Lexical Summary blaptó: To harm, to injure, to damage Original Word: βλάπτω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance hurt. A primary verb; properly, to hinder, i.e. (by implication) to injure -- hurt. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom a prim. root blab- Definition to hurt NASB Translation doing...harm (1), hurt (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 984: βλάπτωβλάπτω: future βλαψω; 1 aorist ἐβλαψα; to hurt, harm, injure: τινα, Mark 16:18; Luke 4:35. (Very often in Greek writings from Homer down; Tobit 12:2; 2 Macc. 12:22, etc.) Topical Lexicon Scope of the Term Strong’s Greek 984 denotes the infliction of injury, loss, or disadvantage. Scripture restricts its use to situations in which supernatural protection prevents expected harm. The focus is not the damage itself but the sovereign power that neutralizes it. Occurrences in the New Testament 1. Luke 4:35 – When Jesus rebukes an unclean spirit in the synagogue at Capernaum, the demon “came out of him without having done him any harm”. The narrative highlights Christ’s absolute authority: even violent spiritual forces cannot injure those delivered by His word. Old Testament Background Though the exact Greek term is rare in the Septuagint, the theme of divinely averted harm threads through the canon. Psalm 91:10 proclaims, “No evil will befall you, no plague will approach your tent.” Daniel’s survival in the lions’ den and the three Hebrews’ deliverance from fire embody the same principle: the covenant-keeping God restricts injury when it would thwart His redemptive purpose. Christological Significance Both New Testament occurrences place Jesus at the center. In Luke, His spoken command shields a formerly demonized man from bodily damage. In Mark, the resurrected Christ commissions believers with an assurance rooted in His triumph over death. The term thus magnifies the protective efficacy of Jesus’ authority—present in His earthly ministry and continuing through His ascended reign. Ecclesiological and Missional Implications The Markan promise is framed by missionary imperatives (Mark 16:15, 20). Supernatural immunity is not given for self-indulgence but for fearless proclamation where danger is real. Luke 10:19 echoes the concept: “I have given you authority … nothing shall by any means harm you”. The church learns that obedience to the Great Commission carries risks, yet ultimate damage—spiritual or physical—lies outside hostile power when God’s purpose is in view. Spiritual Warfare and Protection Luke 4 links the absence of harm to exorcism. Deliverance ministry should expect resistance, yet dependence on Christ’s word ensures preservation. Ephesians 6:11–13 exhorts believers to stand against the devil’s schemes, not trusting human strength but God’s armor. The Greek term underlines that demonic rage cannot override divine limitation. Assurance for Believers Romans 8:31–39 climaxes in the conviction that nothing can separate believers from Christ’s love. The rare verb in Strong’s 984 supplies a practical illustration: evil may intend hurt, but God turns potential injury into testimony. This bolsters faith amid persecution, illness, or hazardous service. Historical Witness Early church literature records occasions where missionaries survived poisoning or violence, attributing safety to the promise of Mark 16:18. While the church never made reckless testing of God a norm (cf. Matthew 4:7), it treasured testimonies of protection that validated gospel truth before hostile cultures. Pastoral and Devotional Reflections 1. Encourage believers to engage dark strongholds with confidence, knowing Christ restrains ultimate harm. Conclusion Strong’s 984, though rare, shines a bright light on the Lord’s safeguarding presence. Whether silencing demons or fortifying emissaries, God’s power nullifies intended injury. The church, armed with this assurance, presses forward in worship, witness, and warfare, convinced that no weapon forged against God’s people can ultimately prosper. Forms and Transliterations βλάπτει βλαψαν βλάψαν βλαψη βλάψῃ blapsan blápsan blapse blapsē blápsei blápsēiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Mark 16:18 V-ASA-3SGRK: μὴ αὐτοὺς βλάψῃ ἐπὶ ἀρρώστους NAS: deadly [poison], it will not hurt them; they will lay KJV: it shall not hurt them; INT: not them shall it injure upon [the] sick Luke 4:35 V-APA-NNS Strong's Greek 984 |
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