λακτίζω G2979
to kick, to kick against (with the heel or foot)
This verb means to kick or strike with the heel or foot. It appears in Jesus' words to Saul/Paul on the Damascus road in Acts 9:5 and 26:14 (the latter being Paul's retelling): 'It is hard for you to kick against the goads (πρὸς κέντρα λακτίζειν).' The image is agricultural: an ox kicking back against the sharp goad that prods it only injures itself further. Jesus' words picture Saul's resistance to divine calling as futile and self-destructive. Classical usage included literal kicking (trampling the fallen, kicking doors) and horses kicking what annoys them. The NT usage is this single proverbial metaphor.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Acts 9:5 and 26:14 both record Jesus' words to Saul: 'hard for you to kick (λακτίζειν) against the goads.' The image is of an ox kicking back against the farmer's prod, hurting itself. The multilingual glosses are simple: Spanish 'dar coces' (to kick), English 'to kick,' French and German 'donner des coups de pied/λακτίζειν' (to give kicks). The proverbial expression was known in Greek and possibly Hebrew/Aramaic contexts, picturing futile resistance to divine direction. 2×
AR["أَنْ-تَرْفُسَ", "تَرْفُسَ"]·ben["লাথি-মারা", "লাথি-মারিতে"]·DE["λακτίζειν", "λακτίζειν}"]·EN["to-kick"]·FR["donner-des-coups-de-pied"]·heb["לִבְעֹט"]·HI["लात-मारना", "लातमारना।"]·ID["menendang.", "menendang}"]·IT["dare-calci"]·jav["nunjang.", "nyepak}."]·KO["발길질하기-는", "차기를"]·PT["recalcitrar", "recalcitrar."]·RU["идти", "прыгать"]·ES["dar-coces"]·SW["kupiga-mateke", "kupiga-teke"]·TR["tekmelemek"]·urd["لات-مارنا"]
Related Senses
H0935 1. come, arrive (Qal) (2413×)G1473 1. first person singular pronoun (2084×)H3318 1. Qal: go out, depart, come forth (891×)H7725 1. to return, come/go back (Qal) (874×)H5927 1. go up, ascend (Qal) (779×)H7971 1. to send, dispatch (Qal) (701×)G2064 1. come / arrive (physical movement toward) (588×)H5307 1. Qal: fall down physically (339×)H5375 1. Qal: to lift up, raise (330×)H5975 1. to stand, stand up (310×)H5674a 1. Qal: pass by, pass through (256×)H3381 1. Qal: to go down, descend (physical movement) (242×)G1831 1. go/come out physically (193×)H5337 1. deliver, rescue, save (Hifil) (188×)H7901 1. lie down, rest, sleep (183×)G1525 1. enter a place physically (179×)H7812 1. prostrate oneself, bow down, worship (173×)H3318 2. Hifil: bring out, lead out, take out (persons) (172×)H7725 2. to bring back, restore (Hifil) (151×)H5674a 2. Qal: cross over (134×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
λακτίζω, perfect λελάκτῐκα Refs 5th c.BC+:—kick with the heel or foot, λ. ποσὶ γαῖαν, of a defeated boxer, Refs 8th c.BC+; φλὸξ αἰθέρα λακτίζοισα καπνῷ flames lashing heaven with smoke, Refs 5th c.BC+; κραδία δὲ φόβῳ φρένα λακτίζει my heart 'knocks at my ribs' for fear, Refs 4th c.BC+; τὸν πεσόντα λακτίσαι trample on the fallen, Refs 4th c.BC+; λ. βωμὸν εἰς ἀφάνειαν trample on the altar so as…