Lexical Summary koloboó: To shorten, to cut short Original Word: κολοβόω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance shorten. From a derivative of the base of kolazo; to dock, i.e. (figuratively) abridge -- shorten. see GREEK kolazo NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom a derivation of the same as kolazó Definition to curtail NASB Translation cut short (2), shortened (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2856: κολοβόωκολοβόω, κολοβω: 1 aorist ἐκολοβωσα; passive, 1 aorist ἐκολοβωθην; 1 future κολοβωθήσομαι; (from κολοβός lopped, mutilated); to cut off (τάς χεῖρας, 2 Samuel 4:12; τούς πόδας, Aristotle, h. a. 1, 1 (p. 487, 24); τήν ῤῖνα, Diodorus 1, 78); to mutilate (Polybius 1, 80, 13); hence in the N. T. of time (Vulg.brevio) to shorten, abridge, curtail: Matthew 24:22; Mark 13:20. Topical Lexicon Word Family and Core Concept Strong’s Greek 2856 conveys the deliberate curtailing of something already in motion. Although a concrete verb in secular Greek for cutting back a limb or sail, the New Testament employs it only in an eschatological sense, describing God’s decisive intervention in history. Occurrences in the New Testament Matthew 24:22 and Mark 13:20 each contain the thought twice, once in the past tense and once in the future or aorist passive. In all four uses, the verb stands in the prophetic discourse of Jesus concerning “great tribulation.” No other canonical book employs the term, highlighting its specialized, end-time orientation. Mark 13:20 records: “If the Lord had not cut short the days, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom He has chosen, He has shortened the days.” Matthew 24:22 echoes the same motif with slight verbal variation. Eschatological Context Jesus places the shortening of “those days” within a description of unprecedented distress (Matthew 24:21; Mark 13:19). The action is not merely chronological but salvific. Cutting short the period of tribulation prevents absolute devastation and secures the survival of the elect. This harmonizes with Daniel 12:1, where unparalleled trouble is paired with deliverance “for your people, everyone whose name is found written in the book”. Divine Sovereignty and Covenant Faithfulness Each occurrence underscores God’s ruling prerogative over time itself. The allotted span of suffering is neither random nor dictated by hostile powers; it is bounded by covenant mercy. The elect are not spared tribulation entirely, but the duration is reduced for their sake, displaying both justice and compassion. The verb therefore serves as a concise assertion that history’s climactic events remain under the Lord’s precise control. Old Testament Resonances The idea of shortening or limiting judgment resonates with passages such as Isaiah 1:9 and Malachi 3:6, where a remnant is preserved because of the Lord’s immutable promises. Jewish apocalyptic writings also speak of compressed time preceding the redemption, but the Gospel usage grounds that hope explicitly in the Messiah’s word. Patristic and Historical Witness Early commentators like Irenaeus and Augustine read the “shortening” as proof that tribulation, however severe, cannot eclipse God’s redemptive purposes. Reformers later appealed to the same text when identifying seasons of persecution within church history, seeing in the verb a guarantee that oppression would be restrained by divine decree. Pastoral and Ministry Application 1. Encouragement in suffering: Believers facing affliction may trust that its extent is divinely limited (1 Corinthians 10:13 parallels the principle). Literary and Homiletical Insights The vivid metaphor of “shortening” lends itself to preaching that contrasts human helplessness with God’s decisive intervention. The repetition within single verses (especially Mark 13:20) can be emphasized to show intentionality. Exegetically, attention to the passive forms highlights God as the unspoken Actor. Conclusion Strong’s 2856, though rare, encapsulates a profound biblical truth: the same God who sets the span of history can, for His chosen ones, compress it. The verb stands as a testament to sovereign mercy amid judgment, inviting the church in every age to steadfast hope. Forms and Transliterations εκολοβωθησαν εκολοβώθησαν ἐκολοβώθησαν εκολόβωσαν εκολόβωσε εκολοβωσεν ἐκολόβωσεν κολοβωθησονται κολοβωθήσονται κολόκυνθαν κολοκύνθη κολοκύνθης ekolobosen ekolobōsen ekolóbosen ekolóbōsen ekolobothesan ekolobōthēsan ekolobṓthesan ekolobṓthēsan kolobothesontai kolobothḗsontai kolobōthēsontai kolobōthḗsontaiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 24:22 V-AIP-3PGRK: εἰ μὴ ἐκολοβώθησαν αἱ ἡμέραι NAS: those days had been cut short, no KJV: days should be shortened, there INT: if not had been shortened the days Matthew 24:22 V-FIP-3P Mark 13:20 V-AIA-3S Mark 13:20 V-AIA-3S Strong's Greek 2856 |
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