Lexical Summary ekkakeó: To lose heart, to become weary, to faint Original Word: ἐκκακέω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance faint, be weary. From ek and kakos; to be (bad or) weak, i.e. (by implication) to fail (in heart) -- faint, be weary. see GREEK ek see GREEK kakos HELPS Word-studies 1573 ekkakéō (from 1537 /ek, "out from and to" and 2556 /kakós, "inwardly bad") – properly, to be negatively influenced with the outcome of experiencing inner weariness. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originvariant reading for egkakeó, q.v. Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1573: ἐκκακέωἐκκακέω, ἐκκάκω; (1 aorist ἐξεκάκησα); (κακός); to be utterly spiritless, to be wearied out, exhausted; see ἐγκακέω (cf. Winers Grammar, 25). Topical Lexicon Root Concept and Semantic Field The verb carries the idea of spiritual, emotional, and moral fatigue that tempts a believer to abandon a God–given assignment or attitude. It appears only six times in the New Testament, and in every instance the Holy Spirit uses it to urge steadfastness under pressure. Closely related terms include “faint,” “grow weary,” and “lose heart,” all centering on perseverance versus surrender. Occurrences in Scripture • Luke 18:1 – Applied to the life of prayer. Luke 18:1: Prayer That Perseveres “Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart.” Prayer is presented as the antidote to spiritual exhaustion. The persistent widow becomes the archetype of faith that refuses to disengage even when God’s timing seems delayed. Pauline Usage: Ministry Under Pressure 1. 2 Corinthians 4:1 links refusal to lose heart with the gift of ministry received by mercy. Service is sustained, not by human stamina, but by gratitude for grace. Historical Context All six occurrences arise from first-century settings marked by opposition—legal hostility (Luke 18), Gentile persecution (Corinth), Judaizers (Galatia), imprisonment (Ephesus), and congregational disorder (Thessalonica). The verb underscores how early Christians interpreted adversity: not as a sign of divine neglect but as an arena for tested faith. Theological Significance • Sovereignty and Timing of God: Believers persist because God’s justice (Luke 18) and reward (Galatians 6) are certain, though not immediate. Pastoral and Devotional Applications • Prayer meetings and personal intercession should emphasize persistence, not merely petition quantity. Ministerial and Missionary Implications • Missionaries hindered by visa issues, funding shortages, or opposition find a biblical warrant here for refusing to abandon their posts. Relationship to Other Biblical Themes • Ties to Isaiah 40:29–31, where the weary receive renewed strength, reveal continuity between covenants. Illustrations from Church History • Early martyrs, such as Polycarp, embodied the term by refusing to recant under threat of death. Summary Strong’s 1573 highlights the Christian refusal to abandon divine assignments despite delay, opposition, or suffering. Rooted in prayer, sustained by grace, and oriented toward eschatological reward, the term forms a biblical theology of perseverance that informs personal devotion, congregational life, and global mission. Forms and Transliterations ἐγκακεῖν ἐγκακήσητε εγκακουμεν ἐγκακοῦμεν ἐγκακῶμεν εκκακείν εκκακήσητε εκκακούμεν εκκακώμεν εκκενούτε εκκενωθέν εκκενώσουσι εκκενώσω ενκακειν ἐνκακεῖν ενκακησητε ἐνκακήσητε ενκακωμεν ἐνκακῶμεν εξεκαλούντο εξεκενώθη εξεκένωσαν εξεκένωσας εξεκένωσε enkakein en'kakeîn enkakesete enkakēsēte en'kakḗsete en'kakḗsēte enkakomen en'kakômen enkakōmen en'kakō̂men enkakoumen enkakoûmenLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Luke 18:1 V-PNAGRK: καὶ μὴ ἐνκακεῖν KJV: and not to faint; INT: and not to faint 2 Corinthians 4:1 V-PIA-1P 2 Corinthians 4:16 V-PIA-1P Galatians 6:9 V-PSA-1P Ephesians 3:13 V-PNA 2 Thessalonians 3:13 V-ASA-2P Strong's Greek 1573 |
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