πελεκ-ίζω G3990
to behead, to execute by decapitation with an axe
This verb means to behead or execute by cutting off the head with an axe (pelekys). In Revelation 20:4, John sees the souls of those who 'had been beheaded' for their testimony about Jesus and the word of God. The term specifically denotes execution by axe, a method used in Roman capital punishment. It highlights the martyrdom and persecution faced by early Christians who refused to compromise their faith.
Senses
1. sense 1 — To execute by beheading, specifically with an axe. John's vision in Revelation honors those martyred for their witness to Christ, whose beheading exemplifies ultimate faithfulness unto death. The cross-lingual evidence ('having-been-beheaded,' 'decapitados,' 'Enthauptete') uniformly emphasizes the violent method of execution, underscoring the reality of persecution and the reward of reigning with Christ. 1×
AR["الَّذينَ قُطِعَتْ رُؤوسُهُمْ"]·ben["শিরশ্ছেদকৃতদের"]·DE["Enthauptete"]·EN["having-been-beheaded"]·FR["Enthauptete"]·heb["הַנֶּעֱרָפִים"]·HI["सिर-कटे-हुओं-के"]·ID["dipenggal"]·IT["pepelekismenōn"]·jav["ingkang-dipun-penggal"]·KO["참수-당한-자들의"]·PT["decapitados"]·RU["обезглавленных"]·ES["decapitados"]·SW["waliokatwa-vichwa"]·TR["başı-kesilenlerin"]·urd["سر-کٹوائے-ہوئے"]
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
πελεκ-ίζω, cut off with an axe, especially behead, τινα NT+2nd c.BC+