ἕλκω (and in later writ. ἑλκύω also [Veitch 5. v.; W. 86 (82)]); impf. εἷλκον (Acts xxi. 30); fut. ἑλκύσω [ἐλκ. Rec Jn. xii. 32]; 1 aor. εἵλκυσα ([inf. (Jn. xxi. 6) ἑλκύσαι Rez εἰς L T WH, -κῦσαι R

ἕλκω

(Hellenistic form ἑλκύω in Jo, ll. c., Ac 16:19), [in LXX for מָשַׁךְ, etc. ;]

to draw: c. acc rei, Jo 18:10 21:6; c. acc pers., seq. ἔξω, Ac 21:30; εἰς, Ac 16:19, Ja 2:6. Metaph., to draw, lead, impel: Jo 6:44 12:32. (For discussion of ἕ. in Oxyrh. Log., v. Deiss., LAE, 437 ff.)†

Turse words differ, and the difference between them is not theologically unimportant. We best represent this difference in English, when we render σύρειν, ‘to drag,” ἕλκειν, ‘to draw.’ In σύρειν, as in our ‘drag,’ there lies always the notion of force, as when Plutarch (De Lib. Ed. 8) speaks of the headlong course of a river, πάντα σύρων καὶ πάντα παραφέρων : and it will follow, that where persons, and not merely things, are in question, σύρειν will involve the notion of violence (Acts viii. 3 ; xiv. 19; xvii. 6; ef. κατασύρειν, Luke xii. 58). But in ἕλκειν this notion of force or violence does not of necessity lie. It may be there (Acts xvi. 19; xxi. 30; Jam. ii. 6; cf. Homer, JI. xi. 258; xxiv. 52,417; Aristophanes, Hquit. 710; Euripides, Troad. 70: Aias εἷλκε ἹΚασάνδραν Bia) ; but not of necessity (thus Plato, Rep. vi. 494e: ἐὰν ἕλκηται πρὸς φιλοσοφίαν : ef. vii. 538 d), any more than in our ‘ draw,’ which we use of a mental and moral attraction, or in the Latin ‘traho’ (‘ trahit sua quemque voluptas ἢ). Only by keeping in mind the difference which thus to run to the surface, to leave us ethically a far poorer word. It is inexcusable that all modern reprints of the Authorized Version should have given in to thiscorruption. So long as the spelling does not affect the life of a word, this may very well fall in with modern use; we do not want ‘sonne’ or ‘marveile,’ when everybody now spells ‘son’ and ‘ marvel.’ But where this life is assailed by later alterations, corruptions in fact of the spelling, and the word in fact changed into another, there the edition of 1611 should be exactly adhered to, and considered authoritative and exemplary for all that followed. exists between these, can we vindicate from erroneous interpretation two doctrinally important passages in the Gospel of St. John. The first is xii. 32: “I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men [πάντας ἑλκύσω] unto Me.” But how does a crucified, and thus an exalted, Saviour draw all men unto Him? Not by force, for the will is incapable of force, but by the divine attractions of his love. Again (vi. 44): “No man can come to Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw him” (ἑλκύσῃ αὐτόν). Now as many as feel bound to deny any such ‘gratia irresistibilis ᾿ as turns man into a machine, and by which, willing or unwilling, he is dragged to God, must at once allow, must indeed assert, that this ἑλκύσῃ can mean no more than the potent allurements, the allective force of love, the attracting of men by the Father to the Son; compare Jer. xxxi. 3, “ With loving-kindness have I drawn thee” (εἵλκυσά σε), and Cant. i. 3,4. Did we find σύρειν on either of these occasions (not that this would be possible), the assertors of a ‘ gratia irresistibilis’! might then urge the declarations of our Lord as leaving no room for any other meaning but theirs; but not as they now stand. In agreement with all this, in ἕλκειν is predominantly the sense of a drawing to a certain point, in σύρειν merely of dragging after one; thus Lucian (De Merc. Cond. 3), likening a man to a fish already hooked and dragged ? The excellent words of Augustine on this last passage, himself sometimes adduced as an upholder of this, may be here quoted (In Ev. Joh. Tract. xxvi. 4): ‘Nemo venit