τήκω (tēkō)
tēkō
to melt
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb tēkō describes the physical process of melting, whether in the active sense of liquefying a solid or the passive sense of something dissolving away. Its core meaning is straightforward: to become liquid through heat. In the New Testament, this word appears only once, in 2 Peter 3:12, where it depicts the dissolution of the earth and heavens at the day of judgment.
This single usage carries significant theological weight by contrasting the permanence of God’s promises with the fragility of the current creation. The image is not merely of destruction, but of transformation through intense heat. While the word itself does not specify the source of the heat, the context in Peter points to a divine fire that will unmake the present order. Translators typically render it as "dissolve" or "melt away," capturing the sense of solid reality losing its form.
The rarity of the term highlights its specific function here. It is not used for ordinary melting, such as wax in a candle, but for the cosmic scale of creation returning to a fluid state before being remade. This vivid imagery reinforces Peter’s argument that believers should live holy lives while waiting for this inevitable change.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word tēkō describes a solid turning into liquid under intense heat. In 2 Peter 3:12, it paints a picture of the heavens dissolving and elements melting away. This vivid image reminds us that our current world is not permanent. Everything we see will eventually lose its form.
Yet this destruction is not the end of the story. It clears the way for new heavens and a new earth. Peter uses this powerful imagery to encourage believers to live holy lives while they wait. The fragility of the present order highlights the certainty of God’s promises.
You can find comfort in knowing that God’s word stands firm even when the physical world changes. This hope anchors your faith, allowing you to look forward with peace rather than fear as you await Christ’s return.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- are melting?1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- τήκεται;1×
Key Verses
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II Peter 3:12
looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, which will cause the burning heavens to be dissolved, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?
This verse uses tēkō to describe the cosmic dissolution of the elements by divine fire, emphasizing the temporary nature of the current creation.