Understanding διακωλύω (diakōlyō) Strong’s G1254: The Divine Hindrance That Reveals True Humility and Spiritual Transformation

Pronunciation Guide: dee-ah-koh-LOO-oh

Basic Definition

Strong’s G1254: Διακωλύω (diakōlyō) means to hinder thoroughly, to prevent completely, or to actively forbid. It conveys a deliberate and forceful attempt to restrain or obstruct an action or person from proceeding. The prefix δια- (dia-) intensifies the base verb κωλύω (kōlyō), emphasizing the thoroughness of the hindrance or prevention.

Etymology and Morphology

• Verb (imperfect active indicative)
• Compound word: from διά (dia, “through, thoroughly”) + κωλύω (kōlyō, “to hinder, prevent”)
• First appears in the New Testament in Matthew 3:14
• Extremely rare in the New Testament (hapax legomenon – appears only once)
• Primarily used in narrative contexts
• More common in classical Greek literature than biblical texts

Διακωλύω Morphology:

• διακωλύω (present active indicative, first person singular) – I thoroughly hinder
• διακωλύεις (present active indicative, second person singular) – you thoroughly hinder
• διεκώλυεν (imperfect active indicative, third person singular) – he was thoroughly hindering
• διακωλύσαι (aorist active infinitive) – to thoroughly hinder
• διακωλυθείς (aorist passive participle, nominative masculine singular) – having been thoroughly hindered

Origin & History

The verb διακωλύω has ancient roots in classical Greek, where it was used to describe preventing someone from an action with significant force or authority. In Xenophon’s “Anabasis” (4.2.24), the term describes troops preventing an enemy from crossing a river—showing its connotation of decisive intervention. Thucydides employed it in “History of the Peloponnesian War” (1.16) when describing how the Athenians were hindered from expanding their power.

In the Septuagint, while the simpler form κωλύω appears several times, διακωλύω is notably absent, making its single New Testament appearance in Matthew 3:14 all the more significant. This suggests Matthew deliberately chose this intensified form to emphasize the earnestness of John’s attempt to prevent Yeshua from being baptized. Early church fathers like Chrysostom in his “Homilies on Matthew” emphasized how this word choice reveals John’s deep reverence and humility before the Messiah.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• To thoroughly prevent or forbid with emphasis and determination
• To strongly hinder or restrain someone from a particular action
• To earnestly try to dissuade someone from a course of action
• To oppose with intensity and conviction based on principle

Διακωλύω Translation Options:

• “Tried to prevent” – Captures the imperfect tense in Matthew 3:14, showing John’s ongoing attempt rather than a completed action
• “Strongly objected” – Emphasizes the emotional and principled nature of the hindrance
• “Earnestly forbade” – Highlights the authoritative aspect while maintaining the intensity
• “Vigorously hindered” – Accentuates the active and energetic quality of the prevention
• “Actively dissuaded” – Suggests the persuasive element behind the prevention

Biblical Usage

The verb διακωλύω appears only once in the entire New Testament, making it a hapax legomenon. This single occurrence is found in Matthew 3:14 where John the Baptist attempts to prevent Yeshua from being baptized by him. The imperfect tense (διεκώλυεν) indicates John’s sustained effort to dissuade Yeshua, not merely a momentary objection. This grammatical choice by Matthew emphasizes the depth of John’s conviction and the dramatic tension of the moment.

While the intensified form διακωλύω appears only once, its root form κωλύω occurs 23 times throughout the New Testament, often in contexts involving spiritual authority, divine guidance, or ethical instruction. The intensified form in Matthew’s account specifically highlights the exceptional nature of John’s reaction to Yeshua’s request for baptism, underscoring the Baptist’s recognition of Yeshua’s superior status and mission.

• “But John tried to prevent Him [διεκώλυεν], saying, ‘I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?'” Matthew 3:14

Cultural Insights

In the ancient Jewish purification system, those who were ritually unclean would be immersed in water (mikveh) as part of their cleansing process. The one performing or overseeing the immersion would typically be of higher ritual status than the one being immersed. This cultural context makes John’s reaction all the more significant—he recognized that the normal roles were inverted, as he, the lesser, was being asked to immerse Yeshua, whom he recognized as the Greater One.

The fact that John “tried to prevent” (διεκώλυεν) Yeshua would have signaled to Matthew’s Jewish audience a profound theological statement about Yeshua’s identity. By employing this rare, intensified form of κωλύω, Matthew draws attention to the exceptional nature of this encounter. In Jewish thought, only someone with recognized spiritual authority would dare to “thoroughly hinder” another from a religious act. John’s attempt to prevent Yeshua, followed by his acquiescence to Yeshua’s explanation, creates a powerful narrative that establishes both John’s prophetic authority and Yeshua’s ultimate supremacy.

