δράσσομαι

Pronunciation Guide: dras’-so-mai (with the accent on the first syllable)

Basic Definition

Strong’s G1405: δράσσομαι (drassomai) refers to the action of grasping firmly, seizing with the hand, or catching someone in the act. In its biblical context, it portrays יהוה (Yahweh) actively intervening to capture or ensnare those who consider themselves wise in their own deception. The word conveys a sudden, decisive action where escape is impossible once the seizing has occurred.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of Speech: Middle voice verb (deponent)
• Root Word: Derived from δράξ (drax), meaning “a handful” or “as much as can be grasped”
• Language Origin: Classical Greek
• Primary Usage: Found in wisdom literature and teaching passages
• Voice: Middle deponent (has middle/passive form but active meaning)
• Tense: Present (indicating continuous or repeated action)

δράσσομαι Morphology:

• δράσσομαι (present indicative, 1st person singular) – I grasp/seize
• δράσσεται (present indicative, 3rd person singular) – he/she/it grasps/seizes
• δρασσόμενος (present participle, masculine) – grasping, seizing
• δράξασθαι (aorist infinitive) – to grasp/seize (completed action)
• δραξάμενος (aorist participle) – having grasped/seized

Origin & History

The term δράσσομαι has its roots in ancient Greek literature, where it described the physical action of grasping or seizing something firmly with the hand. In Homer’s “Iliad” (Book 16), a similar form appears when describing warriors grasping handfuls of dust in grief. The word evolved from concrete physical usage to metaphorical applications, particularly in contexts of capturing or ensnaring opponents.

In the Septuagint (LXX), δράσσομαι appears sparingly but significantly in wisdom literature, notably in Job 5:13, the very passage Paul quotes in 1 Corinthians 3:19. This connection demonstrates an intentional linkage between Hebrew wisdom traditions and New Testament teaching. The term maintains its vivid imagery of divine action against human craftiness throughout its development from classical to Koine Greek.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• Decisive Seizure – To grasp suddenly and firmly, leaving no possibility of escape
• Strategic Capture – To catch someone in their own devices or schemes
• Judicial Apprehension – To seize for the purpose of bringing to judgment
• Comprehensive Grasping – To take hold of completely, gathering up entirely

δράσσομαι Translation Options:

• “Seizes” – Emphasizes the sudden, decisive nature of God’s action against human wisdom
• “Catches” – Highlights the element of surprise and the trapping aspect
• “Grasps” – Focuses on the firm hold God maintains on those He captures
• “Ensnares” – Stresses how the wise are trapped by their own cleverness
• “Apprehends” – Suggests judicial overtones of being seized for judgment

Biblical Usage

The Greek word δράσσομαι appears only once in the New Testament, in 1 Corinthians 3:19, where Paul quotes from the book of Job: “For it is written, ‘He catches [δρασσόμενος] the wise in their craftiness.’” This solitary usage makes it particularly significant, as Paul deliberately selects this rare term to emphasize God’s sovereign action against worldly wisdom.

The Septuagint employs δράσσομαι in Job 5:13, the source of Paul’s quotation. The context involves Eliphaz describing how God frustrates the schemes of the crafty, causing their plans to fail. This intertextual connection demonstrates Paul’s deep familiarity with the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures and his strategic application of wisdom literature to address the Corinthian church’s divisive intellectualism.

Biblical cross references where δράσσομαι appears:

• “For it is written, ‘He catches [δρασσόμενος] the wise in their craftiness.’” 1 Corinthians 3:19
• “He catches [ὁ καταλαμβάνων/δρασσόμενος] the wise in their craftiness, and the counsel of the cunning is carried headlong.” Job 5:13 (LXX)

Cultural Insights

In ancient Greek athletic contests, particularly wrestling, the term δράσσομαι described the decisive moment when one competitor successfully grasped his opponent, often signaling the turning point in the match. This cultural background would have resonated with Paul’s Corinthian audience, as their city hosted the famous Isthmian Games, second only to the Olympics in importance in the ancient Greek world. When Paul employs this term, he evokes the image of God as the ultimate wrestler who decisively grasps and subdues human wisdom that opposes His truth.

The Jewish context adds another layer of meaning through the Hebrew concept of “tokhachah” (reproof or correction), which was understood as an act of divine love. In rabbinic thought, God’s “seizing” of the wise was not merely punitive but redemptive—designed to expose false thinking and restore right relationship. The Mishnah (Avot 1:6) advises Jews to “judge everyone favorably,” but the Talmud clarifies that this does not apply to those who intentionally twist wisdom against God’s purposes. Such people require divine intervention through “seizure” (תפיסה, tefisah) to disrupt their harmful influence on the community.

