κωλύω (kōluō)
kōluō
to prevent
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 23 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb kōluō means to hinder, prevent, or forbid an action. It appears twenty-three times in the New Testament, often describing a situation where someone is stopped from doing something by external circumstances or authority. For instance, Jesus uses it when he tells his disciples not to stop children from coming to him (Mark 10:14), and Philip employs it when asking if anything prevents water from being used for baptism (Acts 8:36).
Its usage is quite practical, covering both physical obstruction and verbal prohibition. In Acts 27:43, the centurion forbids the soldiers from killing the prisoners, showing how the word applies to commands given by those in power. Conversely, in 1 Timothy 4:3, it describes false teachers who forbid marriage, illustrating its use in setting restrictions on behavior.
Translators typically render kōluō as "forbid," "hinder," or "prevent" depending on the context. The word carries a sense of active restraint, whether by speech or action. It highlights the tension between human agency and divine permission, as seen when Paul notes that God had previously prevented him from traveling to certain regions (Acts 16:7).
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word kōluō reminds us that God’s plans often take unexpected paths. When Paul writes about being hindered from visiting certain regions, he shows that a closed door is not always a failure but sometimes divine redirection. This perspective helps us trust God’s timing even when our immediate desires are blocked.
We also see this word in Jesus’ gentle rebuke to those who tried to stop children from coming to him. It teaches us to remove barriers rather than create them, especially for the vulnerable. In baptism, it assures us that no human obstacle can stop God’s grace when the heart is ready. This verb invites us to look beyond our own limited view and see how God works through both open doors and closed ones.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 23 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- do forbid4×
- we were forbidding2×
- to forbid2×
- forbidding2×
- you hindered.1×
- was hindered1×
- to withhold1×
- they are hindering1×
- prevents1×
- may do withhold.1×
- it restrained1×
- hindered1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- κωλύετε5×
- ἐκώλυσεν2×
- ἐκωλύομεν2×
- κωλύει2×
- κωλυόντων2×
- ἐκωλύσατε.¶1×
- ἐκωλύθην1×
- κωλῦσαί1×
- κωλῦσαι1×
- κωλύσῃς.¶1×
- κωλύοντα1×
- κωλύετε·1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 16:6
When they had gone through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.
This verse shows the Holy Spirit actively preventing travel, illustrating that divine guidance often works by redirection rather than just direction.
-
Mark 10:14
But when Jesus saw it, he was moved with indignation and said to them, “Allow the little children to come to me! Don’t forbid them, for God’s Kingdom belongs to such as these.
Jesus uses this word to correct those who placed social barriers in the way of children, highlighting God’s inclusive welcome for the humble.
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Acts 8:36
As they went on the way, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Behold, here is water. What is keeping me from being baptized?”
The eunuch’s question reveals that baptism is accessible to anyone who believes, with no external factor serving as a valid hindrance to grace.
-
I Timothy 4:3
forbidding marriage and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
This occurrence warns against human rules that restrict God’s good gifts, showing how false teachings often try to prevent believers from enjoying freedom in Christ.