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εἴκω

eíkō

G1503 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To yield, to give way, to withdraw; in some contexts, to submit or to allow oneself to be overcome. The primary sense relates to giving place or not resisting, with extension to withdrawing, yielding ground, or submitting in various interpersonal or military contexts. The notion of resembling or being like is not the core meaning for this verb.

Semantic Range

to yield, to give way, to withdraw, to submit, to allow oneself to be overcome; occasionally to permit

Root / Etymology

From the root εἴκ-; related to the noun εἰκών (image, likeness), though the direct relationship is debated. Cognate with classical Greek usages of εἴκω meaning 'to yield' or 'give way'.

Historical & Contextual Notes

εἴκω is not frequently attested in the New Testament, but it occurs in earlier and contemporaneous Greek literature for 'yielding' or 'giving way,' particularly in military, physical, and rhetorical contexts. There is a potential confusion with εἰκών (image, likeness) in later interpretive tradition and some lexica, but the core verbal sense remains 'to yield' and not primarily 'to resemble.' In the few Hellenistic and Koine instances, the word retains the sense of yielding or submitting, not 'to resemble.' The Strong's gloss inaccurately associates the verb with resemblance; this confusion likely arises from the similarity in form to εἰκών. Standard English translations may incorrectly render this term as 'be like' when resemblance is not its principal semantic value in historical usage.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

apparently a primary verb (perhaps akin to εἴκω through the idea of faintness as a copy); to resemble:--be like.

Root Family

εἴκ- (eikē) — to yield, to give way, to act without justification

Root εἴκ- to yield, to give way, to submit
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G1500 εἰκῆ without cause
G1502 εἴκω we yielded
G1933 ἐπιεικής equitable one
G5226 ὑπείκω yield yourselves

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1503-01 ἔοικεν eoiken V PRF ACT IND 3P SG is like has given way is like 2

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1503-01 James 1:6 ἔοικεν eoiken V PRF ACT IND 3P SG is like has given way is like
G1503-01 James 1:23 ἔοικεν eoiken V PRF ACT IND 3P SG is like has given way is like
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