συλάω
syláō
G4813 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To plunder or strip of possessions; in literary and historical contexts, to seize valuable items or goods by force, especially as an act of war or pillage. The term may apply to acts ranging from the literal stripping of armor and valuables from the dead after battle, to general acts of looting or robbery, particularly with a sense of violent or forcible deprivation. In broader Hellenistic usage, carries connotations of despoiling, seizing spoils, or robbing, often with an undertone of violation or injustice.
Semantic Range
to strip (especially of arms or valuables), to plunder, to despoil, to rob (by force), to loot, to take spoils (in war), to pillage
Root / Etymology
From a possible derivative of σκῦλον ('spoils, booty, arms stripped from the slain') or ultimately related to the root συλ- ('to strip, plunder'). The relationship to αἱρέω ('to take, seize') is conjectured on the basis of semblance in meaning, but is not certain. The development appears rooted in the practical wartime context of taking spoils from the fallen.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek (see Herodotus, Thucydides), συλάω commonly referred to stripping arms and valuables from dead combatants, an act often described as customary after battle. In the Hellenistic and Koine period, the focus broadened to include the plundering or robbing of individuals or places, retaining the forceful and often violent nuance. In the Septuagint, the verb frequently translates Hebrew terms for violent taking or plundering (e.g., בָּזַז, גָּזַל), reflecting both military and criminal contexts. In the New Testament, its usage is rare but always carries overtones of wrongful taking, looting, or spoiling. Standard English translations ('rob,' 'plunder,' 'despoil') do not always capture the vivid and forceful aspect of violating another's possession, nor the potential context of battlefield spoils. Unlike related verbs such as λῃστεύω ('to commit banditry'), συλάω connotes a focus on the act of taking valuables, especially in the aftermath of violence or conflict, rather than organized robbery or piracy.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from a derivative of (to strip; probably akin to αἱρέομαι; compare σκῦλον); to despoil:--rob.
Root Family
συλ- (syláō) — to strip, to plunder, to despoil
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4813-01 |
ἐσύλησα | esulesa | V AOR ACT IND 1P SG |
I robbed | I plundered | I plundered | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4813-01 |
2 Corinthians 11:8 | ἐσύλησα | esulesa | V AOR ACT IND 1P SG |
I robbed | I plundered | I plundered |