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κολλάω

kolláō

G2853 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To join closely, to attach physically by sticking or gluing; figuratively, to unite with or cling to someone or something, to be devoted or closely associated. Carries both a literal sense of adhesion or attachment (as with glue) and a figurative sense of strong affiliation or relational union (such as in personal, social, or spiritual contexts).

Semantic Range

to attach, to glue, to stick, to cling to, to join closely, to associate intimately, to devote oneself, to keep company, to join oneself (socially or spiritually)

Root / Etymology

From the noun κόλλα (kolla), meaning 'glue,' with the verbal ending -άω forming 'to glue' or 'to cause to stick.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

κολλάω is first attested in classical Greek in both literal and figurative senses, though the figurative use is more prominent in later Hellenistic and Koine periods. In the Septuagint, it frequently translates Hebrew verbs such as דָּבַק (dāvaq, 'to cling, to stick'), especially in contexts of personal or covenantal loyalty (e.g., Genesis 2:24 for marital union, Deuteronomy 10:20 for clinging to God). In the New Testament, κολλάω can mean both physical joining (e.g., attaching to a person or group) and intimate association (e.g., Acts 5:13, 'none of the rest dared join them'), extending to social, relational, and even moral or spiritual connections. Translation tradition often uses 'cleave,' 'join,' or 'cling,' but these can miss the full nuance of both forcible or voluntary association and profound union. The verb's passive and reflexive forms accentuate one attaching oneself to or becoming united with another (e.g., 1 Corinthians 6:16—union with a prostitute as a profound joining). The semantic range overlaps with terms like συνευνάζω (to be united, especially sexually), but κολλάω has a broader sense of adhesion and close association, not limited to one type of relationship.

Translation Consistency

primary "cling" 1 occurrence

“Cling” naturally covers both the literal sense of sticking/attachment and the figurative sense of close, devoted union. It is a common, idiomatic modern rendering for κολλάω (e.g., ‘cling to’ one’s spouse or to God) and therefore best supports consistent, natural English across all forms.

Alternatives (11 occurrences):
"joined" (6x) "clung to" (3x) "having joined" (1x) "closely joined" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ("glue"); to glue, i.e. (passively or reflexively) to stick (figuratively):--cleave, join (self), keep company.

Root Family

κολλάω (kollaō) — to glue, to stick, to attach

Root κολλ- to glue, to stick, to attach

Word Forms

9 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2853-03 κολλᾶσθαι kollasthai V PRS PASS INF to associate to be glued to to be clung to 3
G2853-09 κολλώμενος kollomenos V PRS PASS PTCP NOM M SG being joined being glued being joined 2
G2853-04 κολληθέντα kollethenta V AOR PASS PTCP ACC M SG that clings having been joined closely clinging 1
G2853-05 κολληθέντες kollethentes V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M PL joined having been joined closely having joined 1
G2853-06 κολληθήσεται kollethesetai V FUT PASS IND 3P SG shall cleave will be joined closely will be joined closely 1
G2853-07 κολλήθητι kolletheti V AOR PASS IMP 2P SG join thyself Be joined closely Be joined closely 1
G2853-08 κολλώμενοι kollomenoi V PRS PASS PTCP NOM M PL cleave being closely joined being closely joined 1
G2853-02 ἐκολλήθησαν ekollethesan V AOR PASS IND 3P PL have piled up they were joined closely they were joined closely 1
G2853-01 ἐκολλήθη ekollethe V AOR PASS IND 3P SG joined himself was glued was joined 1

Occurrences in Scripture

12 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2853-06 Matthew 19:5 κολληθήσεται kollethesetai V FUT PASS IND 3P SG shall cleave will be joined closely will be joined closely
G2853-04 Luke 10:11 κολληθέντα kollethenta V AOR PASS PTCP ACC M SG that clings having been joined closely clinging
G2853-01 Luke 15:15 ἐκολλήθη ekollethe V AOR PASS IND 3P SG joined himself was glued was joined
G2853-03 Acts 5:13 κολλᾶσθαι kollasthai V PRS PASS INF to join to be glued to to be clung to
G2853-07 Acts 8:29 κολλήθητι kolletheti V AOR PASS IMP 2P SG join thyself Be joined closely Be joined closely
G2853-03 Acts 9:26 κολλᾶσθαι kollasthai V PRS PASS INF to associate to be glued to to be clung to
G2853-03 Acts 10:28 κολλᾶσθαι kollasthai V PRS PASS INF to keep company to be glued to to be clung to
G2853-05 Acts 17:34 κολληθέντες kollethentes V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M PL joined having been joined closely having joined
G2853-08 Romans 12:9 κολλώμενοι kollomenoi V PRS PASS PTCP NOM M PL cleave being closely joined being closely joined
G2853-09 1 Corinthians 6:16 κολλώμενος kollomenos V PRS PASS PTCP NOM M SG being joined being glued being joined
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