παύω

I cause to cease

Definition

The verb παύω primarily means 'to cause to cease' or 'to stop' something, but its meaning shifts depending on voice. In the active voice, it means to bring something to an end, as when Jesus commands the storm to cease (Luke 8:24) or when Paul is hindered (Acts 13:10). In the middle voice, it refers to ceasing from an activity oneself, such as when the disciples stopped fishing (Luke 5:4) or when the apostles did not cease teaching (Acts 5:42). It can describe both the forceful termination of an external event and the voluntary cessation of a personal action.

Biblical Usage

παύω appears 15 times in the New Testament, primarily in Luke and Acts, reflecting its use in narrative contexts. It describes both natural and supernatural cessation. Key examples include the miraculous calming of the storm (Luke 8:24), the disciples stopping their work (Luke 5:4), and the persistent teaching of the apostles (Acts 5:42). In Acts, it is also used in legal accusations of not ceasing to speak (Acts 6:13) and in Paul's exhortations about his own ministry (Acts 20:1, 20:31).

Etymology

Derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *peh₂u-, meaning 'to strike' or 'to cut off,' leading to the sense of bringing to an end. It is the root for related Greek words like παῦσις (pausis, 'a stopping') and is cognate with Latin *pausa*, from which English gets 'pause.' Its fundamental meaning of cessation has remained consistent.

Semantic Range

παύω is theologically significant as it highlights divine authority and human perseverance. When Jesus commands the storm to cease (Luke 8:24), it demonstrates His lordship over creation. Conversely, when the apostles 'did not cease' teaching (Acts 5:42), it underscores the unstoppable nature of the gospel proclamation. Understanding the voice distinction (active vs. middle) clarifies whether an action is imposed externally or chosen internally, enriching readings of perseverance, obedience, and God's intervening power.

In the Greco-Roman world, the concept of 'ceasing' had practical and philosophical dimensions, from halting labor to the philosophical ideal of attaining a state of rest (ἀταραξία). The New Testament usage, however, is more action-oriented and less abstract, focusing on concrete cessation of activities, often within a Jewish context of obedience to God's commands or responses to divine intervention.

διαλείπω (dialeipō, G1257) — implies pausing or leaving an interval between actions. ἵστημι (histēmi, G2476) — can mean to make stand, thus to stop or arrest. καταπαύω (katapauō, G2664) — means to cause to rest or cease entirely, often with a stronger sense of finality.

Word Details

Scripture References