κλύδων
klýdōn
G2830 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A swelling or surging motion, especially of water; primarily refers to a restless or violent wave or billow. By extension, used to describe tumultuous motion or agitation, whether of the sea or, figuratively, of crowds or circumstances. The core meaning is the movement or upheaval of water, often with a sense of chaos or power; can metaphorically describe disorder or unrest.
Semantic Range
swelling wave, surging billow, turbulent sea, violent wave, agitation or tumult (figurative)
Root / Etymology
From the root κλύδ-, associated with verbs like κλύζω ('to wash over, to dash'), indicating motion or agitation of liquids. The noun form traces back to this sense of surging or billowing, especially of the sea.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Classical Greek, κλύδων typically describes the physical swelling or surging of the sea—strong, turbulent waves or billows especially during storms. In Hellenistic and Koine usage, it retains its primary reference to rough or violent sea waves (as in the Septuagint and New Testament, e.g., Lk 8:24, Jas 1:6), but is occasionally used figuratively to denote agitation, turmoil, or emotional unrest. The term denotes not a calm wave, but one characterized by disturbance and force. English translations often render it as 'wave,' 'billow,' or 'raging of the sea,' but such terms may understate the violence and instability inherent in the Greek term. Related terms include κῦμα (kŷma, 'wave'), which may refer to calmer or more general swells, while κλύδων specifically carries connotations of unrest, surging, or violent movement. The metaphorical extension (e.g., moral or emotional agitation) is present but less frequent than the literal sense.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from (to billow or dash over); a surge of the sea (literally or figuratively):--raging, wave.
Root Family
κλύδ- (klýdōn) — to surge, to swell, to dash, to wash over
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2830-01 |
κλύδωνι | kludoni | N DAT M SG |
raging | to a surging wave | surging wave | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences