συλαγωγέω (sulagōgeō)
sulagōgeō
to capture
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb sulagōgeō describes the act of carrying off booty or leading someone away as a captive. Its meaning is rooted in military conquest, combining words for "spoils" and "to lead." In the New Testament, it appears only once, in Colossians 2:8, where Paul warns believers not to be taken prisoner by human philosophy.
This usage transforms a term of physical violence into a spiritual warning. The sources indicate that Paul uses it metaphorically to describe those who are led astray from the truth and subjected to false teachings. It suggests being captured by ideas rather than held by force, emphasizing the danger of intellectual or cultural influences that enslave the mind.
Translators typically render this word as "taken captive" or "led away as plunder." The image is vivid: just as an army carries off defeated enemies and their goods, false wisdom can strip a person of their freedom in Christ. The word highlights the seriousness of doctrinal error, framing it not merely as a mistake but as a form of spiritual captivity.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word sulagōgeō paints a striking picture of being taken as plunder in war. Paul uses this rare term in Colossians to warn us against human philosophies that strip away our freedom in Christ. It reminds us that ideas can be just as binding as physical chains, leading us away from the truth we hold dear.
This warning invites us to examine what shapes our thinking. When we encounter teachings that seem clever but drift from Christ, we are called to stay rooted in Him. Our faith is not about avoiding difficult questions, but about keeping our hearts anchored in the reality of Jesus, who sets us free.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- is taking captive1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- συλαγωγῶν1×
Key Verses
-
Colossians 2:8
Be careful that you don’t let anyone rob you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the elemental spirits of the world, and not after Christ.
Paul uses this unique verb to describe how human philosophy can lead believers away from Christ as if they were war captives.