162. aichmalóteuó

Lexicon

aichmalóteuó: To take captive, to lead away captive

Original Word: αἰχμαλωτεύω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: aichmalóteuó
Pronunciation: aheekh-mal-o-TEH-oo
Phonetic Spelling: (aheekh-mal-o-tew'-o)
Definition: To take captive, to lead away captive
Meaning: I take captive, captivate.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

lead captive.

From aichmalotos; to capture (like aichmalotizo) -- lead captive.

see GREEK aichmalotos

see GREEK aichmalotizo

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from aichmalótos
Definition
to lead captive
NASB Translation
led captive (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 162: αἰχμαλωτεύω

αἰχμαλωτεύω; 1 aorist ἠχμαλώτευσα; a later word (cf. Lob. ad Phryn., p. 442; (Winers Grammar, 92 (88).)); to make captive, take captive: 2 Timothy 3:6 Rec.; frequent in the Sept. and O. T. Apocrypha; to lead captive: Ephesians 4:8 (Ezekiel 12:3; (1 Esdr. 6:15)).

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: From the Greek noun αἰχμάλωτος (aichmalōtos), meaning "a captive" or "prisoner of war."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • H7617 שָׁבָה (shabah): To take captive, to lead away.
• H7628 שְׁבִי (shebi): Captivity, captives.
• H7633 שְׁבוּת (shĕbuwth): Captivity, prisoners.

These Hebrew terms reflect similar themes of captivity and are often used in the Old Testament to describe the Israelites' experiences of being taken captive by foreign powers, as well as their eventual restoration and return from exile. The New Testament usage of αἰχμαλωτεύω echoes these themes, emphasizing spiritual liberation through Christ.

Usage: The verb αἰχμαλωτεύω is used in the New Testament to describe the act of taking someone captive, often in a metaphorical sense, such as being led away by sin or false teachings.

Context: The Greek verb αἰχμαλωτεύω appears in the New Testament primarily in contexts that convey the idea of captivity, both literal and metaphorical. It is used to describe the act of taking captives in a military or spiritual sense. In Ephesians 4:8, the Apostle Paul uses this term in a quotation from Psalm 68:18, "When He ascended on high, He led captives away and gave gifts to men." Here, Paul applies the imagery of a victorious king leading captives in a triumphal procession to Christ's ascension and His victory over spiritual powers.

In 2 Timothy 3:6, Paul warns of those who "enter households and captivate weak women who are weighed down with sins and led astray by various passions." This usage highlights the danger of false teachers who metaphorically take people captive through deception and false doctrine.

The concept of captivity in the New Testament often extends beyond physical imprisonment to include spiritual bondage. Believers are encouraged to remain vigilant against being taken captive by philosophies and empty deceit, as noted in Colossians 2:8, though the specific verb αἰχμαλωτεύω is not used in that verse.

Forms and Transliterations

αιχμαλωτευθήσεται αιχμαλωτευθήση αιχμαλωτεύθητι αιχμαλωτευομένη αιχμαλωτευόμενοι αιχμαλωτεύοντες αιχμαλωτευόντων αιχμαλωτεύσαι αιχμαλωτεύσαντες αιχμαλωτευσάντων αιχμαλωτεύση αιχμαλωτεύσουσί αιχμαλωτεύσουσιν ηχμαλωτεύθησαν ηχμαλώτευσαν ηχμαλώτευσας ηχμαλωτεύσατε ηχμαλώτευσε ηχμαλωτευσεν ηχμαλώτευσεν ᾐχμαλώτευσεν ηχμαλώτευται echmaloteusen ēchmalōteusen eichmalṓteusen ēichmalṓteusen

Englishman's Concordance

Ephesians 4:8 V-AIA-3S
GRK: εἰς ὕψος ᾐχμαλώτευσεν αἰχμαλωσίαν καὶ
NAS: ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES,
KJV: on high, he led captivity captive,
INT: on high he led captive captivity and

Strong's Greek 162
1 Occurrence

ᾐχμαλώτευσεν — 1 Occ.