Strong's Lexicon
diókó: To pursue, persecute, chase, press forward
Original Word:διώκω
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:diókó
Pronunciation:dee-o'-ko
Phonetic Spelling:(dee-o'-ko)
Definition:To pursue, persecute, chase, press forward
Meaning:I pursue, hence: I persecute.
Word Origin:A primary verb
Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: -רדף (radaph): To pursue, chase, persecute (e.g., Psalm 23:6, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.")
Usage:The Greek verb "διώκω" (diókó) primarily means to pursue or chase after something with intensity. In the New Testament, it is often used in the context of persecution, where individuals or groups are pursued with the intent to oppress or harm. It can also mean to earnestly strive for or press forward towards a goal, reflecting a sense of urgency and determination.
Cultural and Historical Background:In the Greco-Roman world, the concept of pursuit was familiar in various contexts, from hunting to legal actions. The early Christians, living under Roman rule, often faced persecution for their faith, making the term "διώκω" particularly relevant. The word captures both the physical and ideological pursuit faced by believers, as well as the spiritual pursuit of righteousness and the Kingdom of God.
HELPS Word-studies
1377diṓkō – properly,aggressively chase, like ahunter pursuing a catch (prize).1377 (diṓkō) is usedpositively ("earnestly pursue") andnegatively ("zealously persecute, hunt down"). In each case,1377 (diṓkō) meanspursue with all haste ("chasing" after),earnestly desiring to overtake (apprehend).
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originakin to a prim. verb dió (put to flight)
Definitionto put to flight, pursue, by impl. to persecute
NASB Translationpersecute (10), persecuted (13), persecuting (7), persecutor (1), practicing (1), press (2), pursue (7), pursuing (2), run after (1), seek after (1).
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 1377: διώκωδιώκω; imperfect
ἐδίωκον; future
διώξω (
Matthew 23:34;
Luke 21:12;
John 15:20;
2 Samuel 22:38; Wis. 19:2; a rarer form for the more common Attic
διώξομαι, cf. Alexander
Buttmann (1873) Ausf. Spr: 2:154;
Winers Grammar, 84 (80); (
Buttmann, 53 (46); especially
Veitch, under the word; Rutherford, New Phryn., p. 377)); 1 aorist
ἐδίωξα; passive (present
διώκομαι); perfect participle
δεδιωγμενος; 1 future
διωχθήσομαι; (from
δίω, to flee); the
Sept. commonly for
רָדַף;
1.to make to run or flee, put to flight, drive away: (τινα)ἀπόπόλεωςεἰςπόλιν,Matthew 23:34, cf. 10:23 Griesbach
2.to run swiftly in order to catch some person orthing, to run after; absolutely (Homer, Iliad 23, 344;Sophocles El. 738, etc.;διώκεινδρόμῳ,Xenophon, an. 6, 5, 25; cf. 7, 2, 20),to press on: figuratively, of one who in a race runs swiftly to reach the goal,Philippians 3:12 (where distinguished fromκαταλαμβάνειν (cf.Herodotus 9, 58;Lucian, Hermot. 77)),Philippians 3:14.to pursue (in a hostile manner):τινα,Acts 26:11;Revelation 12:13.
3. Hence, in any way whateverto harass, trouble, molest one;to persecute, (cf. Latinpersequor, Germanverfolgen):Matthew 5:10-12, 44;Matthew 10:23;Luke 21:12; (WHTr marginal reading);John 5:16;John 15:20;Acts 7:52;Acts 9:4;Acts 22:4, 7;Acts 26:14;Romans 12:14;1 Corinthians 4:12;1 Corinthians 15:9;2 Corinthians 4:9;Galatians 1:13, 23;Galatians 4:29;Galatians 5:11;Philippians 3:6;2 Timothy 3:12; passive with a dative denoting the cause,to be maltreated, suffer persecution on account of something,Galatians 6:12 (hereL marginal readingT readδιωκονται (others,διώκωνται), seeWHs Appendix, p. 169; on the dative seeWiners Grammar, § 31, 6 c.;Buttmann, 186 (161)).
4. without the idea of hostility,to run after, follow after: someone,Luke 17:23.