ad me, nisi quem Pater adtraxerit. Noli te cogitare invitum trahi; trahitur animus et amore. Nec timere debemus ne ab hominibus qui verba perpendunt, et a rebus maxime divinis intelligendis longe remoti sunt, in hoc Scripturarum sanctarum evangelico verbo forsitan reprehendamur, et dicatur nobis, Quomodo yoluntate credo, sitrahor? Ego dico: Parum est voluntate, etiam voluptate traheris. Porro si poétee dicere licuit, Trahit saa quemque voluptas; non necessitas, sed yoluptas; non obligatio, sed delectatio; quanto fortius nos dicere debemus, trahi hominem ad Christum, qui delectatur veritate, delectatur beatitudine, delectatur justitia, delectatur sempiterna vita, quod totum Christus est ὃ ἢ 74 SYNONYMS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. § xxu. through the water, describes him as συρόμενον καὶ πρὸς ἀνάγκην ἀγόμενον. Not seldom there will lie in cvpew the notion of this dragging being upon the ground, inasmuch as that will trail upon the ground (cf. σύρμα, σύρδην, and Isai. iii. 16), which is forcibly dragged along with no will of its own; a dead body, for example (Philo, In Flac. 21). We may compare John xxi. 6, 11 with ver. 8 of the same chapter, in confirmation of what has just been affirmed. At ver. 6 and 11 ἕλκειν is used; for there a drawing of the net to a certain point is intended; by the disciples to themselves in the ship, by Peter to himself upon the shore. But at ver. 8 ἕλκειν gives place to cvpew: for nothing is there intended but the dragging of the net, which had been fastened to the ship, after it through the water. Our Version has maintained the distinction; so too the German of De Wette, by aid of ‘ziehen’ (ξεἕλκειν) and ‘nachschleppen’ (=cvpew) ; but neither the Vulgate, nor Beza, both employing ‘ traho’ throughout.

ἕλκω. For the literal sense “" draw,” cf. PSI IV. 365% (B.C. 251-0) τῶν τὴν ὀπτὴν πλίνθον ἑλκόντων, OG/S 483° (1i/B.C. ) ἐάν τινες ἐν ταῖς ὁδοῖς χοῦν ὀρύσσωσιν . . . ἢ πλίνθους ἕλκωσιν. In P Magd 118 (B.c. 221) it is used of ‘towing ”’ a ship—péyis ἕλκοντες τὸ πλοῖον ἠγάγομεν ἐπὶ τὸν ὅρμον τοῦ ᾿Αρσινοΐτου, and in P Tebt II. 38333 (A.D. 46) of an exit “leading’”’ to the north and east—8[1Ja τῆς ἑλκο[ύσης] εἰς Tov βορρᾶ (1. βορρᾶν) kal ἀπηλιώτην ἐξόδου : cf. P Oxy II. 25938 (A.D. 23). See also for meaning ΚΕ compel,” “impress,” P Tebt I. 5179 (B.c. 118) προστετάχασι δὲ μηδὲ τοὺς στρα(τηγοὺς) καὶ τοὺς ἄλλους τοὺς πρὸς ταῖς πραγματείαις ἕλκειν τινὰς τῶν κατοικούντων ἐν τῆι χώρᾳ εἰς λειτουργίας ἰδίας, “and they have decreed that the strategi and the other officials may not compel any of the inhabitants of the country to work for their private service ” (Edd.), P Par 633 (z.c. 164) (= P Petr III. p. 36) ὑπὲρ ὧν δεῖ ἕλκεσθαι εἰς τὴν γεωργίαν, ““ concerning the persons who should be impressed for labour in the fields” (Edd.). The exact force to be assigned to the verb in the second of the New Oxyrhynchus-Logia, P Oxy IV. 654*° τίνες] ot ἕλκοντες ἡμᾶς [els τὴν βασιλείαν εἰ] ἡ βασιλεία ἐν οὐρα[νῷ ἐστιν ; is disputed: see Deissmann 2.4.2, p. 437 ff., and EvelynWhite /7'S xvi. p. 246 ff. “Ελλάς. A Delphic inscr., Sy// 383 (A-D. 125-9), is inscribed to Hadrian σωτῆρι, ῥυσαμένῳ καὶ θρέψαντι τὴν ἑαυτοῦ “EXλάδα, ‘the saviour who rescued and nurtured his own Hellas.” “Ἕλλην. In the ordinance of Euergetes II. Ρ Tebt I. 5.58. (8.6. 118) “Ἑλληνας = ‘‘ probably . . . all non-Egyptian soldiers, whether Macedonians, Cretans, Persians, etc.’’ The editors compare the opposition between Greeks and Egyptians later in the same decree. This illustrates excellently the familiar antithesis between Jews and “*Greeks,’’ so pronounced in Mk 726, to which an exact parallel is quoted below. “Ελληνίς. P Giss I. 3619 (B.c. 161) τάδε λέγει γυνὴ “Εἰλληνὶς ᾿Αμμωvia Πτο(λεμαίου) ἡ καὶ Σενμῖνις κτλ.

