αἰχμάλωτος (aichmalōtos)
aichmalōtos
captive
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective aichmalōtos describes a person taken as a prisoner in war, literally meaning "captured by a spear." Its components point directly to this violent origin: aichmē refers to the spear itself, while the second part derives from a verb meaning to be caught or seized. In the Septuagint, the Greek term frequently translates Hebrew words for captivity or exile, carrying the weight of defeat and loss of freedom.
This word appears only once in the New Testament, in Luke 4:18, where Jesus reads from the scroll of Isaiah. He declares that the Spirit has anointed him to proclaim liberty to the captives (tois aichmalōtois). Here, the term is not merely about physical imprisonment but encompasses those held in bondage by oppression or sin. The image evokes someone bound and led away, highlighting the total rescue offered through his mission.
Translators typically render this word as "captives" or "prisoners," preserving the sense of being forcibly taken. Unlike general terms for prisoners, aichmalōtos emphasizes the military context of capture, making Jesus’ declaration of freedom particularly striking against the backdrop of Roman occupation and spiritual enslavement.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word aichmalōtos paints a vivid picture of someone seized in battle and led away as a prisoner. In Luke 4:18, Jesus reads this term from Isaiah to describe His mission. He does not just speak of physical prisons, but of the deeper captivity that holds people down—whether it be sin, despair, or oppression.
For you, this means your freedom is not something you earn through effort, but a gift announced by the Spirit. Jesus came to break chains that seem unbreakable. When you feel trapped by circumstances or inner struggles, remember that His anointing brings release. He offers a hope that reaches into the deepest parts of your life.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to [the] captives1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- αἰχμαλώτοις1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 4:18
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim release to the captives, recovering of sight to the blind, to deliver those who are crushed,
This verse uses aichmalōtos to show Jesus claiming His role as the liberator who brings freedom to those bound by spiritual and physical oppression.