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θανατόω

thanatóō

G2289 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

to put to death, to cause someone to die; in extended or metaphorical contexts, to render powerless, to subdue, or to treat as dead (i.e., to mortify or render inactive, especially of passions or sinful desires). The primary sense is the active infliction of death, either by execution or killing, with figurative senses arising in moral, ethical, or spiritual discourse.

Semantic Range

to kill, to put to death (execute), to cause to die, to mortify, to subdue or render powerless (in a figurative or ethical/moral sense)

Root / Etymology

Formed from the noun θάνατος (“death”) and the causative verbal suffix -όω, which forms denominative verbs. Thus θανατόω literally means 'to cause death' or 'make die.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, θανατόω appears chiefly in prose literature meaning 'to put to death' or 'execute.' In the Septuagint, it frequently translates Hebrew causative verbs meaning to kill, slay, or execute, both in judicial and narrative contexts. In the New Testament, θανατόω retains this core sense of causing death, but also develops extended, figurative uses: e.g., Romans 8:13 'putting to death the deeds of the body' (mortifying sinful actions or impulses). Here, the sense is 'to render powerless' or 'to subdue.' English translations often render θανατόω’s figurative sense as 'to mortify' (following the Latin Vulgate) or 'put to death.' The literal sense remains predominant, especially in contexts of legal execution, persecution, or literal killing. The term should be distinguished from ἀποκτείνω (to kill, with a more general or neutral sense) and φονεύω (to murder, generally implying illegality or malice).

Translation Consistency

primary "kill" 0 occurrences

The primary sense of θανατόω is to put to death—execute or cause to die—so the natural, single-word English equivalent is "kill." This verb is concise, common, and also covers the frequent figurative uses (e.g., to mortify or render passions powerless) in a way English readers will readily understand. "Kill" gives a consistent, natural rendering across all forms of this lemma.

Alternatives (11 occurrences):
"put to death" (7x) "might put to death" (1x) "putting to death" (1x) "those being put to death" (1x) "having been put to death" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from θάνατος to kill (literally or figuratively):--become dead, (cause to be) put to death, kill, mortify.

Root Family

θανατόω (thanatoō) — to put to death, to kill, to render powerless

Root θανατ- to put to death, to kill, to render powerless

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2289-04 θανατώσουσιν thanatosousin V FUT ACT IND 3P PL will put to death they will put to death they will put to death 3
G2289-02 θανατῶσαι thanatosai V AOR ACT INF put to death to put to death to put to death 2
G2289-07 θανατούμεθα thanatoumetha V PRS PASS IND 1P PL we are being put to death we were being put to death we are being put to death 1
G2289-01 ἐθανατώθητε ethanatothete V AOR PASS IND 2P PL have been put to death you were put to death you were put to death 1
G2289-05 θανατωθεὶς thanatotheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG having been put to death having been put to death having been put to death 1
G2289-06 θανατούμενοι thanatoumenoi V PRS PASS PTCP NOM M PL killed those being put to death those being put to death 1
G2289-03 θανατώσωσιν thanatososin V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P PL they might put to death they might put to death they might put to death 1
G2289-08 θανατοῦτε thanatoute V PRS ACT IND 2P PL you put to death you are putting to death you are putting to death 1

Occurrences in Scripture

11 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2289-04 Matthew 10:21 θανατώσουσιν thanatosousin V FUT ACT IND 3P PL will put to death they will put to death they will put to death
G2289-03 Matthew 26:59 θανατώσωσιν thanatososin V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P PL they might put to death they might put to death they might put to death
G2289-02 Matthew 27:1 θανατῶσαι thanatosai V AOR ACT INF put to death to put to death to put to death
G2289-04 Mark 13:12 θανατώσουσιν thanatosousin V FUT ACT IND 3P PL will put to death they will put to death they will put to death
G2289-02 Mark 14:55 θανατῶσαι thanatosai V AOR ACT INF to put to death to put to death to put to death
G2289-04 Luke 21:16 θανατώσουσιν thanatosousin V FUT ACT IND 3P PL they will put to death they will put to death they will put to death
G2289-01 Romans 7:4 ἐθανατώθητε ethanatothete V AOR PASS IND 2P PL have been put to death you were put to death you were put to death
G2289-08 Romans 8:13 θανατοῦτε thanatoute V PRS ACT IND 2P PL you put to death you are putting to death you are putting to death
G2289-07 Romans 8:36 θανατούμεθα thanatoumetha V PRS PASS IND 1P PL we are being put to death we were being put to death we are being put to death
G2289-06 2 Corinthians 6:9 θανατούμενοι thanatoumenoi V PRS PASS PTCP NOM M PL killed those being put to death those being put to death
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