ἐκκακέω

From the study of 2 Corinthians 4:16

Range of meaning

Built from κακός ('bad, cowardly'). It means to behave badly or feebly in a situation: to lose nerve, slacken, grow weary, give up on a task. BDAG gives 'lose enthusiasm, be discouraged' and 'become weary, tired'. It describes losing resolve, not losing consciousness.

Against the English

BSB, NIV and ESV have 'lose heart', which is accurate. KJV and WEB have 'faint'. In 1611 'faint' meant 'lose courage, flag' (as in 'faint-hearted'), but today it mostly suggests passing out. YLT has 'faint not'.

How it drifted

The English word 'faint' narrowed over time. Its older sense, 'to weaken in spirit', survives only in phrases such as 'faint-hearted' and 'faint not'.

Used elsewhere in the period

The word is not found in the main Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament). It appears in Polybius (2nd century BC) and in Symmachus's later Greek translation of the Old Testament. In the New Testament it is almost entirely Paul's word (2 Cor 4:1, 16; Gal 6:9; Eph 3:13; 2 Thess 3:13), with one use in Luke 18:1, where people should pray 'and not lose heart'. Again and again it is set against continuing in a task.

From the study of Luke 18:1

Range of meaning

Built from en ('in') and kakos ('bad, weak, cowardly'). It means to behave badly through weakness: to lose heart, grow weary, slacken, flag, give up through discouragement. BDAG gives (1) 'lose enthusiasm, be discouraged' and (2) 'become tired of something'. The weight is on inner morale giving way, which then shows as quitting.

Against the English

KJV 'faint' meant 'lose courage, grow weak' in 1611, but modern readers hear 'pass out'. 'Give up' (NIV, NLT, WEB) names the outward result but misses the inner discouragement. 'Lose heart' (ESV, NASB, BSB) is closest.

How it drifted

English 'faint' narrowed over time. 'Faint-hearted' and 'faint not' kept the older sense of losing courage, but 'to faint' on its own now mostly means losing consciousness.

Used elsewhere in the period

Rare outside the New Testament. It is attested in Polybius (2nd century BC) for slackness or neglect, and in later Greek versions of the Hebrew Bible (e.g. Symmachus). In the NT it occurs only here and in Paul: 2 Cor 4:1, 16 ('we do not lose heart'); Gal 6:9 and 2 Thess 3:13 ('do not grow weary in doing good'); Eph 3:13. Paul likewise uses it for perseverance under pressure while waiting for a future that has not yet arrived.

From the study of Ephesians 3:13

Range of meaning

From ἐν/ἐκ + κακός ('bad'): to behave badly in a task, slacken, be remiss; then to tire, grow weary, lose courage, give up. BDAG gives 'lose enthusiasm, be discouraged' and 'become weary, tired.' In the NT the word always carries the sense of quitting under pressure, not just feeling sad.

Against the English

'Be discouraged' (BSB, NIV) catches the emotion. 'Lose heart' (WEB, ESV, NASB) is closer, because it includes giving up. KJV/YLT 'faint' meant 'lose courage, flag' in 1611 but now suggests passing out.

How it drifted

The KJV's 'faint' has narrowed in modern English to physical collapse. 'Discouraged' can sound like a passing mood, whereas the Greek word is about slackening or abandoning a course.

Used elsewhere in the period

Rare outside Christian writings. Polybius uses it for being remiss or slack, and it appears in Symmachus's Greek Old Testament. In the NT it is almost entirely Pauline: 2 Cor 4:1, 16 ('we do not lose heart', also about apostolic suffering), Gal 6:9 and 2 Thess 3:13 ('do not grow weary in doing good'). The exception is Luke 18:1, 'always pray and not lose heart.'