κλυδωνίζομαι
klydōnízomai
G2831 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To be tossed by waves, to be violently agitated (as by the sea); by extension, to be unsettled, tossed about, or disturbed in mind or circumstances. The core meaning refers to being driven or shaken as by rough waves, with figurative extensions including emotional or cognitive turmoil.
Semantic Range
to be tossed or agitated by waves, to be unsettled or disturbed (physically by water or metaphorically by ideas or events), to fluctuate emotionally or doctrinally, to experience turmoil
Root / Etymology
Derived from κλύδων ('rough water, surging wave') with the middle voice reflexive ending -ίζομαι, forming a verb meaning 'to be subjected to rough surging' or 'to experience the action of waves.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Classical and Hellenistic Greek, the root κλύδων is consistently associated with sea swell, rough water, or breaking waves. The verb κλυδωνίζομαι is rare and appears primarily in Koine Greek, notably in the New Testament (e.g., Ephesians 4:14: μηκέτι ὦμεν νήπιοι κλυδωνιζόμενοι 'no longer to be children, tossed to and fro'). In NT usage, it is always metaphorical, describing spiritual, mental, or doctrinal instability or agitation, rather than literal seafaring. The translation 'tossed to and fro' is traditional but may obscure the vividness of the maritime metaphor. The verb does not appear in classical literary texts, and is employed in the LXX very infrequently, if at all, with similar figurative nuance where extant. Cognate terms include κλύδων (wave) and ἀκλύδωνος (calm, untroubled by waves), showing the concept of agitation versus calm. Later English Bible translations sometimes narrow it to intellectual instability or doubt, but the Greek image is broader, suggesting any kind of turbulent disturbance akin to stormy seas.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
middle voice from κλύδων; to surge, i.e. (figuratively) to fluctuate:--toss to and fro.
Root Family
κλυδωνίζομαι (klydōnízomai) — to surge, to be tossed by waves, to be disturbed
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2831-01 |
κλυδωνιζόμενοι | kludonizomenoi | V PRS MID PTCP NOM M PL |
tossed to and fro | being wave-tossed | being wave-tossed | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2831-01 |
Ephesians 4:14 | κλυδωνιζόμενοι | kludonizomenoi | V PRS MID PTCP NOM M PL |
tossed to and fro | being wave-tossed | being wave-tossed |