Lexical Summary scholazó: To be at leisure, to devote oneself, to be unoccupied. Original Word: σχολάζω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance empty, give self. From schole; to take a holiday, i.e. Be at leisure for (by implication, devote oneself wholly to); figuratively, to be vacant (of a house) -- empty, give self. see GREEK schole NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom scholé Definition to be at leisure, hence to devote oneself to NASB Translation devote yourselves (1), unoccupied (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4980: σχολάζωσχολάζω; 1 aorist subjunctive σχολάσω, 1 Corinthians 7:5 G L T Tr WH; (σχολή, which see); 1. to cease from labor; to loiter. 2. to be free from labor, to be at leisure, to be idle; τίνι, to have leisure for a thing, i. e. to give oneself to a thing: ἵνα σχολάσητε (Rec. σχολάζητε) τῇ προσευχή, 1 Corinthians 7:5 (for examples from secular authors see Passow, under the word; (Liddell and Scott, under the word, III.)). 3. of things; e. g. of places, to be unoccupied, empty: οἶκος σχολαζων, Matthew 12:44; (Luke 11:25 WH brackets Tr marginal reading brackets) (τόπος, Plutarch, Gai. Grac. 12; of a centurion's vacant office, Eus. h. e. 7, 15; in ecclesiastical writings of vacant ecclesiastical offices (also of officers without charge; cf. Sophocles' Lexicon, under the word)). The verb conveys a state of being unoccupied from normal pursuits so that time and attention may be redirected. Depending on context, that condition may be either positive—creating space to pursue God—or negative—leaving a spiritual vacuum vulnerable to evil influence. Occurrences in the New Testament 1. Matthew 12:44 and Luke 11:25 portray an “empty” house after a demon’s departure: “Then it goes and brings along seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and dwell there; and the final condition of that man is worse than the first” (Matthew 12:45). The emptiness is not neutral; it becomes an invitation for evil to return stronger than before. Theological Themes • The danger of spiritual vacuity: Christ’s teaching in the Gospels warns that moral reformation without genuine indwelling of the Holy Spirit merely sweeps the house but leaves it exposed. True deliverance finds its protection not in emptiness but in occupancy by the Lord. Practical Applications for Ministry • Counseling deliverance: When helping individuals break free from sin or demonic influence, emphasize immediate replacement of old habits with disciplines of worship, Scripture intake, and fellowship to prevent a relapse worse than the original condition. Historical Perspective on Leisure and Devotion Early church writings illustrate balanced application. Shepherd of Hermas urged believers not merely to abandon sinful practices but to replace them with acts of charity and fasting. Monastic movements later institutionalized withdrawal for prayer, though reformers like Martin Luther warned against isolation that neglects active obedience in daily life. The New Testament term helps retain equilibrium: withdrawal is temporary and missional, not escapist. Warnings against Spiritual Vacuity Jesus’ parable stresses that sweeping moral reform without regeneration invites greater bondage. Modern parallels include addiction recovery programs that omit the gospel, or ethical self-help that lacks the Spirit’s power. Ministry must therefore aim not only to clear out sin but to enthrone Christ. Conclusion The verb highlights a critical biblical pattern: freedom from ordinary activity becomes spiritually fruitful only when intentionally filled with the presence, purposes, and power of God. Whether addressing marital devotion or deliverance from evil, Scripture calls believers to exchange idle emptiness for active, prayer-saturated occupancy by the Holy Spirit. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 12:44 V-PPA-AMSGRK: ἐλθὸν εὑρίσκει σχολάζοντα καὶ σεσαρωμένον NAS: it finds [it] unoccupied, swept, KJV: he findeth [it] empty, swept, INT: having come it finds [it] unoccupied and swept Luke 11:25 V-PPA-AMS 1 Corinthians 7:5 V-ASA-2P Strong's Greek 4980 |
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