Quick Definition
διώκω v. I pursue, persecute
Strong's Definition
a prolonged (and causative) form of a primary verb dio (to flee; compare the base of 1169 and 1249); to pursue (literally or figuratively); by implication, to persecute
KJV Usage: ensue, follow (after), given to, (suffer) persecute(-ion), press forward
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
verb | διωγμός · διώκτης · ἐκδιώκω · καταδιώκω
15.158 · Linear Movement · Pursue, Follow
to run after, to chase after, to pursue to follow with haste, and presumably with intensity of effort, in order to catch up with, for friendly or hostile purpose
15.223 · Linear Movement · Goal-Oriented Movement
to hasten, to run, to press forward, to press on to move quickly and energetically toward some objective In PHP 3:14 διώκω is to be understood in a literal sense, though the entire context is figurative. For interpreting the expression κατὰ σκοπὸν διώκω as an idiom, see 89.56.
39.45 · Hostility, Strife · Persecution
to persecute, to harass, persecution to systematically organize a program to oppress and harass people In a number of languages the equivalent of ‘to persecute’ is simply ‘to cause to suffer,’ but persecution is also expressed in terms of ‘to be mean to’ or ‘to threaten’ or ‘to chase from place to place.’
MAT 5:10 · MAT 5:11 · MAT 5:12 · MAT 5:44 · MAT 10:23 · LUK 11:49 · LUK 21:12 · JHN 5:16 · JHN 15:20 · JHN 15:20 · ACT 7:52 · ACT 9:4 · ACT 9:5 · ACT 22:4 · ACT 22:7 · ACT 22:8 · ACT 26:11 · ACT 26:14 · ACT 26:15 · ROM 12:14 · 1CO 4:12 · 1CO 15:9 · 2CO 4:9 · GAL 1:13 · GAL 1:23 · GAL 4:29 · GAL 5:11 · GAL 6:12 · PHP 3:6 · 2TI 3:12
68.66 · Aspect · Do Intensely or Extensively
to do with effort, to strive toward (a figurative extension of meaning of διώκω[a] ‘to pursue,’ 15.158) to do something with intense effort and with definite purpose or goal
ROM 9:30 · ROM 9:31 · ROM 12:13 · ROM 14:19 · 1CO 14:1 · PHP 3:14 · 1TH 5:15 · 1TI 6:11 · 2TI 2:22 · HEB 12:14
89.56 · Relations · Purpose
Collocation: κατὰ σκοπὸν διώκω
to strive toward a goal, to press on with the purpose of (an idiom, literally: to pursue to a goal, to press toward a goal) to strive energetically for some purpose
1 Some persons have contended that ἐκδιώκω[b] is an intensive of διώκω[c] with the resulting meaning of to persecute harshly. However, general Greek usage and particularly NT contexts do not seem to bear out any such consistent distinctions in meaning.
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
διώκω ; impf. ἐδίωκον ; fut. διώξω (Mt. xxiii. 34; Lk. xxi. 12; Jn. xv. 20; 2S. xxii. 38; Sap. xix. 2; a rarer form for the more com. Attic διώξομαι, ef. Bitm. Ausf. Spr. ii. 154; W.84 (80); [B. 53 (46); esp. Veitch s. v.; Rutherford, New Phryn. p. 377]); 1 aor. ἐδίωξα ; Pass., [pres. διώκομαι]; pf. ptep. dediwypevos; 1 fut. διωχθήσομαι; (fr. δίω to flee) ; Sept. commonly for 17; 1. to run or flee, put to flight, drive away: (τινὰ) ἀπὸ πόλεως εἰς πόλιν, Mt. xxiii. 34, cf. x. 23 Grsb. 2. to run swiftly in order to catch some person or thing, to run after; absol. (Hom. Il. 23, 8344; Soph. El. 738, ete.; διώκειν δρόμῳ, Xen. an. 6, 5, 25; ef. 7, 2, 20), to press on: fig. of one who in a race runs swiftly to reach the goal, Phil. iii. 12 (where distinguished fr. καταλαμβάνειν, [cf. Hdt. 9, 58; Leian. Hermot. 