his sheep ” εὐθὺς ἐπιβέβηκα | In Syi/ 36415 (a-p. 37) the verb, as in Ac 25}, is | ᾿ ’ 35 eT Papen | of T.’’ (Edd.). A late usage by which the verb = ‘‘ arrive | at,’ “‘reach to’ may be illustrated by P Par 67 (B.c. 129) | Adxou τοῦ συγγενοῦς [ἐπι]βεβληκότ[ος] εἰς Διόσπολιν [τὴν] | μεγάλην, P Amh II. 31° (ΒιΟ, 112) ἐπιβάλλοντες εἰς τὸν ΠΠαθυρίτην διεπεμψάμεθα ktA., and the almost technical phrase ἐπιβάλλειν ἐπὶ τοὺς τόπους in P Hal I. 84 (B.c. 232), P Grenf I. 40? (ii/B.c.). The sense of ‘‘ endeavour ’’ underlies the use of the mid. followed by the inf. in P Par 631% (B.c. 164) (=P Petr III. p. 30) ἐπιγράφειϊν τοῖς] μὴ δυναμένοις ἐπιβεβλημένους, ““ endeavouring to impose the corvée on those who cannot perform it ’’ (Mahaffy), 24. 2978 (B.C. 161-0) ὑμῖν δὲ γίνοιτο πᾶν ὃ ἂν ἐπιβάλλησθ᾽ ἐπιτυγχ| dvew. The legal phrase τὸ ἐπιβάλλον μέρος, as in Lk 1512, is very common : in addition to exx, in Deissmann BS p. 230 cf. P Grenf. I. 3333 (c. B.c. 103-2) τὰς ἐπιβαλλούσας αὐτῇ μερίδας γῆς, P Oxy IV. 715} (a.p. 131) τὸ ἐπιβάλλ[ον]) αὐτῶι. . τρίτον μέρος οἰκίας καὶ τὸ ἐπιβάλλον αὐτῶι μέρος ψιλοῦ τόπου, P Fay 935 (A.D. 161) ἀπὸ τοῦ ἐπιβάλλοντός σοι [ἡμί]σους μέρους. See also P Hib I. 115%? (c. B.C. 250) ἐπιβάλλει of instalments of money falling due, P Lond 3% (B.C. 146 or 135) (=I. p. 46) καρπείων ἐπιβαλλόντων pot, P Fay 100% (a.D. 99) τὰς ἐπιβαλλούσας por apy(uptov) (δραχμὰς) τριακοσίας, BGU I. 194! (a.p. 177) τὰς λει| roupyelas ἐπιβαλλούσας αὐτοῖς, Other impersonal exx. are P Par 6310 (p.c. 164) (=P Petr III. p. 18) κοινῆι πᾶσιν ἐπιβάλλει, ““ 15 a common duty incumbent on all’’ (Mahaffy), P Tebt I. 4012 (p.c. 117) (= Selections, Ὁ. 28) διὰ τὸ μάλιστα ἐπιβάλλειν προνοεῖσθαι τῶν βασιλικῶν, ‘because it chiefly falls to you to look after the interests of the Crown.” Another passage from the Tebtunis papyri throws a welcome light on the crux of Mk 147% In I. 50! (p.c. 112-1) ἐπιβαλὼν συνέχωσεν τὰ ἐν τῆι ἑαυτοῦ γῆι μέρη τοῦ σημαινομένου ὑδραγωγοῦ, we translate ‘‘set to and dammed up” the part of the water-course in question: see further in | Proleg. p. 131, and cf. Allen ad Mk /.c. where this rendering of ἐπιβαλών in the Markan passage is accepted as probable, and the use of the word for the Evangelist’s favourite ἤρξατο | is explained as due to a misreading of the Aramaic original. Note that ἐπιβαλών occurs also in Syr. S aeth = 565 at Mk 10°° (see Burkitt Av. Da-Mepharreshe ii. p. 250). For ἐπιβολή = ἐπιβάλλον μέρος, see P Tebt II. 391" (A.D. 99) Td λοιπὸν τῆς ἐπιβολῆς THs λαογραφίας with the editor’s note. It is common =‘‘embankment”’ as in P Petr 1. 23° εἰς ἐπιβολὴν παλαιοῦ χώματος. In P Lond 1157’ (A.D. 197-8?) (=III. p. 66) the editors suggest that in the phrase ἐπιβολί(ῆς) πηχισμοῦ the reference is to an ‘additional charge’ for certain measurements, or to an ‘allotment ”’ of such a charge.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
ἐπιβάλλω (epiballō) — to put on/seize. ἐπιβάλλω:
I. transitive, throw or cast upon, θριξὶ.., ἃς ἐπέβαλλον (i.e. πυρί) [Refs 8th c.BC+] (Lyric poetry); ἐ. [Refs 5th c.BC+] throwing on more and more, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
I.2. lay on, [ἡμιόνοις] ἐπέβαλλεν [Refs 8th c.BC+]; Ζεὺς ἐπὶ χεῖρα [Refs 5th c.BC+] (but τῷ καρπῷ τοῦ νοσοῦντος τὴν χεῖρα, of feeling the pulse, [NT+2nd c.BC+]; impose as a tax tribute, [LXX+5th c.BC+] (passive); inflict, θνατοῖς ἐ. ἀνάλγητα, λύπην, etc., [Refs 5th c.BC+]
I.3. ἐ. σφρηγῖδα, δακτύλιον, affix a seal, [Refs 6th c.BC+]; σύμβολόν τινι [Refs]
I.4. add, contribute, μικρὸν [ἀληθεία] [Refs 4th c.BC+]; νέον [φῶς] [Refs 5th c.BC+], throw in, mention, τι uncertain in [Refs 5th c.BC+], bid higher, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
I.5. place next in order, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]