Theological Significance

The use of δράσσομαι in 1 Corinthians 3:19 reveals a profound theological truth about God’s sovereignty over human intellect and scheming. When human wisdom elevates itself against the knowledge of God, it does not operate in a realm beyond His reach or notice. Rather, יהוה (Yahweh) actively intervenes, seizing and exposing the limitations and flaws in human reasoning that opposes divine truth. This demonstrates that God is not passive or indifferent to intellectual rebellion but responds with decisive action.

The middle voice form of δράσσομαι suggests God’s personal involvement and investment in this act of seizing. It is not a distant, mechanical judgment but a direct divine engagement with those who misuse their intellectual gifts. This reflects God’s character as both just and merciful—just in exposing falsehood that harms His people, and merciful in preventing the further spread of deception. The theological implication is that human wisdom finds its proper place only when submitted to divine wisdom, as Paul argues throughout the opening chapters of 1 Corinthians.

Personal Application

Understanding δράσσομαι challenges us to examine the foundations of our own thinking and decision-making. Are we building on human wisdom that may appear sophisticated but ultimately stands opposed to God’s truth? The sobering reality is that God will not allow such thinking to go unchallenged—He actively seizes and exposes worldly wisdom for what it truly is: foolishness in light of eternal realities.

This word invites us to embrace intellectual humility before God. Rather than fearing that faith requires abandoning intellect, we recognize that true wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 9:10). When we submit our minds to the Messiah, acknowledging His lordship over our thinking, we are protected from being “seized” in our craftiness and instead experience the freedom that comes with aligning our understanding with His perfect wisdom. Today, ask the Lord to expose any areas where your thinking has been shaped more by worldly philosophies than by His Word.

Related Words

• συλλαμβάνω (syllambano, pronounced sool-lam-ban’-o) – to seize together, arrest, capture; has stronger connotations of hostile capture for punishment or imprisonment. Like δράσσομαι, it involves taking hold of someone, but usually implies multiple agents working together to accomplish the capture. See G4815
• ἐπιλαμβάνομαι (epilambanomai, pronounced ep-ee-lam-ban’-om-ahee) – to take hold of, seize upon, catch; emphasizes the purpose of helping or supporting rather than capturing for judgment. While δράσσομαι focuses on divine judgment, ἐπιλαμβάνομαι often appears in contexts of divine aid. See G1949
• πιάζω (piazo, pronounced pee-ad’-zo) – to squeeze, press, catch, arrest; originally meant to squeeze or compress, later developing into arresting or capturing. Unlike the sudden seizure of δράσσομαι, πιάζω can imply a process or struggle before capture is achieved. See G4084
• καταλαμβάνω (katalambano, pronounced kat-al-am-ban’-o) – to seize upon, take possession of, comprehend; carries the sense of thoroughly grasping, whether physically or mentally. In John 1:5, it describes darkness not “comprehending” or “overcoming” the light. See G2638
• ἁρπάζω (harpazo, pronounced har-pad’-zo) – to seize, snatch away, catch up; emphasizes violent or sudden seizure, often removing the object from its original location. While δράσσομαι focuses on the moment of capture, ἁρπάζω emphasizes what happens afterward—being carried away. See G726

Did You Know?

• Did you know that δράσσομαι appears in ancient Greek medical texts describing how a surgeon must firmly grasp certain tissues during operations? Hippocrates used the term when instructing physicians on properly holding instruments and manipulating body tissues. This background adds depth to the biblical usage—God’s “seizure” of the wise is not haphazard but precise and purposeful, like a skilled physician dealing with a dangerous condition.
• Did you know that in modern Greece, derivatives of δράσσομαι survive in expressions related to opportunity? The phrase “δράξου της ευκαιρίας” (draxou tis efkairias) means “seize the opportunity” and remains a common idiom. This connection between ancient and modern usage highlights the word’s inherent sense of decisive, timely action—a quality attributed to God’s judgment in 1 Corinthians 3:19.
• Did you know that archaeological discoveries at Corinth reveal the city was famous for its bronze mirrors, considered the finest in the ancient world? These mirrors provide a fascinating connection to Paul’s language about seeing “dimly, as in a mirror” (1 Corinthians 13:12)—a metaphor for limited human understanding. This cultural context enriches our understanding of why Paul chose δράσσομαι in chapter 3—just as Corinthian craftsmen seized raw materials to craft reflective surfaces, God seizes human wisdom to reveal its limitations and redirect people to His perfect knowledge.

Remember This

The God who seizes the wise in their craftiness is the same God who lovingly grasps His children to guide them into truth, demonstrating that true wisdom comes not from human intellect but from humble submission to the One who holds all knowledge.