Brief Overview of διωγμός (G1375: diōgmos)

Word Details

• Transliteration: διωγμός (diōgmos) (pronounced: dee-ogue-MOS)
• Etymology: The word διωγμός is derived from the Greek verb διώκω (diōkō), meaning “to pursue,” “to chase,” or “to persecute.” The noun form διωγμός carries the connotation of an active pursuit or persecution.
• Part of Speech: Noun (masculine)
• The F.O.G Word Choice: Coming Soon

Primary Meanings

• Persecution: The primary meaning of διωγμός is “persecution,” specifically in the context of someone being chased, harassed, or oppressed due to their beliefs, especially religious ones. It implies a hostile pursuit with the intent to harm or suppress.
• Pursuit: Beyond the context of religious persecution, διωγμός can also refer to any kind of pursuit or chase, where one party aggressively follows another, often with malicious intent.
• Harassment: In a broader sense, διωγμός can signify persistent harassment or oppression, where the victim is continually subjected to pressure or suffering from those who oppose them.

Further Insights

• Morphology: The noun διωγμός is formed from the verb διώκω, indicating action or process. The suffix -μος often turns a verb into a noun in Greek, signifying the act or result of the action described by the verb. Therefore, διωγμός refers to the act or state of being pursued or persecuted.
• Biblical Usage: In the New Testament, διωγμός is commonly used to describe the suffering and oppression faced by early Christians. It appears in contexts that emphasize the trials and tribulations believers must endure for their faith.
• Cultural Context: In the broader Greek world, διωγμός could be applied to any situation where an individual or group is subjected to relentless pursuit, whether in a legal, social, or military context.

Lexicon Descriptions

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

• BDAG defines διωγμός as “persecution” and highlights its use in the New Testament to describe the adversities faced by the early Christian community. The lexicon emphasizes the term’s connotation of hostility and oppression.
• Scripture Reference: 2 Timothy 3:12 – “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” This verse uses διωγμός to describe the inevitable suffering that comes with true Christian living.

Thayer’s Greek Lexicon:

• Thayer’s Lexicon describes διωγμός as “persecution, especially the infliction of suffering or injury due to one’s beliefs.” It notes that the term often carries a sense of persistent or aggressive hostility.
• Scripture Reference: Matthew 5:10 – “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” This beatitude uses διωγμός to highlight the blessing of those who suffer for their faith.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance:

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• Strong’s Concordance defines διωγμός as “persecution” and points out its frequent appearance in the New Testament to describe the trials faced by believers. The concordance links the term closely to the experience of being unjustly pursued or harassed.
• Scripture Reference: Mark 10:30 – “But he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.” This verse underscores the inevitability of persecution (διωγμός) in the life of a follower of Christ.

Vine’s Expository Dictionary:

• Vine’s Dictionary elaborates on διωγμός as not just physical persecution but also including social and psychological pressure. It is associated with suffering for one’s beliefs, particularly in the context of early Christianity.
• Scripture Reference: Acts 8:1 – “On that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.” This verse illustrates the widespread impact of διωγμός on the early church.

Usage in Classical Greek Literature

• Thucydides’ “History of the Peloponnesian War”: Thucydides uses the concept behind διωγμός when describing the relentless pursuit of enemies during wartime. Although the exact term may not be frequent, the idea of relentless pursuit and persecution is evident in his descriptions of military campaigns.
• Herodotus’ “Histories”: Herodotus mentions various forms of pursuit and oppression in his accounts of the Persian Wars, where the Greeks were often the targets of Persian pursuit, aligning with the broader concept of διωγμός.
• Sophocles’ “Oedipus Rex”: In a metaphorical sense, Oedipus’ relentless pursuit of truth and the subsequent consequences can be seen as a form of διωγμός, where the pursuit of knowledge leads to personal suffering and tragedy.

Summary

The Greek word διωγμός (G1375) primarily means “persecution” and is closely associated with the trials and suffering faced by individuals, particularly in a religious context. Rooted in the verb διώκω, which means “to pursue,” διωγμός captures the essence of relentless and often hostile pursuit. In the New Testament, it frequently appears to describe the hardships endured by early Christians, emphasizing the inevitability of suffering for one’s faith. In classical Greek literature, while the exact term may not always be present, the concept of pursuit and persecution is widely explored, reflecting the broader cultural understanding of the term. The word serves as a powerful reminder of the cost of commitment and the resilience required to endure opposition.