χειρᾰγωγ-έω G5496
to lead by the hand, guide someone physically
χειραγωγέω (from χείρ 'hand' + ἀγωγή 'leading') means to lead someone by taking their hand—to guide physically, as one would lead a blind or helpless person. Acts uses the verb twice in accounts of Saul's conversion. In Acts 9:8, after his encounter with the risen Christ on the Damascus road, Saul 'rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand (χειραγωγοῦντες) and brought him into Damascus.' In Acts 22:11, Paul recounts the same event: 'Since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand (χειραγωγούμενος) by those who were with me.'
Senses
1. sense 1 — Both uses describe the same historical moment: Saul struck blind, needing to be physically guided into Damascus. The proud Pharisee, formerly confident in his own sight and direction, must now be led helpless by the hand. The French mener par la main preserves the literal hand-leading sense. Luke's point is clear: divine encounter reduces human self-sufficiency to helplessness, requiring new guidance. The one who thought he saw clearly now needs others to lead him, preparing him to receive true sight from Ananias. 2×
AR["قَادُوهُ-بِيَدِهِ", "مَقُودًا-بِيَدِي"]·ben["হাত-ধরে-চালিত-হয়ে", "হাত-ধরে-নিয়ে"]·DE["χειραγωγούμενος", "χειραγωγοῦντες"]·EN["being-led-by-hand", "leading-by-hand"]·FR["mener-par-la-main"]·heb["הוּבַלְתִּי־בְּיָד", "מוֹבִילִים-בְּיָד"]·HI["हाथ-पकड़कर", "हाथ-पकड़ा-जाकर"]·ID["dituntun", "menuntun"]·IT["condurre-per-mano"]·jav["dipun-tuntun", "nuntun-tangan"]·KO["손-끌어서", "손을-끌려"]·PT["guiando-pela-mão"]·RU["ведомый-за-руку", "ведущие-за-руку"]·ES["guiándole-de-la-mano", "llevado-de-la-mano"]·SW["nikiongozwa-kwa-mkono", "wakimshika-mkono"]·TR["el-tutulan", "elinden-tutanlar"]·urd["ہاتھ-پکڑ-کر", "ہاتھ-پکڑ-کر-لایا-جاتا-ہوا"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
χειρᾰγωγ-έω, lead by the hand, τινα LXX+1st c.AD+: generally, guide, direct, φρυκτώρια ἐς ἀσφαλεῖς καταγωγὰς τὰς ναῦς χ. Refs 2nd c.AD+; χ. τούτῳ τὴν ἔξοδον will guide his exit, Procop.Gaz.Refs 1st c.BC+; also 'lead by the nose', cajole, Refs 2nd c.BC+:—passive, LXX+3rd c.BC+