Greek word · G4422
πτοέω
ptoeō
to frighten
Active: to scare or terrify. Passive (as here): to be terrified, panicked, alarmed, 'scared out of one's wits'. It suggests agitation and flight, being shaken loose from one's footing (BDAG s.v. πτοέω; LSJ).
Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·
What it means
πτοέω, -ῶ
[in LXX chiefly for חָתַת ni. ;]
to terrify. Pass., to be terrified: Luke 21:9 24:37 (WH, mg., θροηθέντες).†
(AS)
From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).
In depth
- Range of meaning
Active: to scare or terrify. Passive (as here): to be terrified, panicked, alarmed, 'scared out of one's wits'. It suggests agitation and flight, being shaken loose from one's footing (BDAG s.v. πτοέω; LSJ).
- Against the English
BSB's 'alarmed' is a little soft, and KJV/WEB 'terrified' is closer. Mark and Matthew use a different verb, throeō ('be disturbed, thrown into commotion'). Luke picks a stronger word for real fright.
- Used elsewhere in the period
In the NT it occurs only in Luke: 21:9 and 24:37, where the disciples are 'terrified and frightened' at the risen Jesus. In the Septuagint (the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible) it often goes with 'do not fear' commands and frequently stands for the Hebrew verb ḥatat ('be shattered, dismayed'), as in God's words to prophets facing hostile crowds.
Where it appears
Luke · 2
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Luke 21:9 πτοηθῆτε· may be terrified;
When you hear of wars and rebellions, do not be alarmed. These things must happen first, but the end is not imminent.”
Here: 'Do not be terrified' or 'don't let yourselves be panicked'. This is fright that shakes a person and makes them act. Luke uses the same verb for the disciples' terror when they think the risen Jesus is a ghost (24:37).
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Luke 24:37 πτοηθέντες Having been terrified
But they were startled and frightened, thinking they had seen a spirit.
Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.