Brief Overview of συλάω (Strong’s G4813: sulaō)

Strong’s G4813: A verb meaning “to rob, plunder, or despoil.” In Pauline usage, it takes on an ironic tone when describing his acceptance of support from some churches while serving others, highlighting the sacrificial nature of his ministry and the complex dynamics of apostolic support.

U – Unveiling the Word

Συλάω originally referred to the act of stripping or plundering, particularly in military contexts. In 2 Corinthians 11:8, Paul uses it with deliberate irony to describe accepting support from some churches while serving others freely, demonstrating his sensitivity to accusations of financial exploitation. The early church fathers drew from this usage to discuss proper ministerial support and sacrificial service. Today, it continues to inform discussions about ministry funding and the delicate balance between receiving support and maintaining integrity in gospel work.

N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: συλάω, sulaō, /soo-LAH-oh/
• Pronunciation: soo-LAH-oh (stress on second syllable)
• Part of Speech: Verb

Etymology:

• From σῦλον (sulon): spoil or plunder
• Basic verb form without prefixes
• Related to Indo-European root *sul- meaning “to take”

D – Defining Meanings

• Primary meanings:

1. To rob or plunder
2. To strip or despoil
3. To take by force
4. To deprive someone of something

For compound words:
Not a compound word

Translation Options:

1. “Rob” – Emphasizes the forceful taking
2. “Plunder” – Highlights the comprehensive nature of taking
3. “Despoil” – Captures the formal/literary sense of depriving

E – Exploring Similar Words

• ἁρπάζω (harpazō) /har-PAD-zo/ – emphasizes violent seizing. See G726
• κλέπτω (kleptō) /KLEP-to/ – focuses on stealing by stealth. See G2813
• ληστεύω (lēsteuō) /lay-STYOO-oh/ – refers to plundering like bandits. See G3027

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Morphological features as a verb:

• Tense: Present, Imperfect, Aorist
• Voice: Active
• Mood: Indicative, Subjunctive, Participle
• Person: First, Second, Third
• Number: Singular, Plural
• Aspect: Continuous (Present), Simple (Aorist)

Examples:

• Present Active: συλῶ – I am robbing
• Aorist Active: ἐσύλησα – I robbed
• Perfect Active: σεσύληκα – I have robbed

Cross-references:

• Noun: σῦλον (sulon)
• Agent noun: συλητής (sulētēs)

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes its ironic use in Paul’s ministry context. Thayer’s notes its basic meaning of plundering. LSJ provides examples from military contexts. Vine’s highlights Paul’s rhetorical use. Strong’s connects it to violent taking. LEH discusses its Septuagint usage regarding temple robbery. Moulton and Milligan show its use in legal documents concerning theft.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
2 Corinthians 11:8 “I [robbed] {συλάω} other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you.”

Additional References:
As a hapax legomenon, it appears only in 2 Corinthians 11:8.

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Συλάω reveals Paul’s delicate handling of ministry support, showing how the good news should be offered freely while acknowledging the legitimate need for worker support. It promotes the gospel by demonstrating that true ministers of the Messiah prioritize serving others above personal gain, yet without rejecting proper provision for ministry.

D – Did You Know?

1. The term was commonly used in laws protecting temple treasuries from theft.
2. Ancient Greek cities had specific penalties for those who committed συλάω against sacred objects.
3. Paul’s use of this strong term shows his rhetorical skill in addressing sensitive financial matters.

Strong’s G4813: A verb meaning “to rob, plunder, or despoil.” In Pauline usage, it takes on an ironic tone when describing his acceptance of support from some churches while serving others, highlighting the sacrificial nature of his ministry and the complex dynamics of apostolic support.

Part of speech: Verb

Tags: robbery, plunder, ministry-support, paul, corinthians, financial-support, apostolic-ministry, church-funding, sacrificial-service, irony, rhetorical-device, ministry-ethics​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​