κολοβόω (koloboō)
koloboō
to shorten
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb koloboō means to cut off or shorten something, often with a sense of mutilation or amputation. Its root relates to being docked or clipped, suggesting a forceful reduction rather than a gentle trimming. In the New Testament, this word appears only twice, both in the Synoptic Gospels, where it describes the drastic shortening of time.
Jesus uses this striking imagery in His Olivet Discourse to describe the tribulation preceding His return. He states that unless the Lord had shortened those days, no one would survive (Matthew 24:22; Mark 13:20). Here, koloboō conveys a divine intervention that cuts the period of suffering short to preserve life. The word’s visceral nature emphasizes the severity of the crisis and the urgency of God’s mercy in limiting its duration.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word koloboō paints a vivid picture of divine mercy in the midst of overwhelming crisis. It describes a forceful cutting short of time, ensuring that suffering does not reach its full, destructive potential. When Jesus spoke these words, He was addressing a future period of intense trouble, yet His message was one of protection rather than fear.
This imagery reminds us that God holds the boundaries of our trials. Just as He shortened those prophetic days to preserve life, He limits the burdens we carry today. We do not face hardship alone or indefinitely; His grace intervenes to sustain us through the darkest seasons.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- will be shortened1×
- was shortened1×
- shortened1×
- He has shortened1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐκολόβωσεν2×
- ἐκολοβώθησαν1×
- κολοβωθήσονται1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 24:22
Unless those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved. But for the sake of the chosen ones, those days will be shortened.
This verse highlights the purpose of the shortening: to ensure that 'no flesh would have been saved' without divine intervention, emphasizing God's protective limit on suffering.
-
Mark 13:20
Unless the Lord had shortened the days, no flesh would have been saved; but for the sake of the chosen ones, whom he picked out, he shortened the days.
Here the text specifies that the shortening occurs 'for the sake of the chosen ones,' linking the act directly to God's electing love and preservation of His people.