σύρω (surō)
surō
to drag
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb surō describes the physical act of dragging or drawing something with force. It appears in five New Testament verses, primarily in the Gospels and Acts, conveying a sense of heavy, often reluctant movement. The word implies that the object being moved does not go willingly, requiring external power to pull it along.
Its usage highlights scenes of urgency or violence. In John 21:6, fishermen drag a net full of fish onto the shore, showing laborious effort. More starkly, Acts 8:3 records Saul dragging believers from their homes, while Acts 17:6 describes mobs dragging Jason before city officials. These instances emphasize the lack of consent and the physical burden involved in the action.
The term likely shares an etymological root with words meaning to trail or pull behind. Translators consistently render it as "drag" or "draw," preserving the visceral image of resistance against gravity or will. This concrete vocabulary helps readers visualize the tension in biblical narratives where characters are forcibly moved from one place to another.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word surō paints a vivid picture of forceful movement, where an object or person is pulled along against their will or natural inclination. In the New Testament, this term appears in moments of intense physical action, from fishermen hauling heavy nets to mobs forcibly removing individuals from their homes. These scenes highlight the raw power involved when one party compels another to move.
For believers, these accounts serve as a reminder of the realities of conflict and perseverance. When Paul was dragged out of a city or Jason was pulled before officials, it underscores the cost of standing firm in faith during turbulent times. The imagery helps us understand that following Christ can sometimes involve being pulled through difficult circumstances by forces beyond our control.
Yet even in these harsh contexts, there is hope. God’s presence often accompanies those who are dragged, sustaining them when they cannot move themselves. This word invites reflection on how we respond when life feels like it is pulling us in directions we did not choose, trusting that divine purpose can still be at work.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they were dragging [him]1×
- they were dragging1×
- drags1×
- dragging off1×
- dragging1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἔσυρον2×
- σύρων1×
- σύροντες1×
- σύρει1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 8:3
But Saul ravaged the assembly, entering into every house and dragged both men and women off to prison.
This verse shows Saul using surō to forcibly remove believers from their homes, highlighting the violent persecution early Christians faced.
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Acts 17:6
When they didn’t find them, they dragged Jason and certain brothers before the rulers of the city, crying, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here also,
Here, a mob drags Jason before city officials, illustrating how public unrest could lead to unjust legal confrontation for those supporting Paul.
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John 21:8
But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits away), dragging the net full of fish.
The disciples drag the net full of fish, demonstrating the physical labor and teamwork required in their miraculous catch after Jesus' resurrection.