ῥύομαι

rhýomai

G4506 verb

SILEX Entry

Root ῥυ- to rescue, to deliver, to draw away

Definition

To rescue, deliver, or save from danger, hardship, or threatening circumstances; to draw or pull someone or something away from peril, oppression, or harm, often with a sense of decisive intervention or liberation. In various contexts, it can refer to physical removal from danger, liberation from captivity, or figurative deliverance from evil, suffering, or hostile powers.

Semantic Range

to rescue, to deliver from danger, to liberate, to draw out, to preserve from harm, to snatch away, to save from trouble or evil

Root / Etymology

ῥύομαι is the middle voice form built from the root ῥυ- (to draw, pull, drag or flow), related to the verb ῥέω (to flow). The precise etymological relationship between ῥύομαι and ῥέω is debated but both share the root idea of movement or drawing away. The form ῥύομαι is attested in earlier Greek (Homeric, Attic) and maintained into Koine.

Historical & Contextual Notes

ῥύομαι is found throughout classical and Hellenistic Greek literature, ranging from Homer to later Koine sources. In the Septuagint, it frequently translates Hebrew forms of the root נצל (n-ts-l, 'to snatch away, rescue'), often as divine or royal deliverance from enemies, danger, or distress. In New Testament usage, it commonly refers to God's or the Messiah's act of rescuing individuals or communities from physical, spiritual, or eschatological threats, but the meaning remains that of decisive removal from peril rather than a general act of saving. English translations ("deliver," "rescue") often capture the primary sense, but "deliver" can obscure the connotation of forceful or active intervention. The verb retains a strong sense of physical or metaphorical liberation. Notably, ῥύομαι typically emphasizes the agent's action on behalf of the one delivered, often with shades of protection, extraction, or preservation.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

middle voice of an obsolete verb, akin to ῥέω (through the idea of a current; compare ῥύσις); to rush or draw (for oneself), i.e. rescue:--deliver(-er).

Root Family

ῥύομαι (rhýomai) — to rescue, to deliver, to draw away

Word Forms

12 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G4506-09 ῥύσεται rusetai V FUT MID IND 3P SG will rescue he/she/it will rescue for himself/herself 4
G4506-01 ἐρρύσατο errusato V AOR MID IND 3P SG delivered he rescued for himself 3
G4506-10 ῥυσθέντας rusthentas V AOR PASS PTCP ACC M PL being rescued having been rescued 1
G4506-04 ῥύεσθαι ruesthai V PRS MID INF to rescue to rescue for oneself 1
G4506-12 ῥυσθῶμεν rusthomen V AOR PASS SUBJ 1P PL we may be delivered that we may be rescued 1
G4506-11 ῥυσθῶ rustho V AOR PASS SUBJ 1P SG I may be delivered may I be rescued 1
G4506-06 ῥυόμενος ruomenos V PRS MID PTCP NOM M SG Deliverer the one rescuing 1
G4506-07 ῥῦσαι rusai V AOR MID IMP 2P SG Rescue! 1
G4506-05 ῥυόμενον ruomenon V PRS MID PTCP ACC M SG delivers the one rescuing 1
G4506-08 ῥυσάσθω rusastho V AOR MID IMP 3P SG let him rescue 1

Occurrences in Scripture

17 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G4506-07 Matthew 6:13 ῥῦσαι rusai V AOR MID IMP 2P SG Rescue!
G4506-08 Matthew 27:43 ῥυσάσθω rusastho V AOR MID IMP 3P SG let him rescue
G4506-10 Luke 1:74 ῥυσθέντας rusthentas V AOR PASS PTCP ACC M PL being rescued having been rescued
G4506-09 Romans 7:24 ῥύσεται rusetai V FUT MID IND 3P SG he/she/it will rescue for himself/herself
G4506-06 Romans 11:26 ῥυόμενος ruomenos V PRS MID PTCP NOM M SG Deliverer the one rescuing
G4506-11 Romans 15:31 ῥυσθῶ rustho V AOR PASS SUBJ 1P SG I may be delivered may I be rescued
G4506-01 2 Corinthians 1:10 ἐρρύσατο errusato V AOR MID IND 3P SG he rescued for himself
G4506-09 2 Corinthians 1:10 ῥύσεται rusetai V FUT MID IND 3P SG he/she/it will rescue for himself/herself
G4506-09 2 Corinthians 1:10 ῥύσεται rusetai-2 V FUT MID IND 3P SG he/she/it will rescue for himself/herself
G4506-01 Colossians 1:13 ἐρρύσατο errusato V AOR MID IND 3P SG rescued he rescued for himself