Word Study for G4660 (σκύλλω)

skýllō /skool'-lo/ Ask about this word

Rootapparently a primary verb

Meaningto flay, i.e. (figuratively) to harass

KJV usagetrouble(self).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of skýllō — 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 skýllō, represented by G4660, is a verb whose figurative meaning is to harass or trouble. It appears 4 times across 3 unique verses in the Bible. Based on its root meaning of "to flay," the word carries a sense of wearing someone out or causing them distress through bother.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, G4660 appears exclusively as a plea for someone to stop their efforts. In Luke 7:6, a centurion sends friends to Jesus, urging him, "trouble not thyself," because the centurion felt unworthy to have Jesus enter his home. Similarly, in both Mark 5:35 and Luke 8:49, messengers arrive from the home of the synagogue ruler to report that his daughter has died. They ask, "why troublest thou the Master any further?" In each case, the word is used to discourage an authority figure from taking further action due to perceived unworthiness or hopelessness.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the context in which G4660 is used:

G1320 didáskalos (master, teacher): This title, defined as an instructor... master, teacher, is used for Jesus in the accounts where people are told not to trouble him further about the dead girl (Mark 5:35, Luke 8:49). It establishes the authority of the one being addressed.
G3361 mḗ (not): This particle of qualified negation is used to form the command "trouble not" (Luke 7:6, Luke 8:49). It functions as a direct plea to forbear or cease an action.
G599 apothnḗskō (to die off): Meaning to die off (literally or figuratively), this word provides the reason for the plea in Mark 5:35. The daughter is dead, so from a human perspective, there is no longer a reason to bother the Master. A similar word for death, G2348, is used in the Luke account.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G4660 is found in the motivations behind the plea.

A Posture of Humility: The centurion's request for Jesus not to trouble himself is an expression of his own perceived unworthiness in the presence of divine authority Luke 7:6.
The Limit of Human Hope: For the messengers from Jairus's house, the plea stems from despair. Death is seen as final, making any further effort from the Master G1320 seem futile (Mark 5:35, Luke 8:49).
An Appeal to Authority: In all instances, the word is used by a subordinate figure addressing a superior. It frames the interaction as a request made to one with the power and authority to act, but whom the speaker wishes to stop.

Summary

In summary, G4660 is more than a simple term for annoyance. It is a specific type of plea directed at an authority figure, asking them to cease their efforts. It is a word that arises from either profound humility or deep hopelessness. Within the Gospel narratives, its use sets the stage for Jesus to demonstrate that neither human unworthiness nor the finality of death can prevent his compassionate and powerful intervention.

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 4 occurrences, inflected in 4 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Perfect Passive Participle Nominative Plural Masculine 1×
Present Active Imperative 2nd Singular 1×
Present Active Indicative 2nd Singular 1×
Present Passive Imperative 2nd Singular 1×

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
2nd: Second person — the one addressed ("you").
Present: Action in progress or repeated — happening now or continually.
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.
Imperative: A command or entreaty.
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 3 verses across 2 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Luke (2 verses); never once in the other 25.

Mark

Luke

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.