### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb κυλιόω (kylióō, `{{G2947}}`) fundamentally means "to roll about" or "to wallow." Its etymological roots trace back to the idea of circularity, as seen in its connection to κῦμα (kuma, wave), suggesting the rolling motion of waves, and comparisons to κύκλῳ (kyklō, around, in a circle) and εἱλίσσω (heilissō, to roll up, wrap). The primary sense is one of continuous, often undirected, motion involving rotation or tumbling. When used in the sense of "wallow," it typically implies an immersion or rolling within a substance, often with a negative connotation of indulging in something base or unclean.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The verb κυλιόω (kylióō, `{{G2947}}`) appears only once in the New Testament, in a highly significant passage in 2 Peter:
* **[[2 Peter 2:22]]**: "The dog returns to its own vomit, and a sow, after washing, wallows in the mire."
This verse concludes a scathing indictment of false teachers and those who have abandoned the path of righteousness after having come to a knowledge of the truth. The apostle Peter employs two vivid proverbs to illustrate the spiritual degradation of such individuals. The first, "The dog returns to its own vomit," is a direct quotation from [[Proverbs 26:11]], depicting a repulsive and self-destructive act of reversion. The second, concerning the sow, is equally potent. The sow, though externally "washed," returns to "wallow in the mire." Here, κυλιόω (kylióō) precisely describes the pig's action of rolling about in the mud. The context emphasizes that despite a superficial cleansing or exposure to truth, the inherent nature of the animal (and by analogy, the unregenerate person) remains unchanged, leading it back to its natural, defiled habitat. The "mire" (βόρβορος, borboros, `{{G979}}`) signifies spiritual filth and moral corruption, making the act of "wallowing" a powerful metaphor for a deliberate and ingrained return to sin.
### Related Words & Concepts
The semantic field of κυλιόω (kylióō, `{{G2947}}`) includes:
* **Words of Motion/Circularity:** κῦμα (kuma, wave), κύκλῳ (kyklō, around, in a circle), εἱλίσσω (heilissō, to roll up, wrap). These highlight the physical action implied by the verb.
* **Words of Defilement/Impurity:** μιαίνω (miainō, to defile), ῥύπος (rhypōs, filth), ἀκαθαρσία (akatharsia, uncleanness). These are crucial for understanding the metaphorical "mire" in which one wallows.
* **Words of Reversion/Relapse:** ἐπιστρέφω (epistrephō, to turn back), ὑποστρέφω (hypostrephō, to return). These capture the idea of returning to a former state.
* **Animal Imagery:** The use of "dog" and "sow" in [[2 Peter 2:22]] connects κυλιόω to animal behaviors that are often used biblically to represent spiritual states. The pig, in particular, was considered an unclean animal under the Mosaic Law ([[Leviticus 11:7]]), making its return to mire a vivid symbol of spiritual impurity.
### Theological Significance
The singular occurrence of κυλιόω (kylióō, `{{G2947}}`) in [[2 Peter 2:22]] carries profound theological weight, primarily in its portrayal of apostasy and the nature of true vs. superficial conversion:
* **Nature of Apostasy:** The act of "wallowing in the mire" after being washed serves as a stark illustration of spiritual relapse. It suggests that those who fall away from the faith were never truly transformed at their core. Their exposure to truth and escape from worldly pollutions was external, like the washing of a sow, but their inner nature remained unregenerate, leading them to revert to their base desires and former sinful practices.
* **True vs. False Conversion:** This imagery sharply distinguishes between genuine conversion, which involves a fundamental change of nature and a new desire for righteousness, and a mere intellectual assent or outward conformity that lacks true heart change. The true believer, having been truly cleansed and given a new nature, would not desire to return to the "mire" of sin.
* **Moral Depravity:** The word powerfully underscores the depth of human moral depravity outside of God's grace. The "mire" is a metaphor for the repulsive and degrading nature of sin, highlighting how those who reject God's truth are drawn back to a state of spiritual filth.
* **Warning Against Relapse:** As part of Peter's warning against false teachers and those who follow them, κυλιόω serves as a solemn admonition against spiritual complacency and the dangers of abandoning the path of righteousness. It suggests that such a return is not a mere stumble, but a deliberate and ingrained reversion to a degraded state, revealing an unregenerate heart.
### Summary
The Greek verb κυλιόω (kylióō, `{{G2947}}`) denotes "to roll about" or "to wallow," stemming from a root concept of circular motion. Its singular, yet highly impactful, appearance in [[2 Peter 2:22]] provides a vivid metaphor for spiritual relapse. In this context, the "sow, after washing, wallows in the mire," illustrating the tragic state of those who, despite an outward exposure to truth or a superficial escape from worldly defilements, revert to their former sinful ways. This powerful imagery underscores the distinction between true, regenerative transformation and a mere external cleansing. Theologically, κυλιόω highlights the abhorrent nature of apostasy, the inherent pull of an unregenerate nature towards moral degradation, and serves as a profound warning against abandoning the path of righteousness for a return to spiritual impurity.
TRV