σκύλλω (skullō)
skullō
to trouble
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb skullō carries a visceral image of rough handling, originally meaning to skin or flay an animal. In the New Testament, this physical violence shifts into emotional distress, describing how people are vexed, troubled, or annoyed by bad news. It captures the jarring impact of sudden, unwelcome events on the human spirit.
Lexical sources highlight its use in three key moments where grief strikes unexpectedly. In Mark 5:35 and Luke 8:49, messengers arrive to say Jairus’s daughter has died, and the text says they troubled him with this news. Similarly, in Matthew 9:36, the crowds are described as distressed or harassed, like sheep without a shepherd, emphasizing their vulnerable state.
A distinct usage appears in Luke 7:6, where the centurion tells Jesus not to skullō himself by coming to his house. Here, the middle voice suggests troubling oneself unnecessarily. This rare instance shows the word can apply to self-imposed worry or inconvenience, though its primary force remains the external pressure of distressing circumstances.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word skullō paints a vivid picture of being roughed up or deeply disturbed. In the Gospels, it describes the heavy weight of bad news that strikes without warning, leaving hearts shaken and minds clouded with grief. When Jairus received the message that his daughter had died, this sudden blow troubled him profoundly, shifting his hope into despair in an instant.
Yet Jesus’ response to such distress offers a gentle invitation rather than a harsh command. In Luke 7:6, the centurion asks Jesus not to trouble himself, showing a humility that recognizes human limits. We are reminded that while circumstances may harass us like scattered sheep, we do not need to carry the burden of trying to fix everything alone. Peace comes from trusting that God is present even when life feels overwhelming.
This word invites us to acknowledge our vulnerability without shame. It is okay to feel shaken by loss or fear. Instead of forcing ourselves to be strong, we can bring our raw emotions to Jesus, who meets us in our brokenness with compassion and grace.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- troubled1×
- trouble you1×
- do trouble1×
- do be troubled;1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐσκυλμένοι1×
- σκύλλου·1×
- σκύλλεις1×
- σκύλλε1×
Key Verses
-
Mark 5:35
While he was still speaking, people came from the synagogue ruler’s house, saying, “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the Teacher any more?”
This verse captures the sudden shock of grief as news of death troubles Jairus, shifting his situation from hope to despair.
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Luke 8:49
While he still spoke, one from the ruler of the synagogue’s house came, saying to him, “Your daughter is dead. Don’t trouble the Teacher.”
Here the same moment is recorded with a plea for Jesus not to trouble himself, highlighting the tension between human urgency and divine timing.
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Luke 7:6
Jesus went with them. When he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying to him, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I am not worthy for you to come under my roof.
The centurion uses the middle voice to ask Jesus not to trouble himself, showing humility and an awareness of his own unworthiness.