77]), vs. 14. fo pursue (in a hostile manner): τινά, Acts xxvi. 11; Rev. xii. 138. Hence, 3. in any way whatever to harass, trouble, molest one; to persecute, (cf. Lat. persequor, Germ. verfolgen) : Mt. v. 10-12, 44; x. 23; Lk. xxi. 12; [xi. 49 WH Tr mrg.]; Jn. v. 16; xv. 20; Acts vii. 52; ix. 4 sq.; xxil. 4, 7 sq.; XXvi. 14 sq.; Ro. xii. 14; 1 Co. iv. 12; xv. 9; 2 Co. iv. 9; Gal. i. 13, 23; iv. 29; v. 11; Phil. iii. 6; 2 Tim. ii. 12; Pass. with a dat. denoting the cause, to be maltreated, suffer persecution on account of something, Gal. vi. 12 [here L mrg. T read διώκονται (al. -κωνται), see WH. App. p- 169; on the dat. see W. § 31, 6 c.; B. 186 (161)]. 4. without the idea of hostility, to run after, follow after : some one, Lk. xvii. 23. 5. metaph. with ace. of thing, to pursue i. e. to seek afler eagerly, earnestly endeavor to acquire: Ro. ix. 30 (distinguished here fr. καταλαμβάvew); 1 Tim. vi. 11; 2 Tim. ii. 22, (in both pass. opp. to φεύγειν) ; νόμον δικαιοσύνης, Ro. ix. 31, (Prov. xv. 9; τὸ δέκαιον, Deut. xvi. 20; Sir. xxvii. 8, where distinguished fr. καταλαμβάνειν) ; τ. φιλοξενίαν, Ro. xii. 13; τὰ τῆς εἰρήνης. Ro. xiv. 19 [here Lmrg. Tr mrg. WH mrg. T read δὲ ὦκομεν (for the διώκωμεν of al.), see WH. App. p. 169]; τ. ἀγάπην, 1 Co. xiv. 1; τὸ ἀγαθόν, 1 Th. v. 15; εἰρήνην, Heb. xii. 14; 1 Pet. iii. 11 (here joined with ζητεῖν rv) ; times without number in Grk. writ. (fr. Hom. Il. 17, 75 διώκειν ἀκίχητα On; as τιμάς, ἀρετήν, τὰ καλά, [cf. W. 30.]). [Comp.: ék-, κατα-διώκω. |
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
διώκω diōkō 45x
to put in rapid motion; to pursue; to follow, pursue the direction of, Lk. 17:23; to follow eagerly, endeavor earnestly to acquire, Rom. 9:30, 31; 12:13; to press forwards, Phil. 3:12, 14; to pursue with malignity, persecute, Mt. 5:10, 11, 12, 44
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
διώκω
[in LXX chiefly for רדף ;]
to put to flight, drive away: Mt 23:34.
to pursue;
of persons; c. acc, without hostility, to follow after: Lk 17:23; with hostile purpose: Ac 26:11, Re 12:13. Hence, to persecute: Mt 5:10-12, 44 10:23, Lk 11:49 21:12, Jo 5:16 15:20, Ac 7:52 9:4, 5 22:4, 7, 8 26:14, 15, Ro 12:14, I Co 4:12 15:9, II Co 4:9, Ga 1:13, 23 4:29 5:11 6:12, Phl 3:6, II Ti 3:12;
metaph., c. acc rei, of seeking eagerly after: Ro 9:30, I Ti 6:11, II Ti 2:22; νόμον δικαιοσύνης, Ro 9:31; τ. φιλοξενίαν, Ro 12:13; εἰρήνην, He 12:14, I Pe 3:11; τὰ τῆς εἰ., Ro 14:19; τ. ἀγάπην, I Co 14:1; τὸ ἀγαθόν, I Th 5:15; absol., to follow on, drive, or speed on (Æsch.), Phl 3:12, 14.†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
διώκω. P Fay 11139 (A.D. 95-6) (= Sevections, p. 67) τὸν λ[ι]μνασμ[ὸν] δ[(Ποξον τῶν [ἐ]ϊλα[ι]ώνίων τ]ῶν πάντον, “hasten with the flooding of all the olive-yards " (Edd.), 76, 1125 (A.D. 99) εὖ πυήσις διῶξαι τοὺς σκαφήτρους τῶν ἐλαιώνον, ‘please carry forward the digging of the olive-yards’’ (Edd.). For διώκω = ‘pursue,’” cf. OG/S 532° (B.C. 3) ὅπλο[ις τε] καὶ σιδήρωι διώξειν, and the moral tale in P Grenf II. 84? (v/vi A.D.) where a patricide, fleeing into the desert, ἐδιόκαιτο (2. ἐδιώκετο) ὑπὸ λέωντος, ‘was pursued by a kon.” The phrase δίωκε τὸν λόγον = ‘‘ pursue the recital of the formula’’ is common in the magic papyri: see the editor’s note on P Lond 46" (iv/A.D.) (=I. p. 78). We may add two exx. of the verb from Christian amulets. The first, P Oxy VIII. 1151 (? v/A.D.) opens, Φεῦγε πν(εῦμ)ᾳ μεμισιμένον, Χιριστό)ς σε διώκει, ** Fly, hateful spirit ! Christ In the second, BGU III. 9547 (vi/A.D.) pursues thee.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