I.6. let grow, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; βλαστούς [Refs]
I.7. let loose, [Refs 1st c.BC+]
I.8. causal of [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II. throw oneself upon, go straight towards, with accusative, [Refs 8th c.BC+]: later with dative loci, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; εἰς Ιταλίαν, ἐπὶ τὸν τόπον, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]
II.2. fall upon, ὅπου ἂν ὁ ἥλιος ἐ. [Refs 4th c.BC+]; especially in hostile sense, set upon, c.dative, [Refs 1st c.BC+]: absolutely, [Refs 1st c.AD+] jostling, trampling, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.3. (i.e. τὸν νοῦν) set to a thing, devote oneself to it, with dative, [Refs 1st c.BC+] (in full τὴν διάνοιαν ἐ. πρός τι [Refs 1st c.BC+]: generally, give one's attention to, think on, NT.Mark.14.72.
II.3. b. apprehend, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; attain by intuition, c.dative, [Refs 5th c.AD+]
II.4. fall in one's way, ὅταν ἐπιβάλλῃ περὶ τῆς τοιαύτης [Refs 4th c.BC+].
II.5. follow, come next, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]; ἐφ᾽ ὃν ἐπιβαλὼν ἔφη said thereupon, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]; interrupt, [Refs 3rd c.BC+].
II.6. belong to, fall to the share of, μόριον [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἑκάστῳ τῆς εὐδαιμονίας ἐπιβάλλει τοσοῦτον ὅσονπερ ἀρετῆς [Refs] the portion that falls to one, [NT+5th c.BC+], etc.; fall due, of payments, [Refs 2nd c.BC+] which was payable by him, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]
II.6. b. participle ἐπιβάλλων, in Law, next-of-kin, ὁ ἐ., οἱ ἐ., [Refs]
II.7. impersonal with accusative et infinitive, τοὺς Δελφοὺς δὴ ἐπέβαλλε.. παρασχεῖν it concerned them to provide, [Refs 5th c.BC+] et infinitive, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; κοινῇ πᾶσιν [Refs 2nd c.BC+]: frequently in participle, ἐπιβάλλουσαν ἡγεῖσθαι τὴν στρατείαν τινί incumbent upon.., [Refs 4th c.BC+]; τὸ τῇ φύσει ἐ. [Refs]; appropriate, ὑποδοχαί Teles[Refs 4th c.AD+] a specific form which ought to be present, [Refs 3rd c.AD+]
II.8. shut to, close, of the larynx, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
II.9. in Logic, λόγοι ἐπιβάλλοντες, -όμενοι, overlapping and overlapped, of syllogisms in a sorites, [Refs 5th c.BC+] —middle, [Refs]
II.10. in Alchemy, make a `projection' (compare ἐπιβολή), Syn.Alch.p.68B.
III. middle, mostly like the intransitive usages, but also:
III.1. with genitive, throw oneself upon, desire eagerly, [Refs 8th c.BC+].
III.2. with accusative, put upon oneself, ἐπιβαλλομέναν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐπιβάλλεσθαι put on more wraps, [Refs 4th c.BC+]: metaphorically, take possession of, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; αὐθαίρετον δουλείαν ἐπιβαλεῖται will take upon himself, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
III.2. b. of trees, make fresh growth, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
III.3. c.accusative, also, attempt, undertake, [Refs 6th c.BC+]: c.infinitive, Decrees cited in [Refs 4th c.BC+] though many have made the attempt, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]
III.4. with dative, put one's hand to, [Refs 3rd c.BC+], apply or devote oneself to, [Refs 2nd c.BC+], etc.
III.5. arrive at, [πολίεσσι] [Refs 1st c.BC+].
III.6. ἐπὶ πᾶσι -εβάλοντο brought up the rear, [Refs]
IV. in passive, lie upon, be put upon, ἐπιβεβλημένοι τοξόται archers with their arrows on the string, [Refs 5th c.BC+] having a rough cloak on, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὸ ἐν ψύχει κεῖσθαι -ημένον [Refs 5th c.BC+].
IV.2. to be set over, [Refs 2nd c.AD+].
IV.3. Rhet., ornate (see. ἐπιβολή), ἰδέα λόγων οὔτ᾽ ἐπιβεβλημένη [Refs].