1503. eikó
Lexical Summary
eikó: To yield, to give way, to submit

Original Word: εἴκω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: eikó
Pronunciation: ay-KOH
Phonetic Spelling: (i'-ko)
KJV: be like
Word Origin: [apparently a primary verb (perhaps akin to G1502 (εἴκω - yield) through the idea of faintness as a copy)]

1. to resemble

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
be like.

Apparently a primary verb (perhaps akin to eiko through the idea of faintness as a copy); to resemble -- be like.

see GREEK eiko

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
see eoika.

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 1503: ἘΙΚΩ

ἘΙΚΩ: whence 2 perfect ἔοικα with the force of a present (Winers Grammar, 274 (257)); to be like: τίνι, James 1:6, 23. (From Homer down.)

STRONGS NT 1503: ἔοικαἔοικα, see ἘΙΚΩ.

Topical Lexicon
Overview of the Term

Strong’s Greek 1503 marks a perfect‐tense form that introduces comparisons: “is like.” While simple in form, the term functions as a rhetorical pivot, moving readers from abstract teaching to vivid mental pictures that expose the heart.

Occurrences in Scripture

James 1:6 and James 1:23 employ the expression to frame two arresting similes:
• “But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” (James 1:6)
• “For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror.” (James 1:23)

Theological Themes

1. Stability versus Instability
• James contrasts steadfast reliance on God with the agitation of doubt. The perfect aspect underscores a settled state: the doubter already stands in a condition of restless resemblance to the sea.
Psalm 1 portrays the righteous as a firmly planted tree; Isaiah 57:20 likens the wicked to a tossed sea. James draws on this wisdom tapestry, pressing believers toward fixed trust.

2. Hearing and Doing
• The second occurrence anchors the major theme of the letter: authentic faith works. The mirror simile exposes self‐deception, warning against a religion of fleeting impressions.
Luke 6:47–49 parallels the call, depicting the obedient disciple as a house on rock instead of sand.

Literary Function in James

The epistle reads like New Covenant wisdom literature. By repeating ἐοικεν, James stitches together two domains—prayer and praxis—showing that wavering in either sphere betrays the same root problem: divided allegiance. The similes, simple enough for oral transmission, would lodge in the memory of scattered Jewish believers coping with trials.

Intertextual Connections

• Proverbs consistently uses “is like” formulas to contrast wise and foolish conduct (e.g., Proverbs 25:19).
• Jesus’ parables adopt the same device: “The kingdom of heaven is like…” (Matthew 13). James, the Lord’s half-brother, follows that pedagogical pattern, grounding moral instruction in concrete imagery.

Pastoral and Ministry Applications

1. Prayer Counseling: Encourage believers to examine whether doubt, rather than circumstance, churns their souls. Anchor petitions in God’s unchanging character (James 1:17).
2. Discipleship: Use the mirror metaphor in accountability settings. Scripture is not a mere reflection booth but a transformative instrument; obedience is the proof of accurate self-assessment.
3. Preaching: Illustrate instability with modern equivalents—shifting markets, erratic weather—before pointing back to the original wave and mirror pictures, reinforcing James’ timeless counsel.

Historical Reception

Early church fathers such as Cyril of Jerusalem cited James 1:6 when exhorting catechumens to unwavering baptismal confession. The monastic tradition also latched onto James 1:23, emphasizing continual self-scrutiny before the Word.

Contemporary Relevance

Digital culture offers endless mirrors—social media, analytics, self-tracking—yet transformation remains elusive without obedience. Likewise, a flood of information can mimic waves that buffet the mind. James’ twin similes remain apt diagnostics, calling the church to fixed faith and active hearing.

Forms and Transliterations
έοικε εοικεν έοικεν ἔοικεν eoiken éoiken
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
James 1:6 V-RIA-3S
GRK: γὰρ διακρινόμενος ἔοικεν κλύδωνι θαλάσσης
KJV: he that wavereth is like a wave
INT: indeed doubts is like a wave of [the] sea

James 1:23 V-RIA-3S
GRK: ποιητής οὗτος ἔοικεν ἀνδρὶ κατανοοῦντι
KJV: he is like unto a man
INT: a doer this one is like to a man considering

Strong's Greek 1503
2 Occurrences


ἔοικεν — 2 Occ.

1502
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