Greek word · G5143

τρέχω

trechō

to run

τρέχω: to run (literally); to strive, exert oneself; of a message, to spread quickly. εἰς κενόν: 'into emptiness', i.e. for nothing, without result.

Appears 20 times in 17 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

τρέχω

[in LXX chiefly for רוּץ ;]

to run: Mark 5:6, John 20:2, 4, 1 Corinthians 9:24 9:26; with inf., Matthew 28:8; before ἐπί, Luke 24:12 [T [WH] R, mg., om.]; εἰς, Revelation 9:9; ptcp., δραμών, with indic., Matthew 27:48, Mark 15:36, Luke 15:20. Metaphorical, from runners in a race, of swiftness or of effort to attain an end: Romans 9:16, Galatians 2:2 5:7, Philippians 2:16; τ. ἀγῶνα (Hdt., Eur., al.), Hebrews 12:1; ὁ λόγος τ. κυρίου (cf. Psalms 147:4), ἕως τάχους δραμεῖται ὁ λ. αὐτοῦ), 2 Thessalonians 3:1 (cf. εἰς-, κατα-, περι-, προ-, προσ-, συν-, ἐπι-συν-, ὑπο-τρέχω)

δράμω, obsol., to run, see: τρέχω

(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 Galatians 2:2

Range of meaning

τρέχω: to run (literally); to strive, exert oneself; of a message, to spread quickly. εἰς κενόν: 'into emptiness', i.e. for nothing, without result.

Against the English

Most versions keep 'run… in vain'. Some paraphrase it as 'my efforts wasted', which loses the athletic picture. 'In vain' is accurate but archaic.

Used elsewhere in the period

Paul uses the running picture for his ministry in Phil 2:16 ('that I did not run in vain or labour in vain'), 1 Cor 9:24-26 (the stadium), and Gal 5:7 (the Galatians 'were running well'). Labouring 'in vain' (eis kenon) appears in Greek Isaiah 65:23 and, in close wording, in the Servant's lament in Isa 49:4. Paul describes his own call in that Servant chapter's language in Gal 1:15 (cf. Isa 49:1). The Psalms (147:4 LXX) and 2 Thess 3:1 speak of God's word 'running'.

From the study of 1 Corinthians 9:26

Range of meaning

To run: literally on foot, and in a figurative sense to strive, to press on toward a goal. In Paul it is a favourite image for his mission and for persevering in faith.

Against the English

'Run' translates it well. Nothing is lost in English.

Used elsewhere in the period

LXX Ps 118:32 (=119:32), 'I ran the way of your commandments.' Paul uses it of his apostolic labour: Gal 2:2 'lest I should be running or had run in vain'; Phil 2:16 'that I did not run in vain'; Gal 5:7 'you were running well'; Rom 9:16. Greek moralists and Hellenistic Jewish writers (Philo; 4 Maccabees 17:11–16) also describe the moral life as an athletic contest.

From the study of Philippians 2:16

Range of meaning

To run, especially in a footrace. Used figuratively for effort spent toward a goal.

Against the English

'Run' is accurate. NLT spells out 'run the race', which makes the athletic picture plain.

Used elsewhere in the period

Paul's athletic imagery appears in 1 Cor 9:24–26, Gal 2:2, 5:7, Phil 3:12–14 ('I press on toward the goal for the prize'), and 2 Tim 4:7. Greek and Roman games were part of everyday life in cities like Philippi. Hellenistic Jewish writers (Philo; 4 Maccabees 17) also used contest imagery for moral struggle.

Where it appears

Matthew · 2

  1. Matthew 27:48 δραμὼν having run

    One of them quickly ran and brought a sponge. He filled it with sour wine, put it on a reed, and held it up for Jesus to drink.

  2. Matthew 28:8 ἔδραμον they ran

    So they hurried away from the tomb in fear and great joy, and ran to tell His disciples.

    Here: 'They ran.' This is the main verb of the sentence. Their hurried leaving turns into actual running, which shows urgency.

Mark · 2

  1. Mark 5:6 ἔδραμεν he ran

    When the man saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees before Him.

  2. Mark 15:36 δραμὼν Having run

    And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine. He put it on a reed and held it up for Jesus to drink, saying, “Leave Him alone. Let us see if Elijah comes to take Him down.”

Luke · 2

  1. Luke 15:20 δραμὼν having run

    So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.

    Here: 'Having run.' The head of a household runs out to meet a son who has disgraced him. In that culture this was striking and unusual behaviour for a dignified older man.

  2. Luke 24:12 ἔδραμεν he ran

    Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. And after bending down and seeing only the linen cloths, he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

John · 2

  1. John 20:2 τρέχει She runs

    So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb,” she said, “and we do not know where they have put Him!”

    Here: Literally 'she runs.' John tells a past event in the present tense to make it vivid, like saying 'so she runs off.' Running signals urgency and alarm; a grown woman running in public was undignified, so the verb shows how shaken she is.

  2. John 20:4 ἔτρεχον Were running

    The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.

Romans · 1

  1. Romans 9:16 τρέχοντος running

    So then, it does not depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.

    Here: 'The one who runs.' A vivid picture of a runner in a race, straining and exerting himself. Paul uses running elsewhere for strenuous effort in the life of faith and in his ministry. Here it stands for human exertion, the outward counterpart to wanting.

1 Corinthians · 4

  1. 1 Corinthians 9:24 τρέχοντες τρέχουσιν, τρέχετε running, run,, do run

    Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to take the prize.

    Here: "Running": the action is ongoing. It identifies the people in the picture as the competitors on the track.

  2. 1 Corinthians 9:26 τρέχω run

    Therefore I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight like I am beating the air.

    Here: Present tense: 'I am running.' The race is still going on. It means the footrace of the games, and as often in Paul it stands for the whole of his apostolic work (Galatians 2:2; Philippians 2:16).

Galatians · 3

  1. Galatians 2:2 τρέχω ἔδραμον. I may be running, have run.

    I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I spoke privately to those recognized as leaders, for fear that I was running or had already run in vain.

    Here: Present tense, 'I am running'. The supplied data tags it subjunctive, but the form could also be indicative (see textual notes). Running is Paul's picture for his ongoing apostolic work: a runner in a race, or a messenger racing with news.

  2. Galatians 5:7 ἐτρέχετε You were running

    You were running so well. Who has obstructed you from obeying the truth?

    Here: Imperfect tense: "you were running", a race already going on and going well. Paul often pictures the life of faith (and his own mission) as a footrace (Gal 2:2; 1 Cor 9:24–26; Phil 2:16; 3:14).

Philippians · 1

  1. Philippians 2:16 ἔδραμον, I did run

    as you hold forth the word of life, in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.

    Here: 'I ran.' This is the picture of a footrace. The past tense sums up Paul's whole career as if he were looking back on it from the Day of Christ.

2 Thessalonians · 1

  1. 2 Thessalonians 3:1 τρέχῃ may spread quickly

    Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread quickly and be held in honor, just as it was with you.

    Here: Literally "may run", with a present tense meaning "keep running". It pictures the message as a runner, either a herald racing with news or an athlete in a race, moving on quickly and without obstruction.

Hebrews · 1

  1. Hebrews 12:1 τρέχωμεν may run

    Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us.

    Here: 'Let us run', or better 'let us keep running'. This is the main verb of the sentence. It is a present-tense call to action that stresses ongoing effort.

Revelation · 1

  1. Revelation 9:9 τρεχόντων rushing

    They also had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the roar of many horses and chariots rushing into battle.

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