Theological Significance

The sole appearance of διακωλύω in Matthew 3:14 carries profound theological weight. It reveals the beautiful tension between humility and obedience in God’s kingdom. John’s attempt to prevent Yeshua from being baptized stemmed from his profound recognition of Yeshua’s messianic identity—”I need to be baptized by You.” Yet Yeshua’s response, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness,” reveals a divine paradox: the Son of God submits to a human ritual of purification not because He needs cleansing, but to identify fully with humanity.

This exchange illuminates the heart of the gospel message—that righteousness comes not through asserting position or privilege, but through humble obedience to God’s will. The διακωλύω moment captures the collision of human understanding (John recognizing Yeshua’s superiority) with divine wisdom (Yeshua choosing the path of identification with sinners). When John ceases his prevention and performs the baptism, we witness the beautiful surrender of human logic to divine purpose—a model for all believers who are called to trust God’s ways even when they transcend our understanding.

Personal Application

When we encounter the word διακωλύω in Matthew 3:14, we confront an important spiritual question: What divine actions am I trying to prevent in my life because they don’t align with my understanding or expectations? Like John the Baptist, we may sometimes “thoroughly hinder” God’s work because it doesn’t fit our theological framework or sense of propriety.

Consider areas where you might be hindering God’s unexpected work in your life—perhaps He’s calling you to serve in ways that seem beneath your abilities, or to receive help from someone you perceive as less spiritual. The beautiful resolution of John’s διακωλύω moment came when he surrendered his objections and obeyed. Our greatest spiritual breakthroughs often come precisely when we stop hindering God’s surprising methods and humbly submit to His perfect wisdom, even when it contradicts our sense of how things “should” work.

Related Words

• κωλύω (kōlyō, pronounced koh-LOO-oh) – The simpler form meaning “to hinder or prevent,” lacking the intensity of διακωλύω. While διακωλύω appears only once, κωλύω occurs 23 times in the New Testament, often in contexts of preventing something perceived as inappropriate. See G2967
• ἐμποδίζω (empodizō, pronounced em-pod-ID-zoh) – Meaning “to place something in the way” or “to impede,” this word focuses on obstacles rather than active prevention. While διακωλύω suggests authoritative intervention, ἐμποδίζω implies creating impediments. See G1694
• κατέχω (katechō, pronounced kat-EKH-oh) – Meaning “to hold back” or “to restrain,” this word emphasizes containment rather than prevention. Unlike διακωλύω, which aims to stop an action entirely, κατέχω often suggests temporary restraint. See G2722
• ἀντιτάσσομαι (antitassomai, pronounced an-tee-TAS-soh-mai) – Meaning “to range in battle against” or “to oppose oneself,” this word carries military connotations of resistance. While διακωλύω focuses on prevention, ἀντιτάσσομαι emphasizes active opposition. See G498
• ἀνθίστημι (anthistēmi, pronounced anth-IS-tay-mee) – Meaning “to stand against” or “to resist,” this word implies a firmer, more determined opposition than διακωλύω, often with moral or spiritual implications. See G436

Did you Know?

• Did you know that the only appearance of διακωλύω in the New Testament occurs at a pivotal moment in salvation history—the baptism of Yeshua? This rare word usage highlights the exceptional nature of this event, where the boundaries between heaven and earth were momentarily dissolved as the voice of the Father and the descent of the Spirit confirmed Yeshua’s messianic identity. The word’s uniqueness mirrors the uniqueness of the trinitarian revelation that followed John’s ceased prevention.
• Did you know that in modern Greek, derivatives of διακωλύω are still used in legal contexts to refer to injunctions and prohibitions? The term διακωλυτικά μέτρα (diakōlytika metra) refers to “preventive measures” in contemporary Greek law, showing how this ancient concept of thorough hindrance continues to convey authoritative prevention in modern times. This connection helps us understand the weight of John’s action in attempting to prevent the Messiah from being baptized—it was not a casual objection but a principled stand.
• Did you know that the imperfect tense of διεκώλυεν in Matthew 3:14 suggests that John made repeated attempts to dissuade Yeshua? The grammar indicates an ongoing action rather than a single objection, painting a vivid picture of John persistently trying to convince Yeshua that their roles should be reversed. This grammatical detail reveals the depth of John’s conviction about Yeshua’s identity and his own unworthiness, making Yeshua’s gentle insistence on fulfilling righteousness all the more powerful.

Remember This

Διακωλύω reminds us that sometimes our greatest acts of reverence toward God come not in preventing what seems improper to us, but in humbly surrendering our objections to His greater purpose.