λυμαίνομαι (lumainomai)
lumainomai
to ravage
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb lumainomai describes a violent act of outrage or maltreatment that leaves a lasting stain. It carries the sense of defiling something pure or ruining it through shameless injury. In the New Testament, this word appears only once, in Acts 8:3, where it depicts Saul’s aggressive persecution of the early church.
Its root suggests filth or corruption, emphasizing that the action is not just physical but morally repulsive. The sources note its use in the Septuagint for similar acts of devastation and defilement. Here, it captures the intensity of the hostility faced by believers, portraying Saul’s actions as a deliberate attempt to dishonor and scatter the community.
Translators typically render this word as "ravaged" or "maltreated," highlighting the destructive nature of the persecution. The term underscores the severity of the opposition, showing that the attack was not merely administrative but deeply personal and degrading. This single usage provides a stark picture of the church’s early struggles against organized hostility.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word lumainomai paints a stark picture of violence that seeks to strip away dignity. In Acts 8:3, it describes how Saul tore into the early church with such force that he dragged men and women from their homes to prison. This was not just disagreement; it was an attempt to defile and scatter the community through shameless injury.
Yet this darkness did not have the final word. The very persecution described here scattered believers across Judea and Samaria, turning a moment of terror into the spread of the Gospel. When you face hostility or fear for your faith, remember that God can use even the most violent opposition to advance His purpose. Your safety in Christ is secure, regardless of human threats.
This word reminds us that spiritual warfare is real and often painful. But it also shows that no amount of ravaging can destroy the body of Christ. We stand with those who suffered then, trusting that God preserves His people through every storm.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- was destroying1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐλυμαίνετο1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 8:3
But Saul ravaged the assembly, entering into every house and dragged both men and women off to prison.
This is the only New Testament occurrence, where Saul's violent scattering of believers demonstrates the word's sense of ruinous maltreatment.