ἐκλύω (G1590) — Greek Lexicon

ἐκλύω

eklýō

G1590 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

to loosen, release, or become weak; primarily means to relax or unbind. In extended and figurative senses, it denotes becoming weary, losing motivation, or growing faint (in spirit or physically). The core idea is the cessation of effort, vigor, or firmness, whether physical (slackening a grip), emotional (losing heart), or moral (becoming discouraged).

Semantic Range

to relax, to let go, to become weak, to lose strength, to become weary, to faint (physically or figuratively), to lose resolve, to become discouraged

Root / Etymology

From ἐκ (out of, from) and λύω (to loosen, to untie). The compound thus literally means to loosen out or to release.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἐκλύω appears rarely, often relating to being physically loosed or let go. In the Hellenistic and Koine periods, especially the New Testament, the verb is commonly used figuratively for becoming weary or losing courage, often in exhortations not to 'grow weary' in doing good (e.g., Galatians 6:9, 2 Thessalonians 3:13, Hebrews 12:3,5). The Septuagint similarly employs the verb in passages related to discouragement or loss of strength, translating Hebrew verbs for fainting or slackening. The primary New Testament usage is metaphorical, referring to losing heart or giving up, not merely physical tiredness. English translation tradition varies: some renderings choose 'faint,' others 'lose heart' or 'grow weary,' each capturing an aspect of the word's range but sometimes missing the core nuance of relaxing one's effort or resolve. There is overlap in meaning with ἀθυμέω and ἐγκακέω, but ἐκλύω emphasizes the process of coming undone, relaxing, or 'let down.'

Translation Consistency

primary "weaken" 1 occurrence

Weaken naturally covers the primary semantic range — losing strength, becoming faint or weary, relaxing or letting go of effort — and works for both physical and figurative uses. It’s a single, common English verb that will read naturally across all inflected forms.

Alternatives (4 occurrences):

"might faint" (1x) "faint" (1x) "becoming faint" (1x) "growing weak" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἐκ and λύω; to relax (literally or figuratively):--faint.

Root Family

ἐκλύω (eklýō) — to loosen, to release, to weaken

Root λῡ- to loosen, to release, to weaken

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G1590-01`	ἐκλυόμενοι	ekluomenoi	`V PRS PASS PTCP NOM M PL`	and lose heart	being weakened	becoming faint	2
`G1590-03`	ἐκλυθήσονται	ekluthesontai	`V FUT PASS IND 3P PL`	they will faint	they will be weakened	they will faint	1
`G1590-02`	ἐκλύου	ekluou	`V PRS PASS IMP 2P SG`	faint	be growing weak	be growing weak	1
`G1590-04`	ἐκλυθῶσιν	ekluthosin	`V AOR PASS SUBJ 3P PL`	they faint	they might be weakened	they might faint	1

Occurrences in Scripture

5 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G1590-04`	Matthew 15:32	ἐκλυθῶσιν	ekluthosin	`V AOR PASS SUBJ 3P PL`	they faint	they might be weakened	they might faint
`G1590-03`	Mark 8:3	ἐκλυθήσονται	ekluthesontai	`V FUT PASS IND 3P PL`	they will faint	they will be weakened	they will faint
`G1590-01`	Galatians 6:9	ἐκλυόμενοι	ekluomenoi	`V PRS PASS PTCP NOM M PL`	fainting	being weakened	becoming faint
`G1590-01`	Hebrews 12:3	ἐκλυόμενοι	ekluomenoi	`V PRS PASS PTCP NOM M PL`	and lose heart	being weakened	who are being weakened
`G1590-02`	Hebrews 12:5	ἐκλύου	ekluou	`V PRS PASS IMP 2P SG`	faint	be growing weak	be growing weak

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