κουφίζω
kouphízō
G2893 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To make light in weight, to reduce a load or burden (literally or metaphorically); to alleviate, ease, or relieve something burdensome. In context, can refer to physically unloading a ship or burden, or figuratively to alleviating hardship or trouble.
Semantic Range
to lighten (in weight), to unload (cargo or burden), to relieve or alleviate (metaphorically), to ease hardship
Root / Etymology
From the adjective κουφός (kouphos, ‘light’ in weight or not heavy), with the -ίζω (-izō) verbal ending forming a causative verb: 'to make [something] light(er)'.
Historical & Contextual Notes
κουφίζω appears in post-classical and Koine Greek, most often in technical or practical contexts such as seafaring (e.g., unloading cargo from a ship to make it lighter). In biblical Greek (e.g., Acts 27:18) it is used to describe the reducing of weight from a vessel. In other texts, it can gain figurative nuance, meaning to ease trouble or lessen hardship. English translations usually render the term ‘to lighten’ (as in removing weight), but the metaphorical sense ‘to alleviate’ may also apply in wider Hellenistic usage. In classical contexts, the root adjective κουφός could mean frivolous or unreliable, but the verbal form is almost always literal or practical. Related to but distinct from βαρινω (to weigh down, make heavy).
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from (light in weight); to unload:--lighten.
Root Family
κουφίζω (kouphizō) — to make light, to alleviate, to relieve
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2893-01 |
ἐκούφιζον | ekouphizon | V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL |
they were lightening | they were lightening | they were lightening | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2893-01 |
Acts 27:38 | ἐκούφιζον | ekouphizon | V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL |
they were lightening | they were lightening | they were lightening |