ἀναλίσκω (analiskō)
analiskō
to consume
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb analiskō describes the act of consuming or expending something until it is used up. Its root combines a prefix indicating intensity with a base meaning to eat or devour, creating a sense of thorough consumption. In the New Testament, this word appears in only two verses, yet its impact is significant. It moves beyond simple eating to imply a complete depletion of resources.
In Luke 9:54, Jesus rejects the idea that his disciples should call down fire to consume those who reject them. Here, the word carries a heavy theological weight, contrasting divine judgment with the mercy Jesus came to bring. The sources note its use in Galatians 5:15 as well, where biting and devouring one another leads to mutual destruction. This usage highlights the self-defeating nature of conflict.
Translators often render this word as "consume" or "devour," capturing the finality of the action. Unlike words that merely suggest eating, analiskō implies a process that leaves nothing behind. The sources connect it to the Old Testament usage where it translates Hebrew terms for finishing or exhausting. This consistent imagery underscores the total nature of the consumption described in these texts.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word analiskō paints a stark picture of total consumption. It describes a process where resources are not just used, but exhausted until nothing remains. In our daily lives, this can mirror the way anger or conflict drains our emotional and spiritual energy. When we allow resentment to take root, it does not stay contained; it spreads, leaving us depleted and empty.
Jesus addresses this directly in Luke 9:54, rejecting the disciples' desire to call down fire to destroy those who rejected Him. This moment reveals a heart of mercy that refuses to participate in destructive consumption. Instead of seeking to wipe out opposition, He offers a different path—one that preserves life rather than ending it.
Paul echoes this warning in Galatians 5:15, cautioning believers against biting and devouring one another. The result is mutual destruction, where everyone involved is consumed by the very conflict they started. This word reminds us that destructive actions ultimately harm the actor as much as the target. We are invited to choose a way of living that builds up rather than tears down, finding strength in grace instead of retaliation.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- you may be consumed.1×
- to consume1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀναλῶσαι1×
- ἀναλωθῆτε.¶1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 9:54
When his disciples, James and John, saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from the sky and destroy them, just as Elijah did?”
Jesus rejects the disciples' proposal to use fire to consume those who reject Him, highlighting His mission of mercy over destructive judgment.
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Galatians 5:15
But if you bite and devour one another, be careful that you don’t consume one another.
Paul warns that biting and devouring one another leads to mutual consumption, showing how internal conflict destroys the community from within.