Pronunciation Guide: ahee-kh-mal-o-tos

Basic Definition

Strong’s G164: A person taken captive by the spear (literally, spear-captured), a prisoner of war, or someone held captive. In biblical usage, it often carries spiritual connotations of being held in bondage to sin or spiritual forces, while also pointing to the Messiah’s power to liberate such captives.

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Etymology and Morphology

• Part of Speech: Adjective/Noun
• Root Words: αἰχμή (spear point) + ἁλωτός (taken, captured)
• Language Origin: Classical Greek
• Primary Usage: Narrative and teaching passages
• Literary Style: Both literal and metaphorical contexts

αἰχμάλωτος Morphology:

• αἰχμάλωτος (nominative singular) – captive one
• αἰχμάλωτον (accusative singular) – the captive one
• αἰχμαλώτους (accusative plural) – the captive ones
• αἰχμαλώτων (genitive plural) – of the captive ones

Origin & History

The term αἰχμάλωτος emerged from ancient Greek military contexts, specifically referring to prisoners captured during warfare. Xenophon, in his “Cyropaedia” (4.4.1), uses the term to describe prisoners taken in battle, emphasizing the physical capture by spear-point.

In Thucydides’ “History of the Peloponnesian War” (3.70), the word appears in accounts of war captives, highlighting the devastating reality of ancient warfare where defeated soldiers and civilians became property of the victors.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• One taken captive through military conquest
• A prisoner of war
• One held in bondage (metaphorically)
• One captured by spiritual forces

αἰχμάλωτος Translation Options:

• “Captive” – Emphasizing the state of being held against one’s will
• “Prisoner” – Highlighting the confined nature of the captivity
• “Prisoner of war” – When referring to military contexts
• “One held in bondage” – For metaphorical/spiritual usage

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, αἰχμάλωτος appears in contexts that bridge literal and spiritual captivity. Its first appearance in Luke 4:18 is particularly significant as the Messiah Jesus quotes from Isaiah, declaring His mission to proclaim liberty to the captives.

The Septuagint frequently employs αἰχμάλωτος to translate the Hebrew שְׁבִי (shevi), particularly in prophetic literature describing Israel’s exile and future restoration. This usage creates a rich theological framework connecting physical and spiritual bondage with divine liberation.

Key appearances include:

• “To proclaim liberty to the captives [αἰχμαλώτοις]” Luke 4:18
• “And having led captivity captive [αἰχμαλωσίαν]” Ephesians 4:8
• “Leading captive [αἰχμαλωτίζοντες] every thought” 2 Corinthians 10:5

Cultural Insights

In the ancient world, captivity was not merely imprisonment but often involved complete subjugation to a new master. Captives would be forced to adopt the language, customs, and even religious practices of their captors. This cultural context enriches our understanding of spiritual captivity and redemption in biblical theology.

The practice of parading captives in triumphal processions, common in both Greek and Roman cultures, provides crucial background for understanding Paul’s use of captivity imagery in his epistles, particularly in describing the Messiah’s triumph over spiritual forces.

Theological Significance

The concept of αἰχμάλωτος plays a vital role in biblical soteriology, illustrating humanity’s bondage to sin and our desperate need for divine liberation. The Messiah’s mission, as announced in Luke 4:18, demonstrates God’s heart to set captives free, both literally and spiritually.

This word powerfully connects Old Testament prophecies of restoration with New Testament fulfillment in the Messiah Jesus. It reveals God’s character as both Mighty Warrior who defeats the enemy and Compassionate Deliverer who sets the captives free.

The use of αἰχμάλωτος in describing spiritual warfare emphasizes the reality of our spiritual conflict while highlighting the complete victory available through the Messiah’s finished work on the cross.

Personal Application

Understanding αἰχμάλωτος challenges us to examine areas where we might be held captive—whether to sin, false beliefs, or worldly systems. The good news is that the same power that proclaimed liberty to the captives continues to work today, offering freedom to all who turn to the Messiah Jesus.

This word reminds us that no captivity is beyond God’s power to break, encouraging believers to walk in the freedom Christ secured while helping others find liberation through Him.

Related Words

• δέσμιος (desmios) – bound, prisoner – Emphasizes physical bondage with chains or fetters – See G1198
• δοῦλος (doulos) – slave, bondservant – Focuses on the service aspect of captivity – See G1401
• αἰχμαλωτίζω (aichmalotizo) – to lead captive – The verb form expressing the action of taking captive – See G163
• φυλακή (phylake) – prison, imprisonment – Emphasizes the place of confinement – See G5438

Did you Know?

• The word αἰχμάλωτος literally breaks down into “spear-point-taken,” vividly depicting the military origin of the term and the violent nature of ancient warfare.
• In modern Greek, derivatives of αἰχμάλωτος are still used to describe prisoners of war, maintaining its ancient connection to military captivity.
• The concept of αἰχμάλωτος played a crucial role in early Christian martyrdom accounts, where believers reframed their physical captivity as spiritual victory through Christ.

Remember This

αἰχμάλωτος reminds us that the Messiah Jesus came not only to proclaim liberty to the captives but to become our liberator, transforming our captivity into His triumph.