ἐκκολυμβάω

Pronunciation Guide: ek-kol-oom-BAH-oh

Basic Definition

Strong’s G1579: Ἐκκολυμβάω (ekkolumbaō) refers to the action of swimming away from something, specifically to escape by swimming. It portrays a deliberate and urgent departure from danger through water, conveying a sense of determined effort to reach safety. This rare New Testament term appears only once, in the dramatic shipwreck narrative of Acts 27, where it illustrates divine providence amidst seemingly hopeless circumstances.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of Speech: Verb
• Root Components: Compound of ἐκ (ek, “out from”) + κολυμβάω (kolumbaō, “to swim”)
• Language Origin: Classical Greek
• Primary Usage: Narrative literature (historical accounts)
• Tense Forms: Primarily used in aorist tense, indicating a specific completed action
• Voice: Active voice, emphasizing the subject’s intentional action

Ἐκκολυμβάω Morphology:

• ἐκκολυμβάω (present active infinitive) – to swim away/escape by swimming
• ἐκκολυμβήσαντες (aorist active participle nominative masculine plural) – having swum away/escaped
• ἐκκολυμβήσας (aorist active participle nominative masculine singular) – having swum away/escaped
• ἐκκολύμβησα (aorist active indicative first person singular) – I swam away/escaped

Origin & History

The verb ἐκκολυμβάω emerges from classical Greek maritime vocabulary, combining the preposition ἐκ (“out from”) with the verb κολυμβάω (“to swim”). The base verb κολυμβάω appears in Greek literature as early as Plato’s works, where he discusses swimming as both a practical skill and metaphorical concept. In Plato’s “Republic” (III, 453d), swimming serves as a metaphor for navigating difficult intellectual arguments, suggesting that the concept carried both literal and figurative connotations in classical thought.

In the Septuagint (LXX), while the simple form κολυμβάω appears occasionally in contexts related to water activities, the compound form ἐκκολυμβάω is notably absent. This suggests that the specific nuance of “swimming away to escape” was less relevant to Old Testament narratives. The early Church Father John Chrysostom references this term in his homilies on Acts, emphasizing the dramatic nature of the soldiers’ attempted escape and the providential nature of Paul’s intervention, highlighting how this rare word captured a pivotal moment in apostolic history.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• A deliberate act of swimming away from a dangerous situation to reach safety
• An urgent escape method using swimming skills when other options are unavailable
• A tactical water maneuver, especially in nautical emergency situations
• A desperate attempt to save oneself by swimming when a vessel is compromised

Ἐκκολυμβάω Translation Options:

• Escape by swimming – Captures both the action and the urgency of fleeing danger through water
• Swim away – Emphasizes the directional component of moving away from a threat
• Swim off – Conveys the sudden departure aspect but may miss the emergency context
• Swim ashore – While not explicit in the word itself, this translation works contextually in Acts 27 where the shore was the implied destination
• Plunge into the sea and swim away – A more expansive translation that captures the complete action implied in the narrative context

Biblical Usage

The verb ἐκκολυμβάω appears only once in the entire New Testament, in Acts 27:42, making it a hapax legomenon (a word occurring only once). This singular usage occurs in the dramatic shipwreck narrative during Paul’s journey to Rome. The Roman soldiers guarding the prisoners planned to kill them to prevent any from escaping by swimming away (ἐκκολυμβάω). The centurion, wishing to spare Paul, prevented this plan, resulting in all 276 persons aboard reaching shore safely—some by swimming, others on planks from the ship.

This specific usage reveals important narrative and theological elements. The soldiers’ fear of prisoners escaping by swimming away highlights both the desperate situation and the Roman military protocol that held guards responsible for their prisoners. The centurion’s intervention to spare Paul demonstrates divine providence working through human decisions. The context shows how this word functions as a pivotal element in one of the most detailed and vivid narratives of danger and deliverance in the New Testament.

• “The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, so that none of them would swim away [ἐκκολυμβήσας] and escape.” Acts 27:42

Cultural Insights

In the Greco-Roman world, swimming was a more common skill among sailors and coastal inhabitants than among the general population. The Romans considered swimming an essential military skill, with Julius Caesar himself famously known for his swimming abilities during the Battle of Alexandria. The feared escape by swimming in Acts 27:42 reflects a genuine concern in ancient prisoner transport by sea—a prisoner who could swim might indeed escape custody during a shipwreck, especially in the chaotic aftermath.

