Pronunciation Guide: ice-pay-DAH-oh
Basic Definition
Strong’s G1530: Εἰσπηδάω (eispēdaō) refers to the action of rushing or leaping into a place with haste and urgency. It conveys a sudden, impulsive movement driven by strong emotion or immediate necessity. The word captures not merely physical movement but the intense emotional state that drives such dramatic action.
Etymology and Morphology
- Part of Speech: Verb
- Composition: Compound of εἰς (eis, “into”) + πηδάω (pēdaō, “to leap, spring”)
- Origin: Classical Greek
- Primary Usage: Narrative sections, particularly in contexts of dramatic action
- Tense Forms: Primarily used in aorist tense, emphasizing completed action
- Voice: Active voice, indicating subject performing the action
- Mood: Indicative mood in biblical usage
Εἰσπηδάω Morphology:
- εἰσπηδάω (present active indicative, 1st person singular) – I rush/leap into
- εἰσπηδᾷς (present active indicative, 2nd person singular) – you rush/leap into
- εἰσπηδᾷ (present active indicative, 3rd person singular) – he/she/it rushes/leaps into
- εἰσεπήδησα (aorist active indicative, 1st person singular) – I rushed/leaped into
- εἰσεπήδησαν (aorist active indicative, 3rd person plural) – they rushed/leaped into
Origin & History
Εἰσπηδάω has its roots in classical Greek literature where it often described urgent physical movement. In Xenophon’s “Anabasis,” the term appears to describe soldiers rushing into battle, emphasizing the impulsive nature of their advance. The base word πηδάω (pēdaō) itself has connections to physical exertion and energetic movement, with classical authors like Aristophanes using it to describe the leaping or bounding motions of animals or excited humans.
In the Septuagint (LXX), though rare, similar compound forms appear in narrative contexts of heightened emotion or urgency. The intensifier prefix εἰς- adds directional force, clearly indicating movement “into” something rather than just general leaping or jumping. By New Testament times, this compound form had developed specific connotations of urgent intervention or emotional response manifesting in physical action.
Expanded Definitions & Translation Options
- Impulsive Entry – To rush or spring into a place with sudden force or urgency
- Emotional Intervention – To leap into a situation driven by strong feeling (often distress or alarm)
- Rapid Response – To hurry into someplace with immediate intentionality
Εἰσπηδάω Translation Options:
- “Rush in” – Captures the swift movement while maintaining neutral emotional tone
- “Leap into” – Emphasizes the physical action and potentially the overcoming of barriers
- “Burst in” – Conveys both speed and the forceful nature of the entry
- “Spring into” – Highlights the energetic, almost reflexive nature of the action
- “Dash into” – Communicates urgency with elements of haste and purpose
Biblical Usage
In the New Testament, εἰσπηδάω appears only once, in Acts 14:14, making it a hapax legomenon (a word used only once). The context is significant – Paul and Barnabas “rushed into” the crowd when they heard the people of Lystra were preparing to worship them as gods. Their action demonstrated extreme distress and urgent intervention, seeking to prevent blasphemy. This single usage showcases the word’s power to convey both physical action and the emotional urgency driving it.
Though rare in biblical Greek, this dramatic verb perfectly captures the apostles’ immediate and emotionally charged response to potential idolatry. The verbal action in this context reveals the apostles’ horror at being treated as divine figures, demonstrating their deep commitment to monotheism and proper worship directed to Yahweh alone.
- “But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they rushed into [εἰσεπήδησαν] the crowd, tearing their garments.” Acts 14:14
Cultural Insights
In ancient Greek culture, the dramatic action of “rushing in” or “leaping into” a crowd had significant connotations beyond mere movement. Such actions often indicated strong emotional states and could be seen as breaking normal social decorum. In formal Greco-Roman society, measured movement and controlled responses were highly valued as signs of education and social standing. For Paul and Barnabas to “rush into” the crowd represented an extraordinary emotional response that transcended typical social boundaries.
