What does αἰχμαλωτίζω (aichmalōtízō) mean in the Bible?
αἰχμαλωτίζω (aichmalōtízō): Enslaves the mind or will to opposing power, whether literal captivity or spiritual/intellectual subjugation
Greek · G163
αἰχμαλωτίζω
To make captive
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αἰχμαλωτίζωG163
Pronunciationaichmalōtízō
What does αἰχμαλωτίζω (aichmalōtízō) mean in the Bible?
αἰχμαλωτίζω (aichmalōtízō): Enslaves the mind or will to opposing power, whether literal captivity or spiritual/intellectual subjugation
Full entry for αἰχμαλωτίζω (G163) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G163?
The BSB source-word alignment has 4 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include be led captive (1), captivate (1), holding me captive (1), we take captive (1).
Where does αἰχμαλωτίζω (aichmalōtízō) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Luke 21:24. Its strongest book concentrations include 2 Corinthians (1), 2 Timothy (1), Luke (1), Romans (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itbe led captive1×Luke 21:24
captivate1×2 Timothy 3:6
holding me captive1×Romans 7:23
we take captive1×2 Corinthians 10:5
Show sample aligned rows
Luke 21:24αἰχμαλωτισθήσονταιtobe led captiveVerb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person PluralRomans 7:23αἰχμαλωτίζοντάtoholding me captiveVerb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Singular2 Corinthians 10:5αἰχμαλωτίζοντεςtowe take captiveVerb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural2 Timothy 3:6αἰχμαλωτίζοντεςtocaptivateVerb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowLuke 21:24
Aligned rows4
Books represented4
Luke1Romans12 Corinthians12 Timothy1
Source forms
αἰχμαλωτίζοντες2xaichmalōtizontes2 Corinthians 10:5, 2 Timothy 3:6
αἰχμαλωτίζοντά1xaichmalōtizontaRomans 7:23
αἰχμαλωτισθήσονται1xaichmalōtisthēsontaiLuke 21:24
Parsing patterns
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural2x2 Corinthians 10:5, 2 Timothy 3:6
Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural1xLuke 21:24
Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Singular1xRomans 7:23
Evidence Summary
Greek word. Enslaves the mind or will to opposing power, whether literal captivity or spiritual/intellectual subjugation
Strong'sG163
Lexical occurrences4 versesGreek text appearances3 timesWord forms2 forms4 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkLuke 21:24Source Gloss
to make captive
Extended definitionSource: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith
Enslaves the mind or will to opposing power, whether literal captivity or spiritual/intellectual subjugation
(αἰχμάλωτος), [in LXX chiefly for שׁבה ;] in late writers = cl. αἰχμάλωτον ποιῶ (ἄγω), to take or lead captive: before εἰς, Luk.21:24 (cf. Tob.1:10); metaphorically, Rom.7:23, 2Co.10:5, 2Ti.3:6.
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpusGreek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
3 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
Luke 21:24Verb Third Person Plural Future Passive Indicative
αἰχμαλωτισθήσονταιaicmalwtisqhsontai
I take captive, subdue, ensnare
Read verseRomans 7:23Verb Present Active Participle Accusative Singular Masculine
αἰχμαλωτίζοντάaicmalwtizonta
I take captive, subdue, ensnare
Read verse2 Corinthians 10:5Verb Present Active Participle Nominative Plural Masculine
αἰχμαλωτίζοντεςaicmalwtizontev
I take captive, subdue, ensnare
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
Grammatical Forms
How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups2Aligned forms4TensesPresent, FutureVoicesActive, Passive
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
Tenses
Voices
Participleverbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality3×
Present Active2 Cor 10:5 · 2 Tim 3:6 · Rom 7:233×
Indicativestates a fact or reality1×
Future PassiveLuke 21:241×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 4 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
present3future1
Voice
active3passive1
Mood
participle3indicative1
NT Occurrences
Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.
Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)
Where It Appears in Scripture
Where this word appears in Scripture: passage, original form, and sense in context.
Biblical Witnesses
Jerusalem's inhabitants taken captive by foreign armies in literal warfare
Metaphorical enslavement of the mind to the law of sin within human nature
Taking every thought into captivity through obedience to Christ in spiritual warfare
False teachers leading vulnerable women into spiritual captivity through deception
Word Origins
αἰχμαλωτίζω is built from this root:
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.