δάκνω
dáknō
G1143 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To bite; to use the teeth to grip or tear. In extended, figurative use, to act with hostility, aggression, or malice, especially in interpersonal contexts. Primary sense is physical biting, with metaphorical extension to verbal or social conflict.
Semantic Range
to bite, to injure with the teeth, to act with hostility, to attack verbally, to behave with malice
Root / Etymology
From the root δακ- (dak-), meaning 'to bite' in classical and Koine Greek. Related to Lat. 'denti-' and Eng. 'dent-' through Proto-Indo-European *denk- or *dank-.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, δάκνω primarily meant to bite, as an action involving the teeth, found in Homer and later writers with reference to both animals and humans. In Hellenistic and Koine Greek, this meaning persists, but metaphorical use appears, such as 'to wound with words,' 'to treat with hostility,' or 'to act with spite.' In the New Testament, δάκνω occurs in Galatians 5:15 in a metaphorical sense, warning against mutual hostility among community members—often translated 'bite and devour one another.' English Bible translations tend to shift immediately to figurative senses, but the original still evokes the vivid imagery of physical biting to describe social or verbal harm. The usage differs from classical Greek words like λαμβάνω ('to take') or τραυματίζω ('to wound'), emphasizing aggression, harm, or enmity couched in a physical analogy.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a prolonged form of a primary root; to bite, i.e. (figuratively) thwart:--bite.
Root Family
δάκνω (dakno) — to bite, to wound with the teeth
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1143-01 |
δάκνετε | daknete | V PRS ACT IND 2P PL |
you bite | you are biting | you are biting | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1143-01 |
Galatians 5:15 | δάκνετε | daknete | V PRS ACT IND 2P PL |
you bite | you are biting | you are biting |