Original Word: ἐπιβαίνω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: epibainó
Pronunciation: eh-pee-BYE-no
Phonetic Spelling: (ep-ee-bah'-ee-no)
KJV: come (into), enter into, go abroad, sit upon, take ship
NASB: set foot, arrived, embarking, mounted, went aboard
Word Origin: [from G1909 (ἐπί - over) and the base of G939 (βάσις - feet)]

1. to walk upon, i.e. mount, ascend, embark, arrive

come into, enter into, go abroad, sit upon, take ship.

From epi and the base of basis; to walk upon, i.e. Mount, ascend, embark, arrive -- come (into), enter into, go abroad, sit upon, take ship.

see GREEK epi

see GREEK basis

Word Origin
from epi and the same as basis
Definition
to go aboard, to go up to
NASB Translation
arrived (1), embarking (1), mounted (1), set foot (2), went aboard (1).

STRONGS NT 1910: ἐπιβαίνω

ἐπιβαίνω; 2 aorist ἐπέβην; perfect participle ἐπιβεβηκώς;

1. to get upon, mount: ;ἐπί τί, Matthew 21:5 (Xenophon, Hell. 3, 4, 1, etc.; Genesis 24:61); τῷ πλοίῳ (to embark in), Acts 27:2 (Thucydides 7, 70); εἰς τό πλοῖον, Acts 21:6 R G; used without a case, of going aboard (a ship), Acts 21:2; to go up: εἰς ἱεροσολυμα, Acts 21:4 L T Tr WH (yet others refer this to 2).

2. to set foot in, enter: εἰς with the accusative of place, Acts 20:18; with the dative of place (as also in Greek writings), Acts 25:1.

Overview

The verb translated “to mount,” “to set foot,” or “to board” marks decisive moments when God’s redemptive plan advances through tangible movement—Jesus riding into Jerusalem, Paul embarking on missionary voyages, and Roman authority shifting arenas. Each occurrence in the New Testament underscores both the humility of the Messiah and the forward momentum of the gospel.

Messiah’s Humble Mounting (Matthew 21:5)

“Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your King comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ”

By mounting a donkey, Jesus fulfils Zechariah’s prophecy while rejecting military triumphalism. The action announces a kingdom characterized by meekness and peace. His deliberate choice of transport anchors the paradox of divine kingship—power expressed through humility.

Paul’s Missional Footprints (Acts 20–27)

• Acts 20:18 – “From the first day I set foot in the province of Asia.” Paul views the moment his sandal touched Asian soil as the inauguration of a season of tireless, sacrificial ministry.
• Acts 21:2 – “We boarded a ship … and set sail.” Embarkation becomes the ordinary means by which an extraordinary commission advances, turning the ship’s deck into a platform for witness.
• Acts 21:4 – “Through the Spirit they kept telling Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.” The same verb frames a spiritual crossroads where prophetic caution meets apostolic conviction, teaching believers to discern amid competing impulses.
• Acts 27:2 – “We boarded an Adramyttian ship.” Paul’s final voyage toward Rome demonstrates that storms, prisons, and pagan crews cannot halt the gospel’s course.

Civil Authority Under Providence (Acts 25:1)

“Three days after arriving in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem.” A governor’s routine itinerary becomes the hinge upon which Paul’s appeal to Caesar swings. The movement of secular power serves divine purpose, illustrating that earthly rulers unknowingly further God’s plan.

Thematic Threads

• Incarnational Humility: Jesus’ donkey ride models servant leadership.
• Obedient Risk: Boarding ships and entering hostile cities reveal faith that moves toward danger for Christ’s sake.
• Missional Momentum: Each step or sail extends the gospel’s reach, fulfilling Acts 1:8 geography in practice.
• Divine Timing: Arrivals and departures occur under sovereign scheduling, reminding disciples that God orders both destination and detour.

Practical Ministry Insights

1. Real discipleship is mobile; conviction must translate into action.
2. Platforms—animals, ships, airplanes, digital spaces—are neutral; posture determines their kingdom value.
3. Prophetic counsel and personal calling require prayerful balance.
4. Every journey, whether administrative or evangelistic, lies within God’s overarching mission.

Summary

From the colt in Jerusalem to ships on the Mediterranean, the verb captures pivotal transitions that move salvation history forward. It exhorts believers to step into God-ordained opportunities with the same humility as Christ and the same resolve as Paul, confident that even the movements of secular authorities ultimately serve the gospel’s advance.

επέβαινες επέβη επέβημεν επεβην επέβην ἐπέβην επέβης επέβησαν επέβητέ επιβαίνει επιβαινειν επιβαίνειν ἐπιβαίνειν επιβαίνοντες επιβαίνουσιν επιβαίνω επιβαίνων επιβαντες επιβάντες ἐπιβάντες επιβας επιβάς ἐπιβὰς επιβεβήκει επιβεβηκότες επιβεβηκότι επιβεβηκυία επιβεβηκυίης επιβεβηκως επιβεβηκώς ἐπιβεβηκὼς επιβή επίβηθι επιβήναι επιβήσεται επιβήση επιβήσομαι επιβήσονται επιβήτε επίβητε επιβώ epeben epebēn epében epébēn epibainein epibaínein epibantes epibántes epibas epibàs epibebekos epibebekṑs epibebēkōs epibebēkṑsInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts