διακωλύω (G1254) — Greek Lexicon

διακωλύω

diakōlýō

G1254 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

to entirely prevent, to completely hinder or forbid (an action or event); to interpose insurmountable obstacle preventing the occurrence or continuation of something. In certain contexts, emphasizes the thoroughness or absoluteness of the prohibition or hindrance, as opposed to a partial or temporary restraint.

Semantic Range

to utterly prohibit, to completely hinder, to prevent totally, to absolutely forbid, to interpose a complete obstacle, to keep something from being done or occurring

Root / Etymology

διακωλύω is a compound of διά ('through,' often with intensive or distributive force) and κωλύω ('to hinder, prevent'). The prefix intensifies the sense, so the compound carries the nuance of 'preventing altogether' or 'utterly forbidding.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Koine Greek, διακωλύω is rare but appears in judicial and official contexts, often implying the issuance of a formal or categorical prohibition rather than a mere discouragement. The word is stronger than κωλύω alone, stressing the total or exhaustive nature of the prohibition, akin to preventing an action from even beginning. In the Septuagint and New Testament, διακωλύω can indicate forbidding an action by explicit command or by creating circumstances where the action becomes impossible. Standard translations such as 'forbid' or 'prevent' potentially understate its intensive nuance. Classical and Hellenistic sources use the term in legal or administrative decrees to indicate total prohibition. The word stands in contrast to κωλύω (to hinder, may be partial or temporal) and ἐμποδίζω (to block, impede). The presence of δια- highlights the completeness of the action.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from διά and κωλύω; to hinder altogether, i.e. utterly prohibit:--forbid.

Root Family

κωλύ- (diakōlýō) — to hinder, to prevent, to obstruct

Root κωλύ- to hinder, to prevent, to obstruct

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G1254-01`	διεκώλυεν	diekoluen	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG`	tried to prevent	was completely preventing	was completely preventing	1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G1254-01`	Matthew 3:14	διεκώλυεν	diekoluen	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG`	tried to prevent	was completely preventing	was completely preventing

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