Greek word · G2831

κλυδωνίζω

klydōnizō

to toss

To be agitated by waves (klydōn, 'rough water, surge'). Figuratively, to be thrown into turmoil or kept unsettled.

Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

κλυδωνίζομαι

(κλύδων), [in LXX: Isaiah 57:20 (גָּרַשׁ)* ;]

to be tossed by waves; metaphorically, to be tossed like waves (cf. FlJ, Ant., ix, 11, 3): Ephesians 4:14.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Ephesians 4:14

Range of meaning

To be agitated by waves (klydōn, 'rough water, surge'). Figuratively, to be thrown into turmoil or kept unsettled.

Against the English

'Tossed to and fro' (KJV) and 'tossed back and forth' (WEB) leave out the sea. BSB and NIV add 'by the waves' to make it explicit, which is a fair spelling-out of what the verb contains.

Used elsewhere in the period

LXX Isa 57:20: the wicked 'will be tossed like waves (klydōnisthēsontai) and will not be able to rest'. James 1:6 uses the noun klydōn for the doubter, 'like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind'. Josephus uses the word group for political turmoil.

Similar words

Where it appears

Ephesians · 1

  1. Ephesians 4:14 κλυδωνιζόμενοι being tossed by waves

    Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming.

    Here: Built on klydōn, 'rough surf, billow'. It pictures a small boat, or something floating, thrown about by the swell with no control over where it goes. The present tense means the tossing goes on and on.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.