ἐκκακέω

I am faint, am weary

Definition

The verb ἐκκακέω means to lose heart, become weary, or grow faint in the context of enduring difficulty. It describes a state of spiritual or emotional exhaustion that threatens to cause someone to give up. In Luke 18:1, Jesus uses it to warn against losing heart in prayer. In passages like 2 Corinthians 4:1, 4:16, and Ephesians 3:13, Paul employs it to encourage believers not to lose heart in ministry despite suffering or outward circumstances. In Galatians 6:9 and 2 Thessalonians 3:13, the focus is on not growing weary in doing good works.

Biblical Usage

This word is used exclusively in paraenetic (exhortation) contexts in the New Testament, always urging perseverance. It appears in the Gospels (Luke 18:1), the Pauline epistles (2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, 2 Thessalonians), and is always framed negatively with a prohibition ('do not lose heart') or a positive encouragement to persist. The pattern is consistent: a call to steadfastness in prayer, ministry, or righteous conduct in the face of hardship or delayed results.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition ἐκ (ek, meaning 'out of') combined with the root κακός (kakos, meaning 'bad' or 'evil'). Literally, it means to 'be bad out of' or 'to be in a bad state because of' something, hence to be worn out or defeated by circumstances. It is a strengthened form expressing a complete failure of spirit.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it directly addresses the Christian experience of perseverance. It highlights the very human temptation to despair or quit in the face of suffering, opposition, or the slow progress of God's kingdom. Understanding this Greek term enriches reading by revealing that biblical encouragement often specifically targets this inner weariness, grounding continued faithfulness not in personal strength but in God's character and promises (e.g., 2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

In the Greco-Roman world, endurance (ὑπομονή) was a prized virtue. The concept of 'losing heart' or 'growing weary' (ἐκκακέω) would have been understood as a failure of this masculine ideal of steadfastness. For early Christians, this weariness was not merely physical but spiritual, tied to persecution and the tension of living between Christ's resurrection and his return. The exhortation not to lose heart was a counter-cultural call to find strength in a crucified Messiah, not in societal honor.

ὀκνέω (okneō, G3635) — to hesitate or shrink back, more about reluctance than exhaustion. κοπιάω (kopiaō, G2872) — to grow weary from labor, often physical toil. ἐγκακέω (enkakeō, G1571) — a variant form with identical meaning and usage.

Word Details

Scripture References