εἴκω (eikō)
eikō
to yield
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb eikō means to give way or yield in a conflict or dispute. It describes the act of submitting one’s own position to another, often under pressure or as a concession. In the New Testament, this word appears only once, in Galatians 2:5, where Paul refuses to yield authority over the gospel truth to certain individuals.
Its core sense involves bending or giving ground, rather than being defeated by force. The context in Galatians highlights a firm stand against compromising the message of grace for the sake of legalistic demands. Translators typically render it "yield" or "give way," capturing the idea of refusing to submit to an unjust claim.
This single usage underscores the importance of holding fast to theological integrity when faced with external pressure. Paul’s refusal to eikō demonstrates that some truths are non-negotiable, even in the face of significant opposition from within the community.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word εἴκω (eikō) carries the simple but heavy meaning of yielding or giving way. In the New Testament, it appears only once, in Galatians 2:5. Here, Paul describes a moment where he refused to give an inch of ground to those who wanted to impose legal requirements on Gentile believers. He did not yield, even for a single hour, to protect the truth of the Gospel.
This passage reminds us that standing firm in our faith sometimes means resisting pressure to compromise what we know is true. It is not about being stubborn or unkind, but about protecting the core message of grace. When we face demands that distort the Gospel, we are called to hold fast, trusting that God’s truth does not need our concession to remain valid.
May you find strength in this example. When challenges arise that threaten your peace or your understanding of God’s love, remember that holding firm is an act of faithfulness. You are supported by a history of believers who chose integrity over ease, and by the grace that sustains us all.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- did we yield1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- εἴξαμεν1×
Key Verses
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Galatians 2:5
to whom we gave no place in the way of subjection, not for an hour, that the truth of the Good News might continue with you.
This verse records Paul’s explicit refusal to yield authority to false brothers, using εἴκω to emphasize that even a momentary concession would endanger the Gospel truth.