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διώκτης

diṓktēs

G1376 noun

SILEX Entry

Root διώκ- to pursue, to chase, to persecute

Definition

One who pursues, especially in the sense of someone who harasses or oppresses another; specifically, an individual who initiates and continues acts of pursuit with hostile intent. In the context of Jewish and early Christian literature, commonly denotes someone actively seeking the harm, punishment, or suppression of others for religious or ideological reasons.

Semantic Range

pursuer, oppressor, one who persecutes, one who harasses or actively seeks to harm, accuser (in legal context)

Root / Etymology

From the verb διώκω (to pursue, to chase, to persecute); formed with the agentive suffix -της, indicating one who habitually performs the action. The pattern διώκω → διώκτης parallels other agent nouns in Greek.

Historical & Contextual Notes

διώκτης is a rare term, found in Hellenistic Greek but employed with particular nuance in early Christian texts. In secular Greek, it typically refers to a pursuer, such as in legal or military contexts. In the New Testament (notably 1 Timothy 1:13), it carries the sense of an aggressive oppressor, especially in the context of intra- or inter-communal conflict, where the target is often a religious or ideological group. The term evolved to be closely associated with hostility toward religious groups, especially within the context of early Christian self-understanding. Standard English translations often render διώκτης as 'persecutor,' but the word maintains a broader semantic field of active pursuit or harassment, not solely limited to institutional or state-sponsored persecution. Its usage is shaped both by legal and religious disputes, aligning with the Hellenistic and Roman legal practice of pursuing charges or enemies, but also reflecting a specifically charged context within Second Temple and Roman Judean society.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from διώκω; a persecutor:--persecutor.

Root Family

διώκτης (diōktēs) — pursuer, chaser, persecutor, oppressor

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G1376-01 διώκτην diokten N ACC M SG a persecutor a persecutor 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G1376-01 1 Timothy 1:13 διώκτην diokten N ACC M SG a persecutor a persecutor
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