εἴκω (eikō)
eikō
to resemble
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb eikō means to be like or to resemble something else. It appears only twice in the New Testament, both times in the Book of James. In these instances, it serves as a simple descriptive term for similarity between two things.
Etymologically, the word is linked to the idea of being a copy or an image. The sources suggest a connection to the concept of faintness or likeness, implying that one thing mirrors another. This root sense helps clarify its usage in Scripture, where it highlights a direct correspondence.
Translators typically render eikō as "like" or "resemble." Its rarity in the New Testament makes each occurrence significant. By using this specific term, the author of James emphasizes a clear and undeniable similarity, grounding his argument in observable facts rather than abstract concepts.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word eikō simply means to resemble or be like. It is a straightforward term used to draw a clear picture of similarity between two things. In the New Testament, it appears only twice, both in the letter of James. This rarity gives each usage special weight, as the author chooses this specific word to highlight an undeniable comparison.
When we read that a doubter is like a wave tossed by the wind, or that a hearer who does not act is like a man looking in a mirror, we see eikō at work. These are not abstract ideas but concrete images. They help us understand our spiritual condition through everyday observations. The word invites us to look closely at how our actions match—or fail to match—what we believe.
For your faith life, this reminds us that belief is meant to be visible. Just as a mirror shows our face, our deeds reflect the truth we hold inside. This simple comparison encourages honesty about where we stand, offering a gentle invitation to align our lives with what we know to be true.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- he has been likened1×
- has been likened1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἔοικεν2×
Key Verses
-
James 1:6
But let him ask in faith, without any doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed.
The word eikō describes the doubter as resembling an unstable sea wave, emphasizing how external forces can toss a person who lacks inner conviction.
-
James 1:23
For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his natural face in a mirror;
Here eikō compares a hearer who does not obey to someone glancing at their natural face in a mirror, highlighting the fleeting nature of mere observation without action.