ἐκδιώκω

I persecute, expel by persecuting

Definition

ἐκδιώκω means to pursue or persecute someone to the point of driving them out or expelling them. It carries the sense of aggressive, hostile pursuit intended to force someone from a place or position. In Luke 11:49, it describes prophets being 'sent out' and subsequently 'persecuted' by those who reject God's message. In 1 Thessalonians 2:15, it refers to Jewish opponents who drove out the apostles from their region, combining the ideas of persecution and expulsion.

Biblical Usage

This verb is used only twice in the New Testament, both times in contexts of religious persecution. In Luke 11:49, Jesus uses it in a prophetic saying about the fate of God's messengers. In 1 Thessalonians 2:15, Paul employs it to describe the hostile actions of some Jews against the early Christian missionaries, specifically their efforts to expel them. The usage consistently involves religious conflict where one group seeks to eliminate another's presence or influence.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition ἐκ (ek), meaning 'out of' or 'from,' and the verb διώκω (diōkō, G1377), meaning 'to pursue,' 'persecute,' or 'press on.' The compound intensifies the root idea, adding the nuance of pursuing someone until they are driven out. Cognates include διώκω (diōkō) and καταδιώκω (katadiōkō, G2614), which means to pursue closely or hunt down.

Semantic Range

This word highlights the violent opposition faced by God's messengers throughout salvation history. It connects the persecution of Old Testament prophets (Luke 11:49) with the persecution of the apostles in the early church (1 Thessalonians 2:15), showing a pattern of hostility toward divine revelation. Understanding this Greek term enriches reading by emphasizing not just general harassment but the specific intent to eradicate God's witnesses from a community, underscoring the cost of discipleship and the world's rejection of God's word.

In the first-century Mediterranean world, expulsion from a city or community was a severe social and economic punishment, often resulting in loss of protection, livelihood, and identity. Religious expulsion, particularly from synagogues or cities with Jewish communities, carried profound spiritual and social consequences. The word's usage reflects this cultural reality where persecution wasn't merely verbal opposition but involved concrete actions to remove people from their social and religious homes.

διώκω (diōkō, G1377) — general term for pursue or persecute, without the explicit 'driving out' nuance. καταδιώκω (katadiōkō, G2614) — to pursue closely or hunt down, emphasizing intensity rather than expulsion.

Word Details

Scripture References