Roman military law was particularly strict regarding prisoner escape. Guards who allowed prisoners to escape typically faced the same punishment the prisoner would have received—often death for those being sent to Rome for imperial judgment, as was Paul’s situation. This explains the soldiers’ drastic plan to kill all prisoners rather than risk their escape. The centurion’s willingness to spare Paul at the risk of his own career or life highlights the extraordinary respect Paul had earned during the journey, particularly after his accurate predictions about the voyage and his calm leadership during the storm.

Theological Significance

The single appearance of ἐκκολυμβάω in Acts 27:42 serves as a powerful illustration of יהוה (Yahweh)’s sovereign protection over His servant Paul. The apostle had previously received divine assurance: “Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar” (Acts 27:24), and this seemingly incidental military decision becomes the means by which God’s promise is fulfilled. The soldiers’ failed plan to prevent prisoners from escaping by swimming away becomes a demonstration of how God can overrule human intentions to accomplish His purposes.

This narrative moment also reveals the Messiah’s providential care extending beyond Paul to encompass all 276 souls aboard the ship. Paul had declared earlier, “God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you” (Acts 27:24), and the prevention of the prisoners’ execution allows this prophecy to be fulfilled completely. Thus, ἐκκολυμβάω appears at a crucial juncture where God’s faithfulness to His promises is dramatically demonstrated—not through miraculous intervention, but through ordinary human decisions guided by divine providence.

Personal Application

The dramatic scene involving ἐκκολυμβάω reminds us that God’s protection often comes through unexpected sources. Just as Paul was saved not by a miracle but by a centurion’s decision, we too may find that God’s provision in our lives comes through ordinary people making key decisions. This challenges us to recognize divine providence in the seemingly mundane or coincidental aspects of our lives.

Furthermore, this word appears in a context where Paul had completely surrendered to God’s will regarding his journey to Rome. Despite knowing “chains and tribulations” awaited him (Acts 20:23), he remained faithful to his calling. His example encourages us to trust God’s sovereignty even when our path leads through storms and potential shipwrecks, knowing that if God has purposed something for our lives, no human plan—whether to execute prisoners or to escape by swimming—can ultimately thwart His design for us.

Related Words

• κολυμβάω (kolumbaō) – to swim; the root word without the directional prefix, emphasizing the general action rather than escape. See G2860
• διασῴζω (diasōzō) – to bring safely through, to rescue completely; used later in the same narrative when all were safely brought to land. See G1295
• ἐκφεύγω (ekpheugō) – to flee away, escape; a more general term for escape not specific to swimming. See G1628
• διαφεύγω (diapheugō) – to escape completely, to flee through; emphasizes the thoroughness of escape. See G1309
• ἀποδιδράσκω (apodidraskō) – to run away from, escape by fleeing; emphasizes escape on land rather than water. See G636

Did You Know?

• Did you know that swimming was so important in ancient Rome that Emperor Augustus established swimming training for aristocratic youth in the Campus Martius, and inability to swim was sometimes mocked in Roman literary circles? This cultural context makes the soldiers’ fear of prisoners escaping by swimming in Acts 27:42 all the more realistic, as swimming was considered an essential skill for Roman citizens and especially military personnel.
• Did you know that the appearance of ἐκκολυμβάω in Acts 27:42 occurs within what maritime historians consider one of the most accurate and detailed accounts of ancient seafaring in all of literature? Luke’s account of the shipwreck includes precise nautical terminology, accurate descriptions of sailing routes and weather patterns, and realistic details about ship handling that have been confirmed by modern nautical archaeology, lending extraordinary credibility to the historical reliability of Acts.
• Did you know that modern Greek has retained forms of κολυμβάω in words related to swimming? The modern Greek word for “swimming pool” is κολυμβητήριο (kolymvitírio), and a swimmer is κολυμβητής (kolymvitís). This linguistic continuity demonstrates how this ancient concept of swimming has remained culturally relevant throughout Mediterranean history into modern times.

Remember This

Ἐκκολυμβάω reminds us that even in our most desperate moments—when we feel shipwrecked and threatening plans are being made against us—God’s providential care can intervene through unexpected means, guiding us safely to shore when escape seems impossible.