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διωγμός

diōgmós

G1375 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

The act or process of pursuing or chasing, often with hostile intent. In Koine Greek and particularly within the New Testament and Septuagint, commonly denotes hostile pursuit, specifically organized harassment or persecution, especially for one's beliefs, social position, or group identity. The primary sense is the state or act of being systematically hunted, pursued, or oppressed; also used more generally for pursuit or aggressive following in some Hellenistic texts, though the dominant sense in NT sources is persecution for belief or association.

Semantic Range

pursuit, chase, hostile pursuit, harassment, persecution (especially for beliefs or associations)

Root / Etymology

From the verb διώκω (to pursue, chase, persecute) + nominal suffix -μός, indicating action or process. Cognate with Hellenistic and classical uses of διώκω in the sense of pursuit and harassment.

Historical & Contextual Notes

διωγμός is found from classical Greek through the Koine period. In classical contexts it could indicate any following, hunt, or chase. In the Hellenistic and especially New Testament context, its predominant meaning narrows to the systematic pursuit or harassment of individuals or groups, especially for reasons related to beliefs, political stances, or group associations. In the New Testament, διωγμός nearly always refers to the organized oppression of early assemblies or individuals on account of their association with the movement around Jesus. Standard English translation as 'persecution' generally reflects this context but can obscure the broader sense of pursuit or harassment. The term is parallel to, but more intense than, simple 'opposition' (e.g., ἀντίθεσις); related to διώκω ('to pursue, persecute') but distinguished from ἀκολουθέω ('to follow') in its negativity and intensity. Its use in Second Temple and Greco-Roman literature is typically secular unless context narrows its meaning to religious or social conflict. In the Septuagint, διωγμός is rare but may render Hebrew terms for being chased or pursued. The specificity of meaning in the NT reflects evolving social realities of minority religious communities.

Translation Consistency

primary "persecution" 9 occurrences

In the New Testament and LXX διωγμός overwhelmingly denotes hostile, organized harassment or oppression for belief or association. "Persecution" is the common, natural English rendering in the attested occurrences (and matches plural forms such as "persecutions"). It captures the dominant semantic range better than the more general "pursuit" and fits the noun form of the Greek lemma.

Alternatives (1 occurrence):
"hostile pursuits" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from διώκω; persecution:--persecution.

Root Family

διωγμός (diōgmos) — pursuit, chase, hostile pursuit, persecution

Root διώκ- to pursue, to chase, to persecute

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1375-01 διωγμοῖς diogmois N DAT M PL persecutions hostile pursuits persecutions 3
G1375-03 διωγμὸς diogmos N NOM M SG persecution hostile pursuit persecution 2
G1375-04 διωγμοῦ diogmou N GEN M SG persecution of persecution persecution 2
G1375-02 διωγμῶν diogmon N GEN M PL persecution of persecutions persecutions 2
G1375-05 διωγμοὺς diogmous N ACC M PL persecutions hostile pursuits hostile pursuits 1

Occurrences in Scripture

10 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1375-04 Matthew 13:21 διωγμοῦ diogmou N GEN M SG persecution of persecution persecution
G1375-04 Mark 4:17 διωγμοῦ diogmou N GEN M SG persecution of persecution persecution
G1375-02 Mark 10:30 διωγμῶν diogmon N GEN M PL persecutions of persecutions persecutions
G1375-03 Acts 8:1 διωγμὸς diogmos N NOM M SG persecution hostile pursuit persecution
G1375-02 Acts 13:50 διωγμὸν diogmon N ACC M SG persecution of persecutions persecution
G1375-03 Romans 8:35 διωγμὸς diogmos N NOM M SG persecution hostile pursuit persecution
G1375-01 2 Corinthians 12:10 διωγμοῖς diogmois N DAT M PL persecutions hostile pursuits persecutions
G1375-01 2 Thessalonians 1:4 διωγμοῖς diogmois N DAT M PL persecutions hostile pursuits persecutions
G1375-01 2 Timothy 3:11 διωγμοῖς diogmois N DAT M PL persecutions hostile pursuits to persecutions
G1375-05 2 Timothy 3:11 διωγμοὺς diogmous N ACC M PL persecutions hostile pursuits hostile pursuits
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