"to fall upon; to throw one’s self upon, Lk. 15:20; Jn. 13:25; Acts 20:10, 37; to press, urge upon, Mk. 3:10; to light upon, Rom. 15:3; to come over, Acts 13:11; to come upon, fall upon mentally or spiritually, Lk. 1:12; Acts 8:16; 10:10, 44; 11:15; 19:17"
Definition and meaning
to fall upon; to throw one’s self upon, Lk. 15:20; Jn. 13:25; Acts 20:10, 37; to press, urge upon, Mk. 3:10; to light upon, Rom. 15:3; to come over, Acts 13:11; to come upon, fall upon mentally or spiritually, Lk. 1:12; Acts 8:16; 10:10, 44; 11:15; 19:17
In the original Greek the word is written: ἐπιπίπτω
Historical context
The Gospel of Mark moves urgently — the word "immediately" appears over 40 times. It was written for a Roman audience familiar with power and action. Jesus is portrayed as a man who acts, heals, and commands authority that the Roman world had never seen from a Jewish teacher.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of epipipto (G1968) across the King James Bible.
For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues.
And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?
(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,
While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.
And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
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Common questions
Strong's G1968 (epipipto) is a Greek word that means: to fall upon; to throw one’s self upon, Lk. 15:20; Jn. 13:25; Acts 20:10, 37; to press, urge upon, Mk. 3:10; to light upon, Rom. 15:3; to come over, Acts 13:11; to come upon, fall upon mentally or spi... It appears 13 times in the King James Bible.
The word epipipto (G1968) appears 13 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G1968 is epipipto, a Greek word defined as: to fall upon; to throw one’s self upon, Lk. 15:20; Jn. 13:25; Acts 20:10, 37; to press, urge upon, Mk. 3:10; to light upon, Rom. 15:3; to come over, A. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
epipipto is a Greek word found in the New Testament.