πατάσσω
patássō
G3960 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To strike or hit, typically with force or intent. The term can convey a range of striking actions, from a blow dealt gently (such as a knock) to a forceful or even fatal strike. In some contexts, especially in narrative or judicial scenes, it can refer specifically to wounding or killing by striking. The sense of inflicting injury or punishment through striking is contextually prominent.
Semantic Range
to strike, to hit, to smite, to deal a blow (mild or severe), to kill by striking, to punish by striking, to knock (gently or with intent), to inflict injury or judgment through striking
Root / Etymology
Formed from the root πατ- with the causative verb ending -άσσω, possibly related to or a lengthened form of παίω (to strike, hit). There is some uncertainty regarding derivational nuances, but the root sense remains consistent with striking or hitting. Compare also τύπτω (to beat, strike repeatedly).
Historical & Contextual Notes
πατάσσω occurs in the Septuagint and New Testament, often as a translation of Hebrew נָכָה (nākhah, to strike, smite). In classical Greek, the term is rare; the more common verb is παίω or τύπτω, and its use expands in Koine, especially in Hellenistic-Jewish and biblical literature. In the LXX, it frequently refers to divine or military smiting—wounding, killing, or punishing. In the New Testament, it connects to episodes of physical harm (e.g., striking the servant, slaying by the angel), and the broader sense includes both literal (physical blow) and figurative (inflicting punishment or calamity) uses. English translations often render it as "to smite" or "to strike" but sometimes obscure whether the action is gentle (as in knocking) or violent (as in killing). πρός (to, toward) is a common preposition with πατάσσω, specifying the recipient of the blow. Distinguished from τύπτω, which focuses on repeated blows or beating, and from παίω, the more general term for striking.
Translation Consistency
Patássō primarily means to strike or hit (including knock, smite, wound, or kill by striking). “Strike” is the most natural, flexible English verb that covers the full semantic range from a gentle knock to a forceful, injurious blow and appears as the most common rendering in the corpus; it reads naturally across tenses and contexts for consistent use.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
probably prolongation from παίω; to knock (gently or with a weapon or fatally):--smite, strike. Compare τύπτω.
Root Family
πατάσσω (patassō) — to strike, to hit, to knock
Word Forms
6 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3960-03 |
πατάξας | pataxas | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
having struck | having struck | having struck | 3 |
G3960-05 |
πατάξω | pataxo | V FUT ACT IND 1P SG |
I will strike | I will strike | I will strike | 2 |
G3960-01 |
ἐπάταξεν | epataxen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
struck | he struck | he struck | 2 |
G3960-04 |
πατάξῃ | pataxe | V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG |
he might strike | he may strike | he may strike | 1 |
G3960-06 |
πατάξομεν | pataxomen | V FUT ACT IND 1P PL |
we strike | we will strike | we will strike | 1 |
G3960-02 |
πατάξαι | pataxai | V AOR ACT INF |
to strike | to strike | to strike | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
10 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3960-05 |
Matthew 26:31 | πατάξω | pataxo | V FUT ACT IND 1P SG |
I will strike | I will strike | I will strike |
G3960-03 |
Matthew 26:51 | πατάξας | pataxas | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
struck | having struck | having struck |
G3960-05 |
Mark 14:27 | πατάξω | pataxo | V FUT ACT IND 1P SG |
I will strike | I will strike | I will strike |
G3960-06 |
Luke 22:49 | πατάξομεν | pataxomen | V FUT ACT IND 1P PL |
we strike | we will strike | we will strike |
G3960-01 |
Luke 22:50 | ἐπάταξεν | epataxen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
struck | he struck | he struck |
G3960-03 |
Acts 7:24 | πατάξας | pataxas | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
striking | having struck | having struck |
G3960-03 |
Acts 12:7 | πατάξας | pataxas | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
having struck | having struck | having struck |
G3960-01 |
Acts 12:23 | ἐπάταξεν | epataxen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
struck | he struck | he struck |
G3960-02 |
Revelation 11:6 | πατάξαι | pataxai | V AOR ACT INF |
to strike | to strike | to strike |
G3960-04 |
Revelation 19:15 | πατάξῃ | pataxe | V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG |
he might strike | he may strike | he may strike |