ἕλκω (helkuō, helkō) — to draw/persuade. ἕλκω (ἑλκύω late, [Refs 8th c.BC+], imperfect __A εἷλκον [Refs 4th c.BC+], Epic dialect ἕλκον [Refs 8th c.BC+]: future ἕλξω [Refs 5th c.BC+]: aorist εἵλκῠσα [Refs 5th c.BC+], Trag. and Attic dialect, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; later εἷλξα, poetry ἕλξα [Refs 2nd c.AD+]: perfect εἵλκῠκα [Refs 4th c.BC+]; perfect participle ἑολκώς probably in [Refs 5th c.BC+] —middle, future -ύσομαι (ἐφ-) [Refs 2nd c.AD+]aorist εἱλκυσάμην (ἀφ-) variant in [Refs 5th c.BC+], subjunctive ἀφελκύσωμαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—passive, future ἑλκυσθήσομαι [Refs 4th c.BC+]: aorist εἱλκύσθην [Refs 5th c.BC+]; later εἵλχθην [Refs 1st c.AD+]: perfect εἵλκυσμαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]: pluperfect εἵλκυστο [Refs 5th c.BC+] —In _Attic dialect_, ἕλκω, ἕλξω were alone used in present and future, while the other tenses were formed from ἑλκυ-; compare ἑλκέω (which see), ἑλκυστάζω. In [Refs 8th c.BC+] rejected the augment (Cf. Latin sulcus, Lithuanian velkù 'drag'):— draw, drag, with collateralnotion of force or exertion, ὣς εἰπὼν ποδὸς ἕλκε began to drag [the dead body] by the foot, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; drag away a prisoner, [Refs]; draw ships down to the sea, [Refs], etc.; draw along a felled tree, [Refs]; of mules, draw a chariot, [Refs]; ἑλκέμεναι νειοῖο.. πηκτὸν ἄροτρον draw the plough through the field, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; περιβαλόντας σχοινία ἕ. haul at them, [Refs] __A.2 draw after one, ἐν δ᾽ ἔπεσ᾽ Ὠκεανῷ.. φάος ἠελίοιο, ἕλκον νύκτα μέλαιναν [Refs 8th c.BC+]; πέδας ἕ. trail fetters after one, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἕ. χλανίδα let one's cloak trail behind, [Refs 5th c.BC+] __A.3 tear in pieces (used by [Refs 8th c.BC+]; worry, τὰς κύνας ὥλαφος ἕλκοι [Refs 5th c.BC+] __A.3.b metaphorically, carp at, [Refs 5th c.BC+] __A.4 draw a bow, ἕλκε.. γλυφίδας τε λαβὼν καὶ νεῦρα βόεια [Refs 8th c.BC+] __A.5 draw a sword, [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—middle, ἕλκετο δ᾽ ἐκ κολεοῖο.. ξίφος [Refs 8th c.BC+] __A.6 ἕ. ἱστία hoist sails, [Refs 8th c.BC+]:—also in middle,[Refs] __A.7 lift up scales, so as to poise them, ἕλκε δὲ μέσσα λαβών [Refs 8th c.BC+] __A.II after [Refs 8th c.BC+] __A.II.1 pull a barge-pole, [Refs 5th c.BC+] __A.II.2 tow a ship, [Refs 5th c.BC+] __A.II.3 drag into court, ἕλκω σε κλητεύσοντα [Refs 5th c.BC+]; εἰς ἀγοράν [NT]; drag about, especially with lewd violence, ἕλκει καὶ βιάζεται [Refs 5th c.BC+]; also ἥλκυσμαι λαμπαδάρχης I have been compelled to serve as λ., [Refs] __A.II.4 draw or suck up, [ἥλιος] ἕλκει τὸ ὕδωρ ἐπ᾽ ἑωυτόν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἕ. τὸν ἀέρα draw it in, breathe it, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; especially of persons drinking, drink in long draughts, quaff, μέθυ [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὴν.. τοῦ Πραμνίου [σπονδήν] [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οἶνον ἐκ.. λεπαστῆς Telecl[Refs 4th c.BC+]: with accusative of the cup, δέπας μεστὸν.. ἕλκουσι γνάθοις ἀπαύστοις [Refs 4th c.BC+]; so ἕ. μαστόν suck it, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; inhale, ὀσμήν [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; of roots, draw up nourishment, [Refs 4th c.BC+] __A.II.5 draw from a receptacle, ἐξ ἑκάστου κιβωτίου πινάκιον ἕν [Refs 4th c.BC+] __A.II.6 ἕ. βίοτον, ζόαν, drag out a weary life, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; προφάσιας ἕ. keep making excuses, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἕ. χρόνους make long, in prosody, [Refs 3rd c.AD+] that the conflict dragged on, lasted, [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—passive, τῶν ἐγκλημάτων εἱκλυσμένων πλείονα χρόνον [Refs 2nd c.BC+]; also of a person, ἑλκόμενος καὶ μόγις [Refs 5th c.BC+] __A.II.7 ἕ. κόρδακα dance in long, measured steps, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἓν τουτὶ (σχῆμα) [Refs] __A.II.8 draw to oneself, attract, of the magnet, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; πείθειν καὶ ἑ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; draw on, ἐπὶ ἡδονάς [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—passive, to be drawn on as by a spell, ἴυγγι δ᾽ ἕλκομαι ἦτορ [Refs 5th c.BC+] __A.II.9 of things weighed, ἕ. σταθμὸν τάλαντα δέκα draw down the balance, i.e. weigh ten talents, [Refs 5th c.BC+] whatever it weigh, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; πλεῖον ἕ. [Refs 5th c.BC+] __A.II.9.b ἕ. τὰς ψήφους cast up the account, [Refs 3rd c.BC+] __A.II.10 draw or derive from a source, ἐντεῦθεν εἵλκυσεν ἐπὶ τὴν.. τέχνην τὸ πρός φορον αὐτῇ [Refs 5th c.BC+]; assume, μείζω φαντασίαν [Refs 2nd c.BC+] __A.II.11 ἑλκύσαι πλίνθους make bricks, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἕ. λάγανον Chrysipp. Tyan. cited in [Refs 2nd c.AD+] __A.II.12 αἱ θυρίδες ἕλκουσι the win dows draw in air, [Refs 4th c.BC+] __A.II.13 ἕ. ἑαυτόν, expressing some kind of athletic exercise, [Refs 5th c.BC+] __B middle, ἕ. χαίτας ἐκ κεφαλῆς tear one's hair, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἀσσοτέρω πυρὸς ἕλκετο δίφρον drew his chair nearer to the fire, [Refs 8th c.BC+] __B.2 draw to oneself, scrape up, amass, τιμάς, ἄφενος ἕλκεσθαι, [Refs 6th c.BC+] __B.3 ἕλκεσθαι στάθμας περισσᾶς in [Refs 5th c.BC+], means literal, to drag at too great a line, i.e.grasp more than one's due-- but whence the metaphor is taken remains unexplained. __C passive, to be drawn or wrenched, νῶτα.. ἑλκόμενα στερεῶς, of wrestlers, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; of the nails, to be curved, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; to close in when the core is removed, of the timber of certain trees, [Refs 4th c.BC+] __C.2 to be drawn or to flow at a place, of streams, [Refs 3rd c.BC+] __C.3 to be drawn or contracted, εἱλκύσθη ἐπὶ τὰ δεξιὰ τράχηλος [Refs 5th c.BC+]