συλαγωγέω
sylagōgéō
G4812 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
to carry off as spoil or booty, to lead away as plunder; in figurative usage, to capture or gain control over someone through deception or influence. The primary sense is the act of physically seizing and taking away captive, with developed figurative applications to intellectual or spiritual seduction or subjection.
Semantic Range
to carry off as plunder; to lead away as booty or captive; to subject someone through deception or influence; to gain control by seizing or seducing; (figuratively) to make a captive mentally, spiritually, or intellectually
Root / Etymology
From συλάω (to strip, plunder, despoil) and ἄγω (to lead, bring); the verb is a compound meaning 'to lead away as spoil.' The formation suggests the act of guiding or dragging away something or someone that has been seized or taken by force.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical and Hellenistic Greek, συλαγωγέω is rare and is not broadly attested outside Koine and Christian texts. In the New Testament (Colossians 2:8), it appears with a metaphorical meaning—warning against being led astray or 'taken captive' by philosophy and empty deceit. The underlying imagery remains that of war booty or people being carried off in conquest, but the context expands its use to non-literal forms of coercion or seduction. English translations often render it 'captive' or 'carry off as spoil,' but this does not always capture the full nuance of being intellectually or spiritually subjugated. The verb contrasts with similar terms for 'leading away' (such as ἐξάγω or ἀπάγω), as it stresses the aspect of seizure as plunder.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from the base of συλάω and (the reduplicated form of) ἄγω; to lead away as booty, i.e. (figuratively) seduce:--spoil.
Root Family
συλαγωγέω (sylagōgeō) — to despoil, to strip, to lead away as plunder, to capture
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4812-01 |
συλαγωγῶν | sulagogon | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
captive | one leading away as plunder | one leading away as plunder | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4812-01 |
Colossians 2:8 | συλαγωγῶν | sulagogon | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
captive | one leading away as plunder | one leading away as plunder |