διώκω (diōkō) — to pursue. διώκω, Epic dialect infinitive διωκέμεναι, -έμεν (see. below): future -ξω[Refs 7th c.BC+]aorist ἐδίωξα: aorist 2 ἐδιώκαθον (see. διωκάθω): perfect δεδίωχα [Refs 4th c.BC+] —middle (see. below):—passive, future διωχθήσομαι [Refs 1st c.BC+]; but διώξομαι in passive sense, [LXX+1st c.BC+]: aorist ἐδιώχθην [Refs 5th c.BC+]: perfect δεδίωγμαι [NT]; see at {δίω}):—cause to run, set in quick motion, opposed to φεύγω:
1. pursue, chase, in war or hunting, φεύγοντα διώκειν [Refs 8th c.BC+] —middle, διώκεσθαί τινα πεδίοιο, δόμοιο, chase one over or across.., [Refs 8th c.BC+]
1. b with accusative person, of a lover, [Refs 7th c.BC+] [same place]; follow, [NT+5th c.BC+]
2. pursue an object, seek after, ἀκίχητα διώκειν [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἡδονήν, τὸ ἀγαθὸν καὶ καλόν, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀλήθειαν[NT+4th c.BC+]; of plants, δ. τοὺς ξηροὺς τόπους seek them, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; δ. τὰ συμβάντα or τὸ συμβαῖνον follow or wait for the event, [Refs 4th c.BC+]:—middle, διώκεσθαι τὸ πλέον ἔχειν [Refs 1st c.BC+]; μοῖρα διωξαμένη [αὐτούς] [Refs]
3. pursue an argument, τὴν ἐναντίωσιν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; also, describe, ὕμνῳ ἀρετάς [Refs 5th c.BC+]; recite, λόγον [Refs]
II. drive or chase away, διώκω οὔτιν᾽ ἔγωγε I don't force any one away, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; banish, [Refs].έ: metaphorically, διώκεις μ᾽ ᾗ μάλιστ᾽ ἐγὼ σφάλην you push or press me.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]
III. of the wind, drive a ship, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; of rowers, impel, speed on her way, ῥίμφα διώκοντες (i.e. τὴν νῆα)[Refs]; Συριηγενὲς ἅρμα διώκων driving it, Oracle texts cited in [Refs 5th c.BC+]
III.2. seemingly intransitive, drive, drive on, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; gallop, run, etc., uncertain in [Refs 5th c.BC+]on the march, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
III.3. urge, impel, βέλος χερί [Refs 5th c.BC+]; especially of music, δ. μοῦσαν Pratin.[Refs 4th c.BC+]:—passive, ὑφ᾽ ἡδονῆς διώκομαι.. σὺν τάχει μολεῖν [Refs 5th c.BC+]
III.4. of work, urge on, carry forward, σκαφήτρους [Refs 1st c.AD+]
III.5. perfect participle passive δεδιωγμένος hurried, rapid, σφυγμοί [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
IV. as law-term, prosecute, ὁ διώκων the prosecutor, opposed to ὁ φεύγων, the defendant, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὁ διώκων τοῦ ψηφίσματος τὸ λέγειν.., he who impeaches the clause in the decree.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]indict, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: with genitive criminis, accuse of.., prosecute for.., δ. τινὰ τυραννίδος [Refs 5th c.BC+]; φόνον τινὸς δ. avenge another's murder, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; δίκην δ. pursue one's rights at law, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: with accusative et infinitive, accuse one of doing, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]:—passive, ὁ διωκόμενος [Refs 5th c.BC+]
V. persecute, [NT]