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G2860 · Greek · New Testament
κολυμβάω
kolumbaō
Verb
to swim, dive

Definition

To swim, to plunge into water — a physical act that in Acts becomes a metaphor for desperate survival and divine preservation.

Usage & Theological Significance

In Acts 27:43, the centurion ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first. Paul's shipwreck narrative (Acts 27) is a masterclass in divine sovereignty amid chaos. Every person was saved — some swimming, some on planks. God's deliverance doesn't always look the same for everyone. Some swim through trials; others float on broken pieces. But all arrive safely. The diversity of means serves the unity of God's purpose.

Key Bible Verses

Acts 27:43 He ordered those who could swim [kolumbaō] to jump overboard first and make for the land.
Acts 27:44 The rest on planks or on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land.
Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.
Psalm 107:28 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them.
Jonah 2:3 You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me.

Related Words

External Resources

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