Quick Definition
ἐκδιώκω v. I persecute, expel by persecuting
Strong's Definition
from 1537 and 1377; to pursue out, i.e. expel or persecute implacably
KJV Usage: persecute
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
verb | διώκω
15.159 · Linear Movement · Pursue, Follow
to pursue and drive out to pursue to the point of driving out ἐκδιώκω in 1TH 2:15 may also be understood in the sense of ‘to persecute’ (see 39.45).
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.’
For another interpretation of ἐκδιώκω in 1TH 2:15, see 15.159.
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. 2 1TH 2:15 In a parallel type of context, LUK 11:49 reads ἐξ αὐτῶν ἀποκτενοῦσιν καὶ διώξουσιν ‘they will kill some and persecute others,’ for which some manuscripts read ἐκδιώξουσιν in place of διώξουσιν.
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
ἐκ-διώκω : fut. ἐκδιώξω ; 1 aor. ἐξεδίωξα; 1. to drive out, banish: τινά, Lk. xi. 49 [here WH Tr mrg. διώξουσιν ; some refer this to 2]; (Thue. 1, 24; Leian. Tim. 10; Sept. 1 Chr. viii. 13; Joel ii. 20, ete.). 2. to pursue i. q. to persecute, oppress with calamities: τινά, 1 Th. ii. 15 [some refer this to 1]; (Ps. exviii. (exix.) 157; Sir. xxx. 19; Dem. 883, 27).
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
ἐκδιώκω ekdiōkō 1x
pr. to chase away, drive out; in NT to persecute, vex, harass, 1 Thess. 2:15*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
ἐκ-διώκω
[in LXX for בָּרַח hi., צָמַת, הָדַף, etc. ;]
to chase away, drive out: I Th 2:15 (cf. De 6:19, Jl 2:20).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
ἐκδιώκω. This NT ἅπ. εἰρ. (1 Th 215) is found in the late BGU III. 8365 (time of Justinian) καταστασιασάντων κατὰ τῶν ἀπελθότων (/. -- ὀντων) ἐκεῖσε στρατιωτῶν ἐξεδίωξαν αὐτ]οὺς μὴ βουλόμενοι αὐτῶν ἀπόκρισιν ποιῆσαι. The simplex occurs in the sense of “drive out,”’ ‘ persecute,”’ in Lk 114% NBC, where the compound is found as a v./. in AD a/.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
ἐκδιώκω (ekdiōkō) — to persecute. ἐκδῐ-ώκω, chase away, banish, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; attack, persecute, [Refs 6th c.AD+], etc.:—passive, [Refs 4th c.BC+]