δαμάζω (damazō)
damazō
to tame
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb damazō means to tame or subdue something wild into obedience. In the New Testament, it appears only three times, primarily in the Gospels and the letter of James. Its core sense involves bringing a restless force under control through restraint.
Jesus uses this word when describing the Gadarene demoniac, who had been untamable until Christ’s power subdued him (Mark 5:4). The imagery is visceral: a person or spirit that was previously uncontrollable is now held in check. This physical taming sets the stage for James’ famous metaphor in chapter 3.
James extends the concept to human speech, noting that while various animals can be damazō, the tongue is "a restless evil" that no one can fully tame (James 3:7-8). The contrast highlights the unique difficulty of controlling one’s words compared to wild beasts. Translators typically render it as "tame," capturing the idea of forced obedience rather than gentle training.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word damazō describes the act of bringing something wild under control. In Mark’s Gospel, it paints a stark picture of the Gadarene demoniac. Chains and fetters could not hold him; human strength failed completely. Only Jesus had the power to tame this restless spirit, showing that true peace comes from divine authority, not our own efforts.
James uses this same word to highlight a deeper struggle: the human tongue. While we can subdue lions and snakes, our words often remain wild and unpredictable. This contrast reminds us that self-control is a gift we need help with. It invites us to look beyond our own willpower to the Source of all order.
When your thoughts or words feel chaotic, remember that Christ tamed the untamable in Mark 5. You do not have to master yourself alone. His grace offers a steadying hand for every restless part of your life.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to subdue.1×
- to subdue1×
- is subdued1×
- he has been subdued1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- δεδάμασται1×
- δαμάσαι.1×
- δαμάσαι1×
- δαμάζεται1×
Key Verses
-
Mark 5:4
because he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been torn apart by him, and the fetters broken in pieces. Nobody had the strength to tame him.
This verse shows the word’s literal sense, emphasizing that human strength is powerless against spiritual wildness.
-
James 3:7
For every kind of animal, bird, creeping thing, and sea creature is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind;
Here the word contrasts with the tongue, noting that while nature yields to control, speech resists it.
-
James 3:8
but nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
This occurrence underscores the unique difficulty of taming human speech compared to any animal.