βυθίζω
I cause to sink, sink
Definition
βυθίζω means 'to cause to sink' or 'to submerge.' In its active voice, it describes an external force causing something to sink, as in Luke 5:7 where fishermen 'began to sink' their boats under the weight of a miraculous catch. In its middle voice, it means 'to sink oneself' or 'to be drowned,' depicting a personal or passive descent, as in 1 Timothy 6:9 where the desire for wealth plunges people into ruin and destruction. The word consistently conveys a forceful, often catastrophic, downward motion into a deep place or state.
Biblical Usage
This verb appears only twice in the New Testament, in two distinct contexts. In Luke 5:7, it is used literally in a fishing narrative, describing boats sinking from a heavy load of fish. In 1 Timothy 6:9, it is used metaphorically in a moral warning, describing people who are 'plunged' or 'drowned' in ruin and destruction by harmful desires. Both uses imply an overwhelming force leading to a submerged or ruined state.
Etymology
Derived from the noun βυθός (bythos, G1037), meaning 'depth' (as of the sea). The verb form βυθίζω literally means 'to put into the deep' or 'to sink into the depths.' It is related to the concept of deep water or abyss, emphasizing a complete and often perilous submersion.
Semantic Range
The metaphorical use in 1 Timothy 6:9 is theologically significant, illustrating the spiritually destructive power of greed and misplaced desire. It portrays sin not merely as a surface-level mistake but as a force that can 'sink' or 'drown' a person in ruin, separating them from faith. Understanding this Greek term enriches the reading by highlighting the gravity and immersive, inescapable nature of the consequences warned against.
In a literal sense, sinking at sea was a well-understood danger in the ancient Mediterranean world. The metaphorical extension to moral ruin would have been a powerful image for an audience familiar with maritime perils. The term conveys a sense of being overwhelmed and helpless, much like a person caught in deep water.
καταποντίζω (katapontizō, G2670) — to sink down, drown; often implies a more violent or deliberate sinking (e.g., Matthew 18:6).
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, a concise public-domain resource suitable for introductory word study. Brief glosses are supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). For advanced research, standard scholarly references include BDAG (Danker, 3rd ed.) and LSJ.
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