βιάζω (biazō)
biazō
to force
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb biazo carries the forceful sense of using power to push through an obstacle or compel a result. In the New Testament, it appears only twice, yet its impact is significant because it describes the intense energy required to enter the kingdom of God. The word implies more than simple effort; it suggests a violent or urgent pressure that refuses to be ignored.
Its usage in Matthew 11:12 and Luke 16:16 has generated considerable discussion among scholars regarding whether this force is directed by believers against spiritual resistance or by those opposing the kingdom. Some interpret the active sense as disciples aggressively seizing the blessings of God, while others view the passive form as the kingdom suffering attack from hostile forces. Both readings highlight the seriousness of the spiritual struggle involved.
Etymologically, the term derives from bia, meaning violence or force, which underscores its raw and unyielding nature. Translators often render it as "suffer violence" or "force its way," choices that reflect the word’s inherent tension between aggression and determination. This lexical weight reminds readers that entering God’s realm is not a passive experience but one marked by decisive, urgent action.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word biazō describes a forceful pressure, like pushing through a crowded door or breaking an obstacle. In the New Testament, it appears only twice, yet it carries heavy weight. It reminds us that entering God’s kingdom is not a passive drift but an urgent, decisive engagement with reality.
This intensity can feel daunting, but it is rooted in love. The kingdom of God is so valuable that it demands our whole heart. Whether we see this as believers pressing forward against resistance or the kingdom facing opposition, the call remains the same: take hold of what God offers with serious intent and unwavering focus.
Let this truth encourage you to stop hesitating. The path to God is open, but it requires us to move with purpose. Approach your faith not with casual indifference, but with the determined energy that recognizes the infinite worth of divine grace and eternal life.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- is taken by violence,1×
- forces his way.1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- βιάζεται.1×
- βιάζεται,1×
Key Verses
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Matthew 11:12
From the days of John the Baptizer until now, the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.
This verse highlights the tension between the kingdom suffering violence and the violent taking it, showing how the word captures both external opposition and intense internal pursuit.
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Luke 16:16
“The law and the prophets were until John. From that time the Good News of God’s Kingdom is preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.
Here the term emphasizes that from John’s time onward, the Good News demands an urgent, forceful response from everyone who hears it, marking a shift in spiritual urgency.