θραύω G2352
to break, shatter, or crush; metaphorically, to oppress or break down someone's spirit
The verb θραύω carries both physical and metaphorical senses of breaking or shattering. Literally, it describes breaking objects into pieces—pottery, rock, or wings—but classical authors also used it figuratively for breaking down hope, crushing spirit, or enfeebling strength. In Luke 4:18, Jesus quotes Isaiah using the perfect passive participle to describe those who are "oppressed" or "crushed," likely referring to the downtrodden and broken-spirited. The French "brisé" (broken) and Spanish "oprimidos" (oppressed) capture the metaphorical extension from physical to spiritual/social brokenness.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Luke's citation of Isaiah 61 employs the perfect passive participle τεθραυσμένους to describe a class of people needing liberation—those "crushed" or "oppressed." Classical usage shows θραύω moving from literal shattering (breaking wings, smashing rocks) to metaphorical crushing of hope or spirit. The multilingual evidence splits between emphasizing oppression (Spanish "oprimidos") and brokenness (French "brisé"), both valid extensions of the root idea. This single New Testament use appears in Jesus' programmatic announcement of his mission to the marginalized and broken. 1×
AR["المُنسَحِقينَ"]·ben["ভঙ্গদের"]·DE["τεθραυσμένους"]·EN["oppressed"]·FR["brisé"]·heb["רְצוּצִים"]·HI["कुचले-हुओं-को"]·ID["yang-tertindas"]·IT["tethrausmenous"]·jav["ingkang-dipun-tindhas"]·KO["압제된-자들-을"]·RU["угнетённых"]·ES["a-los-oprimidos"]·SW["waliodhulumiwa"]·TR["ezilenleri"]·urd["کچلے-ہوئوں-کو"]
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
θραύω, Epic dialect imperfect θραύεσκον Refs 5th c.AD+: future -σωRefs 5th c.BC+: aorist 1 ἔθραυσα Refs 5th c.BC+:—passive, future θραυσθήσομαι Refs 2nd c.AD+aorist ἐθραύσθην (see. below), (κατ-) Refs 5th c.BC+: perfect τέθραυσμαι Refs 5th c.BC+:—break in pieces, shatter, Refs 5th c.BC+ —passive, θραυομένης τῆς πέτρης flying into pieces, Refs 5th c.BC+; πτερὰ θραύονται have their wings broken,…