ἀγρεύω (agreuō)
agreuō
to catch
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb agreuō means to catch or capture, specifically through the active pursuit of hunting or fishing. Its root noun refers to game or prey, which gives the word a concrete image of setting traps or chasing down an animal to secure it. In the Old Testament Greek translations, this term describes physical acts of taking animals, such as in Proverbs where it warns against being caught by the snares of an adulterous person.
In the New Testament, the word appears only once, in Mark 12:13. Here, religious leaders send spies to "catch" Jesus in his speech. They are not merely trying to hear him; they are actively hunting for a flaw in his logic to hand him over to Roman authority. The metaphor shifts from catching animals to trapping a person with words.
This single usage highlights the word’s sharp edge. It is not a neutral act of observation but an aggressive attempt to seize someone through deception. Translators often render this as "trap" or "catch," preserving the sense of a deliberate, hostile hunt rather than a simple conversation.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word agreuō paints a vivid picture of active pursuit. It describes the deliberate act of hunting or trapping prey, moving beyond simple observation to a focused effort to capture something or someone. In its single New Testament appearance, this language is turned against Jesus by religious leaders who seek to entrap Him with tricky questions. They are not seeking truth; they are setting a verbal snare to secure a political advantage.
For your faith life, this word serves as a sobering reminder that not all interactions are honest. There are times when words are used as weapons rather than bridges. Yet, the narrative shows that Jesus was not caught in their trap. He saw through the deception and responded with wisdom that left His opponents silent. This offers hope: no scheme designed to silence truth or confuse believers can ultimately succeed against divine clarity.
When you face difficult conversations or those who seek to manipulate your words, remember that integrity is your strongest defense. You do not need to outwit every trap; you only need to remain grounded in truth. The same wisdom that disarmed Jesus’ enemies is available to guide your speech and protect your heart from harmful schemes.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they may catch1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀγρεύσωσιν1×
Key Verses
-
Mark 12:13
They sent some of the Pharisees and the Herodians to him, that they might trap him with words.
This verse uniquely applies the hunting metaphor to a verbal trap, showing how religious leaders actively sought to catch Jesus in His speech rather than engage in genuine dialogue.