Word Details

• Transliteration: διώκτης (diōktēs) pronounced as dee-OHK-tays

• Etymology: The word διώκτης comes from the root verb διώκω (diōkō), which means “to pursue,” “to persecute,” or “to chase.” The noun διώκτης specifically refers to a person who engages in such actions.

• Part of Speech: Noun

• The F.O.G Word Choice: Coming Soon

Primary Meanings

• Persecutor: The primary meaning of διώκτης is someone who pursues others with harmful intent, particularly in the context of religious or ideological persecution. This word is most famously used in the New Testament to describe Saul of Tarsus (who later became the Apostle Paul) before his conversion, as someone who persecuted Christians.

• Pursuer: More generally, διώκτης can refer to anyone who aggressively follows or chases someone, often with the intent to capture or harm. This meaning encompasses both literal and metaphorical pursuits.

Further Insights

• Morphology: The word διώκτης is a masculine noun, as indicated by its ending -της. The noun form emphasizes the person performing the action rather than the action itself, which is conveyed by the verb διώκω.

• Contextual Usage: The term is used specifically to describe individuals who actively seek to harm or oppress others, particularly in a religious context. Its usage in the New Testament is significant in illustrating the early Christian experience of persecution.

Lexicon Descriptions

BDAG (Bauer, Danker, Arndt, and Gingrich):

• BDAG defines διώκτης as “one who persecutes” and highlights its use in describing Saul before his conversion in the New Testament.

• Scripture Reference: 1 Timothy 1:13 – “Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.”

Thayer’s Lexicon:

• Thayer’s Lexicon also defines διώκτης as “a persecutor,” with specific reference to those who harass others, particularly for their beliefs.

• Scripture Reference: Acts 22:4 – “I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.”

Classical Usage

In classical Greek literature, the word διώκτης is less commonly used but can still be found in various contexts where it denotes someone who pursues or chases after something or someone, often with a negative or aggressive connotation.

• Example 1: In the writings of Xenophon, διώκτης is used to describe a pursuer in the context of a chase during battle.

• Example 2: The word appears in some Hellenistic texts where it denotes a persecutor of philosophers or intellectuals.

• Example 3: In the works of Plutarch, the term is employed metaphorically to describe someone relentlessly pursuing their ambitions.

Summary of διώκτης (G1376: diōktēs)

The word διώκτης (G1376: diōktēs) in the Greek New Testament and classical literature primarily refers to a persecutor or pursuer. Its most notable use in the New Testament is in reference to Saul of Tarsus, who later became the Apostle Paul, highlighting his role in persecuting early Christians before his conversion. The term carries a strong negative connotation, emphasizing the harmful intent behind the pursuit.