κῠλίω G2947
was rolling about, wallowing (in convulsions)
Mark describes the demon-possessed boy's violent reaction when brought to Jesus: the spirit 'immediately convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth' (Mark 9:20). The verb depicts rolling, thrashing movement—the violent convulsions caused by demonic torment. The same root appears in the 'wallowing' of pigs in mud, but here it describes involuntary, painful thrashing. The scene emphasizes the demon's cruelty and the boy's helplessness before Jesus intervenes.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Mark's vivid narrative captures the demon's violent assault on the boy—convulsing, falling, rolling on the ground, foaming. The imperfect tense suggests ongoing, repeated rolling and thrashing. The verb relates to rolling or wallowing, here applied to convulsive movements beyond the victim's control. Spanish 'rodaba' and German 'sich wälzen' both capture the rolling motion. This demonstrates the demon's cruelty and malice, making the father's desperate plea to Jesus all the more poignant. The rolling ceases when Jesus commands. 1×
AR["كَانَ-يَتَدَحْرَجُ"]·ben["গড়াগড়ি-দিচ্ছিল"]·DE["sich-waelzen"]·EN["was-rolling"]·FR["se-rouler"]·heb["הִתְגַּלְגֵּל"]·HI["लोटता-था"]·ID["ia-berguling"]·IT["ekulieto"]·jav["glundhung-glundhung"]·KO["구르고-있었다"]·PT["rolava"]·RU["катался"]·ES["rodaba"]·SW["aliviringika"]·TR["yuvarlanıyordu"]·urd["لوٹتا-تھا"]
Related Senses
G0846 1. third-person pronoun reference (5552×)H???? 1. (4670×)H6213a 1. do, perform, act (2383×)G4160 1. do, act, perform (473×)H5221 1. Hifil: to strike in battle, smite enemies (362×)H0899b 1. garment, article of clothing (216×)H6213a 2. make, construct, fabricate (148×)H3772 1. cut a covenant / make a pact (97×)H5060 1. touch physically (Qal) (96×)H3615 1. complete a task (Piel) (85×)H3772 2. cut off / destroy (Hifil causative) (81×)H3920 1. capture, seize (Qal) (76×)H???? 12. (76×)H3772 3. be cut off / be eliminated (Niphal) (74×)H6213a 3. be done, be made (Niphal) (73×)G4160 2. make, construct, create (62×)H3847 1. Qal: put on, wear (60×)H8210 1. pour out (liquid/libation) (59×)G2440 1. garment or clothing (general) (54×)H4191 4. kill / put to death (Hifil causative) (50×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
κῠλίω [ῑ], later form of κυλίνδω: (προσ-) κύλιε Refs 5th c.BC+:—roll along, γαστέρας αἱμοβόρως ἐκύλιον, of serpents, Refs 3rd c.BC+; λόγοις τοὺς ῥήτορας κ. rolling them over, Refs codices: frequently in later Gr., LXX:—passive, roll, whirl along, Refs 4th c.BC+; of bees, grovel, Refs 1st c.BC+; κ. περὶ τὴν ἀγοράν to be always loitering there, Refs 4th c.BC+; roll about, in pantomime, Refs __2 roll up, ἣν κυλίουσι κόπρον (i.e. κάνθαροι) Refs