Word Study for G1643 (ἐλαύνω)

elaúnō /el-ow'-no/ Ask about this word

Meaninga prolonged form of a primary verb (obsolete except in certain tenses as an alternative of this) of uncertain affinity; to push (as wind, oars or dæmonical power)

KJV usagecarry, drive, row.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of elaúnō — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word elaúnō, represented by G1643, is a verb that means to push, drive, or row. It is a prolonged form of a primary verb used to describe the application of force. It appears 5 times across 5 unique verses in the Bible, conveying action driven by human effort, natural phenomena like wind, or demonic power.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, G1643 is used in several distinct contexts. It describes the physical exertion of the disciples as they were "toiling in rowing" against a contrary wind Mark 6:48 and had "rowed" for a considerable distance on the Sea of Galilee John 6:19. The word also depicts the power of nature, as ships are "driven of fierce winds" James 3:4. On a metaphorical level, false teachers are described as "clouds that are carried with a tempest" 2 Peter 2:17, illustrating their instability. Finally, it portrays supernatural force, where a man possessed by an unclean spirit was "driven of the devil" into the wilderness Luke 8:29.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the forces at play when G1643 is used:

G928 basanízō (to torture): This word is used to describe the disciples' state as they were "toiling in rowing" Mark 6:48. It emphasizes the immense struggle and torment involved in their effort to drive the boat forward.
G417 ánemos (wind): This is the force that acts upon objects being driven. Ships are "driven of fierce winds" James 3:4, and the disciples' struggle was because the "wind was contrary unto them" Mark 6:48.
G4884 synarpázō (to snatch together, i.e. seize): This term highlights the violent nature of the force. Before a man was "driven by the devil," the unclean spirit had often "caught" him Luke 8:29, indicating a sudden and complete seizure of control.

Theological Significance

The use of G1643 highlights several key themes about power and control.

Human Toil: The word illustrates the limits of human strength against opposing forces. The disciples are seen "toiling in rowing" Mark 6:48, a picture of exhausting effort that proves insufficient without divine intervention.
Spiritual Instability: The description of false teachers as clouds "carried with a tempest" 2 Peter 2:17 uses G1643 to create a powerful metaphor for being without spiritual grounding, pushed about by powerful and destructive influences.
Demonic Compulsion: In its most severe usage, the word shows a complete loss of autonomy. The man who was "driven of the devil" Luke 8:29 was not merely influenced but was physically compelled and controlled by a malevolent entity.

Summary

In summary, G1643 is a dynamic verb that depicts a force being exerted. Whether describing the disciples' effort to row, a ship being driven by the wind, or a man being driven by a demon, it consistently portrays an agent of motion acting upon an object. Though rare, its usage provides a vivid illustration of toil, natural power, and the stark reality of spiritual oppression.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a verb across 5 occurrences, inflected in 5 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Imperfect Passive Indicative 3rd Singular 1×
Perfect Active Participle Nominative Plural Masculine 1×
Present Active Infinitive 1×
Present Passive Participle Nominative Plural Feminine 1×
Present Passive Participle Nominative Plural Neuter 1×

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
Feminine: Feminine grammatical gender.
Neuter: Neuter grammatical gender.
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Present: Action in progress or repeated — happening now or continually.
Imperfect: Ongoing or repeated action in the past — "was doing".
Perfect: A completed act whose results continue.
Active: The subject performs the action.
Passive: The subject is acted upon.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Infinitive: The verb as a noun — "to do".
Participle: A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 5 verses across 5 of the 27 books. 5 books tie for most frequent (1 verse each); never once in the other 22.

Mark

Luke

John

James

2 Peter

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.