πνίγω (pnigō)
pnigō
to choke
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb pnigō means to choke or strangle, describing a physical suffocation that cuts off breath and life. In the New Testament, it appears in only three verses, yet its imagery is vividly concrete. It describes the thorns in Jesus’ parable of the sower that crowd out the seed, preventing it from growing (Matthew 13:7). Here, the word captures how competing cares suffocate spiritual potential before it can take root.
Its force comes from its literal sense of constriction. The sources note it can also mean to drown, as when a herd of pigs is driven into the sea and perishes (Mark 5:13). This usage extends the idea of choking to being overwhelmed by water. Translators typically render it "choked" or "drowned," preserving the finality of the physical act. The word does not suggest a gradual fading but a sudden, decisive end caused by external pressure.
This term highlights the danger of distraction in biblical teaching. Just as thorns physically stifle the plant, worldly anxieties can spiritually suffocate the message. The parable uses this harsh reality to warn listeners that hearing is not enough; one must ensure nothing else takes priority. The word’s brevity and intensity make it a powerful reminder of what happens when life’s priorities are misaligned.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word pnigō carries a heavy, physical weight. It describes the sudden act of choking or being overwhelmed to the point of suffocation. In the parable of the sower, thorns do not merely compete with the seed; they actively choke it out (Matthew 13:7). This vivid imagery reminds us that spiritual growth requires space. When we allow anxiety, greed, or other distractions to crowd our hearts, we risk stifling the life God intends to grow within us.
We see this same force of overwhelming pressure in Mark 5:13, where a herd of pigs is driven into the sea and drowned. The word here shifts from plant suffocation to being completely submerged by an external force. It suggests a loss of control and a decisive end caused by circumstances beyond one's ability to resist. Whether it is the slow squeeze of daily worries or a sudden crisis, pnigō warns us against letting anything take the place of God.
This word invites us to examine what is currently crowding our attention. It does not ask for perfection but for priority. By identifying the 'thorns' in our lives, we can make room for faith to breathe. May you find peace in releasing those burdens that seek to suffocate your spirit, trusting instead in God’s sustaining grace.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they were drowned1×
- he was throttling [him]1×
- choked1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἔπνιξαν1×
- ἔπνιγεν1×
- ἐπνίγοντο1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 13:7
Others fell among thorns. The thorns grew up and choked them.
This verse uses the word to describe how thorns physically strangle the seed, illustrating how worldly cares can prevent spiritual growth before it begins.
-
Mark 5:13
At once Jesus gave them permission. The unclean spirits came out and entered into the pigs. The herd of about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and they were drowned in the sea.
Here the term describes a herd of pigs being driven into the sea and drowned, extending the idea of choking to being overwhelmed and destroyed by water.
-
Matthew 18:28
“But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him one hundred denarii, and he grabbed him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’
In this narrative context, the word depicts a servant grabbing another by the throat, using the physical act of strangulation to show harshness and lack of mercy.