Bible Word Study
συλάω
sylaō · I rob, plunder
συλάω
I rob, plunder
Definition
The verb συλάω means to rob, plunder, or strip something away, often by force. It carries the sense of taking spoils or booty, typically in a context of military conquest or predatory action. In its single New Testament occurrence, the meaning is metaphorical, describing the act of depriving or 'robbing' other churches by accepting financial support, though the tone is ironic. The word implies a total stripping away, not merely a minor theft.
Biblical Usage
Συλάω is used only once in the New Testament, in 2 Corinthians 11:8. Here, the Apostle Paul employs it rhetorically and ironically, stating he 'robbed' other churches by accepting support from them so he could serve the Corinthians without charge. The context is Paul's defense of his apostolic ministry and his refusal to be a financial burden to the Corinthian church, contrasting his conduct with that of false apostles.
Etymology
Derived from the Greek noun σῦλα (syla), meaning 'spoils' or 'booty.' The verb form συλάω is a primary verb meaning to strip or plunder, especially in the context of seizing spoils after a battle. It is related to the idea of violent seizure and carries a stronger connotation than simple theft (κλέπτω, G2813).
Semantic Range
Though used only once, συλάω is theologically significant in illustrating Paul's apostolic ethos and the principle of self-support in ministry. His ironic use of 'robbing' highlights his sacrificial choice to forgo his rightful support (1 Corinthians 9:4-14) to avoid hindering the gospel. It underscores themes of financial integrity, sacrificial service, and the rejection of entitlement in Christian leadership. In the Greco-Roman world, the term was strongly associated with the plunder taken by soldiers after sacking a city or winning a battle. This cultural backdrop of violent seizure makes Paul's metaphorical use in 2 Corinthians 11:8 strikingly vivid and ironic, as he applies a term of military conquest to the peaceful, voluntary financial support given by other churches. ἁρπάζω (harpazō, G726) — to seize, snatch away, often with sudden force or violence. κλέπτω (kleptō, G2813) — to steal secretly or by stealth, without open force.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). Concordance and morphology data are derived from the interlinear Bible.
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]