ἐκδῐ-ώκω G1559
To persecute, drive out, chase away; to pursue with hostile intent or expel forcefully
This compound verb means to chase away, drive out forcefully, or persecute. In 1 Thessalonians 2:15, Paul describes the Jews who killed Jesus and the prophets as those who 'drove us out' and displease God. The verb combines the intensive prefix with 'pursue/chase,' creating a term for aggressive expulsion or persecution. Classical usage confirms meanings of banishing, chasing away, or attacking/persecuting. The multilingual evidence (Spanish 'que persiguieron' = who persecuted, French and German both mean 'persecute/pursue') conveys hostile pursuit or forceful expulsion.
Senses
1. sense 1 — First Thessalonians 2:15 describes those 'having driven out (ἐκδιωξάντων)' Paul and his companions, in the context of killing Jesus and prophets. Spanish 'que persiguieron' (who persecuted) and German 'verfolgen' (persecute) both emphasize hostile pursuit rather than mere expulsion. The aorist participle indicates completed action—they successfully expelled Paul. Classical usage ranged from simple 'chase away' to 'attack/persecute,' with the latter sense fitting Paul's context of sustained opposition. This isn't casual dismissal but aggressive expulsion. 1×
AR["طَرَدوا"]·ben["তাড়নাকারী"]·DE["verfolgen"]·EN["having-driven-out"]·FR["ἐκδιωξάντων"]·heb["רוֹדְפִים"]·HI["सतने-वअलोन"]·ID["menganiaya"]·IT["ekdiōxantōn"]·jav["ngusir;"]·KO["핍박한"]·PT["perseguiram"]·RU["изгнавших"]·ES["que-persiguieron"]·SW["waliotufukuza"]·TR["kovdular"]·urd["نکالا"]
Related Senses
H4421 1. war, battle, armed conflict (319×)H0341 1. enemy, adversary, foe (284×)H3898a 1. Nifal: to fight, wage war (167×)H2026 1. kill, slay (active) (146×)H2451 1. wisdom, discernment (146×)H5483b 1. horse (the animal) (138×)H0006 1. to perish, be destroyed (105×)H7843 1. Hifil: destroy, annihilate (83×)H2491a 1. slain, fatally pierced (74×)H6862c 1. adversary, enemy, foe (69×)H8045 1. destroy, exterminate (69×)G0615 1. kill, put to death (60×)H6571b 1. horseman, cavalryman (52×)H8077a 1. desolation, waste (abstract state) (52×)G4678 1. of wisdom (51×)G4717 1. crucify, fasten to a cross (46×)H2763a 1. utterly destroy (Hifil active) (44×)G0622 1. perish, be destroyed (intransitive) (41×)H0006 2. to destroy, annihilate (Piel) (38×)H8074 1. be desolate, lie waste (36×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἐκδῐ-ώκω, chase away, banish, Refs 5th c.BC+; attack, persecute, Refs 6th c.AD+, etc.:—passive, Refs 4th c.BC+