petomai (to fly) · Rightly

Meaning

Usually translated “flying”, “may fly” and “are flying”. Open the dictionary entry below for the full range of meaning, with the verses it cites.

How it's translated

flying 3
she may fly 1
are flying 1

Word-by-word English from the STEPBible tagged text.

Where it's used most

Revelation 5

1 book in all.

Related words

Explore in Scripture

Revelation 8:13And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!
Revelation 12:14And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
Revelation 14:6And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
Revelation 19:17And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;

Greek dictionary

πέτομαι petomai · to fly

πέτομαι [in LXX chiefly for עוּף ;] to fly: Rev.4:7 8:13 12:14 14:6 19:17 (Rec. πετάομαι, which see).† πετάομαι, [in LXX: Deu.4:17 * ;] false form of ποτάομαι, poët., frequentat. of πέτομαι (Aristoph., al.), Rec. for πέτομαι (which see, cf. Veitch, see word) (AS)

From STEPBible’s Greek lexicon (based on Abbott-Smith).

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

How the English word “fly” was understood when the King James Version was still the common Bible of English readers.

FLY, verb intransitive

To move through air by the aid of wings, as fowls.
To pass or move in air, by the force of wind or other impulse; as, clouds and vapors fly before the wind.
To rise in air, as light substances, by means of a current of air or by having less specific gravity than air, as smoke.“Man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward” Job 5:7
To move or pass with velocity or celerity, either on land or water.

All definitions and other forms of “fly”

To move rapidly, in any manner; as, a top flies about.
To pass away; to depart; with the idea of haste, swiftness or escape.
To pass rapidly, as time.
To part suddenly or with violence; to burst, as a bottle.
To spring by an elastic force.
To pass swiftly, as rumor or report.
To flee; to run away; to attempt to escape; to escape.
To flutter; to vibrate or play; as a flag in the wind.
To fly in the face, to insult.
To assail; to resist; to set at defiance; to oppose with violence; to act in direct opposition.
To fly off, to separate or depart suddenly.
To revolt.
To fly out, to rush out; also, to burst into a passion.
To break out into license.
To start or issue with violence from any direction.
To let fly to discharge; to throw or drive with violence; as, to let fly a shower of darts.
In seamanship, to let go suddenly.

FLY, verb transitive

[This is used for flee, and from is understood after fly so that it can hardly be called a transitive verb.]

To shun; to avoid; to decline; as, to fly the sight of one we hate.
To quit by flight.
To attack by a bird of prey. [Not used.]
To cause to float in the air.

FLY, noun

In zoology, a winged insect of various species, whose distinguishing characteristic is that the wings are transparent.
In mechanics, a cross with leaden weights at the ends, or a heavy wheel at right angles with the axis of a windlass, jack or the like.
That part of a vane which points and shows which way the wind blows.
The extent of an ensign, flag or pendant from the staff to the end that flutters loose in the wind.

Noah Webster, An American Dictionary of the English Language (1828). Verse references are checked against the KJV. Read the full entry.