τραυματίζω (traumatizō)
traumatizō
to wound
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb traumatizō means to inflict a physical wound, derived directly from the noun trauma meaning "wound" or "injury." In the New Testament, it is used sparingly, appearing in only two passages: Luke 20:12 and Acts 19:16. Its usage is strictly literal, describing bodily harm rather than emotional or spiritual distress.
In Luke’s Gospel, this word describes the fate of a servant sent by a landowner to collect fruit from his vineyard tenants. The servants were beaten and treated shamefully, with one specifically described as wounded (traumatizō) before being sent away empty-handed. This vivid detail underscores the escalating violence and rejection faced by the owner’s messengers.
The same term appears in Acts 19:16, where an evil spirit overpowers a man attempting to exorcise demons in Jesus’ name. The victim is so severely injured that he flees the house naked and wounded. Here, traumatizō highlights the physical reality of spiritual conflict, showing that demonic power can cause tangible bodily harm.
Its rarity in Scripture makes each occurrence stand out. Both instances involve violent rejection or supernatural opposition resulting in physical injury. The word serves as a stark reminder of the costs faced by those who serve God or encounter hostile spiritual forces.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word traumatizō appears in Scripture to describe real, physical injury. In Luke’s parable, a servant is wounded while trying to collect fruit for his master. This detail shows that serving God can involve genuine hardship and rejection from those who oppose His purposes. The pain is not metaphorical; it is a tangible cost of faithfulness.
Acts 19:16 records another instance where a man is overpowered by an evil spirit and leaves naked and wounded. This reminds us that spiritual conflict can have physical consequences. It validates the seriousness of the battle we face, acknowledging that our struggles are not just in the mind but can affect our whole being.
When you encounter difficulty or opposition, know that your suffering is seen. God does not dismiss physical pain as unimportant. Instead, He walks with you through it, offering strength when you feel weak and hope when the situation seems dark.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- wounded1×
- having wounded1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- τραυματίσαντες1×
- τετραυματισμένους1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 20:12
He sent yet a third, and they also wounded him and threw him out.
This verse uses the word to show the escalating violence against God’s messengers, highlighting the real cost of serving Him in a hostile environment.
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Acts 19:16
The man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
Here the term underscores the physical danger posed by spiritual forces, showing that demonic opposition can result in tangible bodily harm and humiliation.