The tearing of garments that accompanied their rushing in (Acts 14:14) further amplifies this cultural insight. This combined action—rushing in while tearing clothes—would have been immediately recognized by both Jews and Gentiles as signifying extreme distress or grief. For Jews, it represented a traditional expression of horror at blasphemy. For Gentiles, such dramatic physical display would signal extraordinary emotional turmoil. The combination of εἰσπηδάω with garment-tearing creates a powerful cultural image that both audiences would understand as reflecting the seriousness of the situation.
Theological Significance
The single biblical usage of εἰσπηδάω carries profound theological weight regarding proper worship and the nature of humanity versus divinity. When Paul and Barnabas rushed into the crowd to prevent being worshipped, they demonstrated fundamental Messianic theology: humans, regardless of their spiritual gifts or God-given powers, must never accept divine worship. Their urgent physical action embodied the first commandment’s truth that worship belongs to Yahweh alone.
This dramatic intervention highlights the theological danger of confusing the Creator with His creation. The apostles’ response models proper fear of יהוה (Yahweh) and reverence for His unique position. Their vigorous rejection of divine honors stands in stark contrast to worldly leaders throughout history who have accepted or even demanded divine worship. In this single act of “rushing in,” we see illustrated the humility that characterizes true servants of God—they point beyond themselves to the true object of worship, reflecting the Messiah’s own humility and submission to the Father.
Personal Application
When we encounter εἰσπηδάω in Scripture, we’re challenged to consider: what truths would cause us to “rush in” regardless of personal cost or social awkwardness? The apostles’ dramatic response to potential idolatry invites us to examine our own convictions and whether they would drive us to similarly urgent action when God’s honor is at stake. Their example encourages believers to maintain clear boundaries between respect for human vessels and worship of the Divine.
In our modern context, we might not tear our garments, but the principle remains: genuine faith sometimes requires immediate, decisive action that interrupts normal patterns and comfort. When witnessing falsehood or when God’s truth is being compromised, the spirit of εἰσπηδάω—rushing in with purpose and conviction—may be precisely what’s needed. Like Paul and Barnabas, we’re called to value God’s glory above social comfort or personal recognition.
Related Words
- Εἰσέρχομαι (eiserchomai) – “to enter, go into” – A more common term for entering that lacks the emotional urgency and physical intensity of εἰσπηδάω. While both indicate movement inward, εἰσπηδάω emphasizes the forceful, dramatic nature of the entry. See G1525
- Εἰστρέχω (eistrechō) – “to run in” – Similar in combining movement with direction but emphasizes running rather than leaping or springing. Shares the urgent quality but typically without the same emotional connotation. See G1532
- Ὁρμάω (hormaō) – “to rush, set in motion” – Conveys rapid movement but without the specific directional focus of εἰσπηδάω. Often carries connotations of aggression or attack in classical usage. See G3729
- Σπεύδω (speudō) – “to hasten, urge on” – Emphasizes urgency and quickness but without the physical leaping or dramatic intervention implied by εἰσπηδάω. See G4692
- Πηδάω (pēdaō) – “to leap, spring” – The root verb from which εἰσπηδάω derives. Lacks the directional component but retains the sense of energetic physical movement. See G4376
Did You Know?
- In ancient Greek athletic competitions, variations of πηδάω were used to describe the dramatic leaps of competitors in jumping events. The physical exertion and power associated with these sporting terms brings additional depth to our understanding of εἰσπηδάω as not merely entering but doing so with significant energy and force.
- The concept of “rushing in” had medical connotations in ancient Greek medical texts, where physicians were sometimes described as needing to εἰσπηδάω (rush in) to intervene in critical situations. This medical emergency context adds a dimension of life-saving urgency to Paul and Barnabas’ action—they were performing spiritual emergency intervention.
- In Greek theater, stage directions sometimes employed forms of πηδάω to indicate dramatic entrances by actors representing gods or messengers bringing urgent news. The theatrical connection adds irony to Acts 14:14, as Paul and Barnabas “rushed in” precisely to prevent themselves from being mistakenly cast as gods in the unfolding drama at Lystra.
Remember This
Εἰσπηδάω captures that decisive moment when conviction overcomes convention, when urgent truth demands we leap into action regardless of comfort or consequences—a physical embodiment of faith’s response to moments that matter eternally.