5. metaphorically, with the accusative of thing, to pursue i. e.to seek after eagerly, earnestly endeavor to acquire:Romans 9:30 (distinguished here fromκαταλαμβάνειν);1 Timothy 6:11;2 Timothy 2:22 (in both passages opposed toφεύγειν);νόμονδικαιοσύνης,Romans 9:31 (Proverbs 15:9;τόδίκαιον,Deuteronomy 16:20; Sir. 27:8, where distinguished fromκαταλαμβάνειν);τήνφιλοξενίαν,Romans 12:13;τάτῆςεἰρήνης,Romans 14:19 (hereL marginal readingTr marginal readingWH marginal readingT readδιώκομεν (for theδιώκωμεν of others), see (WH's Appendix, p. 169);τήνἀγάπην,1 Corinthians 14:1;τόἀγαθόν,1 Thessalonians 5:15;εἰρήνην,Hebrews 12:14;1 Peter 3:11 (here joined withζητεῖντί); times without number in Greek writings (fromHomer, Iliad 17, 75διώκεινἀκιχητα on; asτιμάς,ἀρετήν,τάκαλά (cf.Winer's Grammar, 30.)). (Compare:ἐκδιώκω,καταδιώκω.)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
ensue, follow after, persecute, suffer persecution.A prolonged (and causative) form of a primary verb dio (to flee; compare the base ofdeilos anddiakonos); to pursue (literally or figuratively); by implication, to persecute -- ensue, follow (after), given to, (suffer) persecute(-ion), press forward.
see GREEKdeilos
see GREEKdiakonos
Forms and Transliterations
δεδιωγμενοι δεδιωγμένοι διωκε δίωκε διώκει διώκειν διωκεις διώκεις Διωκετε Διώκετε διώκη διωκομαι διώκομαι διωκομενοι διωκόμενοι διωκόμενον διωκοντα διώκοντα διωκοντας διώκοντας διωκοντες διώκοντες διώκοντές διώκοντος διωκοντων διωκόντων διωκω διώκω διωκωμεν διώκωμεν διωκων διώκων διωκωνται διώκωνται διωκωσιν διώκωσιν διώξαι διώξας διωξατω διωξάτω διώξεσθε διωξεταί διώξεται διώξεταί διωξετε διώξετε διώξη διωξητε διώξητε δίωξον διώξονται διώξουσι διωξουσιν διώξουσιν διώξω διώξωμεν διώξωσι διωξωσιν διώξωσιν διώροφα διώρυγας διώρυγες διώρυγος διωστήρας διωχθησονται διωχθήσονται εδιωκε εδίωκε ἐδίωκε ἐδίωκεν εδιωκον εδίωκον ἐδίωκον εδιωξα εδίωξα ἐδίωξα εδιωξαν εδίωξαν εδίωξάν ἐδίωξαν εδιώξε εδίωξε εδιωξεν εδίωξεν ἐδίωξεν εδιώχθημεν dediogmenoi dediogménoi dediōgmenoi dediōgménoi diochthesontai diochthḗsontai diōchthēsontai diōchthḗsontai dioke diōke díoke díōke diokeis diōkeis diṓkeis Diokete Diōkete Diṓkete dioko diōkō diṓko diṓkō diokomai diōkomai diṓkomai diokomen diōkōmen diṓkomen diṓkōmen diokomenoi diokómenoi diōkomenoi diōkómenoi diokon diōkōn diṓkon diṓkōn diokonta diōkonta diṓkonta diokontai diōkōntai diṓkontai diṓkōntai diokontas diōkontas diṓkontas diokontes diōkontes diṓkontes diokonton diokónton diōkontōn diōkóntōn diokosin diōkōsin diṓkosin diṓkōsin dioxato dioxáto diōxatō diōxátō dioxete diōxete diōxēte diṓxete diṓxēte dioxosin diōxōsin diṓxosin diṓxōsin dioxousin diōxousin diṓxousin edioken ediōken edíoken edíōken ediokon ediōkon edíokon edíōkon edioxa ediōxa edíoxa edíōxa edioxan ediōxan edíoxan edíōxan edioxen ediōxen edíoxen edíōxenLinks
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