σπᾰράσσω G4682
to convulse, tear, or throw into violent spasms; used of demonic seizures causing bodily contortions
A verb describing violent tearing, convulsing, or rending—often used of wild animals tearing flesh from bone. In the NT, all three uses describe demons throwing their victims into convulsions before departing (Mark 1:26, 9:26, Luke 9:39). The classical background includes combat wounds, tearing apart in rage, and medical spasms. The Gospel writers capture the violent, uncontrollable nature of demonic affliction: bodies seized and thrashing, torn by forces beyond human control, only released when Jesus commands.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Spanish uses 'convulsionar' consistently, English 'convulse/convulsing', while German shows both 'zerren' (to pull/tear) and transliteration 'σπαράσσει'. French 'déchirer' (to tear) preserves the original violent sense. The exorcism narratives show this as a final, desperate act—the demon convulses its victim one last time before being expelled, displaying both its malice and its powerlessness before Jesus' authority. 3×
AR["صَارِعًا", "صَرَعَهُ", "يُمَزِّقُهُ"]·ben["কাঁপিয়ে", "ছিঁড়ে-ফেলে"]·DE["zerren", "σπαράσσει"]·EN["convulses", "convulsing"]·FR["déchirer"]·heb["מְטַלְטֵל", "פִּרְפֵּר"]·HI["मरोड़कर", "मरोड़ती-है"]·ID["mencabik-cabik", "mengejang"]·IT["sparassei", "sparaxan", "sparaxas"]·jav["ngguncangaken", "nggègèr", "nyuwek"]·KO["경련시키고"]·PT["convulsionando", "o-convulsiona"]·RU["сотрясает", "сотрясши"]·ES["convulsionando", "habiéndolo-convulsionado", "lo-convulsiona"]·SW["akimtikisa", "akimtikisa-kwa-nguvu", "humtupa-chini"]·TR["sarsarak", "sarsıp", "sarsıyor"]·urd["مروڑ-کر", "مروڑتی-ہے"]
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
σπᾰράσσω, Attic dialect σπαράττω Refs 5th c.BC+, future -ξωRefs 4th c.BC+: aorist ἐσπάραξα Refs 5th c.BC+, future -ξομαιRefs 5th c.BC+ —passive,perfect ἐσπάρακται (δι-) Refs 4th c.BC+:—tear, rend, especially of dogs, carnivorous animals, and the like, σάρκας ἐσπάρασσ᾽ ἀπ᾽ ὀστέων Refs 5th c.BC+ —middle, σπαράσσεσθαι κόμαν tear one's hair, Refs 5th c.BC+ __2 rend asunder, φάραγγα βροντῇ.. πατὴρ…