Pronunciation Guide: eye-KO (εἴκω)
Basic Definition
Strong’s G1502: The Greek verb εἴκω (eikō) fundamentally means “to yield, give way, submit, or give place to.” In biblical usage, it describes the act of submitting to authority or pressure, often in contexts requiring a decision whether to yield or stand firm. Its significance in Scripture is highlighted by its strategic appearance in Galatians where Paul emphatically states that he “did not yield in submission” to preserve the truth of the gospel.
Etymology and Morphology
- Part of speech: Verb
- Root connection: Related to εἰκός (eikos), meaning “reasonable, likely, fitting”
- Language origin: Classical Greek
- Primary usage: Epistolary (letters) and ethical discourse
- Tense: First person present indicative active
εἴκω Morphology:
- εἴκω (present active indicative, 1st person singular) – I yield/submit
- εἴκεις (present active indicative, 2nd person singular) – you yield/submit
- εἴκει (present active indicative, 3rd person singular) – he/she/it yields/submits
- εἴξα (aorist active indicative, 1st person singular) – I yielded/submitted
- εἶξα (aorist active subjunctive, 1st person singular) – I might yield/submit
Origin & History
The verb εἴκω has an established history in classical Greek literature dating back to Homer, where it conveyed the concept of yielding ground in battle or giving way to superior force. In Homer’s Iliad, the term appears when describing warriors retreating before a stronger opponent. Thucydides employs it when discussing political and military submission, while Plato uses it in his dialogues to describe intellectual concession in philosophical debates.
In the Septuagint, εἴκω appears sparingly but significantly in contexts where moral or theological compromise is at stake. The Jewish philosopher Philo of Alexandria (1st century CE) used εἴκω in his writings when discussing the yielding of the soul to divine guidance versus yielding to temptation, creating a moral framework that resonates with Paul’s usage in Galatians.
Expanded Definitions & Translation Options
- To give way under pressure or persuasion
- To submit oneself to another’s authority or demand
- To concede ground literally or figuratively
- To retreat from a position previously held
- To yield rights or privileges to another
εἴκω Translation Options:
- “To yield” – Emphasizes the voluntary nature of the action, suggesting conscious choice rather than mere force
- “To give way” – Highlights the spatial or positional aspect, often implying movement away from resistance
- “To submit” – Stresses the hierarchical relationship between parties, with one acknowledging the authority of another
- “To concede” – Focuses on the intellectual or argumentative dimension, suggesting the surrender of a point or position
- “To not resist” – Expresses the negative form that emphasizes cessation of opposition
Biblical Usage
In the New Testament, εἴκω appears in its negative form (οὐδὲ εἴξαμεν) in Galatians 2:5, where Paul emphatically states that he and Barnabas “did not yield in submission even for a moment” to those who wished to compromise the gospel by requiring Gentile converts to follow Jewish customs. This singular usage carries tremendous theological weight, as it represents the apostle’s unwavering commitment to preserving the authentic gospel message against pressure to dilute its truth.
The rarity of εἴκω in the New Testament actually amplifies its significance, as Paul deliberately chose this term to emphasize the critical importance of not compromising on essential gospel truths. While the verb itself appears only once, the concept of resisting pressure to compromise one’s faith appears throughout the New Testament epistles.
- “To them we did not yield in submission [εἴκω] even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.” Galatians 2:5
Cultural Insights
In the Greco-Roman world, the concept of yielding (εἴκω) had significant political and social dimensions. Under Roman rule, subject peoples were expected to “yield” to imperial authority in various ways, including taxation, military service, and religious observances like emperor worship. For early Christians and particularly Jewish believers, this created tension between civic obligations and religious convictions.
The Jewish community in the first century CE experienced regular pressure to compromise their distinctive practices in order to accommodate Hellenistic culture. The Maccabean revolt (167-160 BCE) had been sparked precisely because many Jews refused to “yield” to Antiochus IV’s demands to abandon Torah observance. This historical memory would have been fresh in the minds of Paul’s Jewish-Christian audience in Galatia, making his refusal to “yield” to those demanding circumcision of Gentile converts particularly resonant.
For Mediterranean cultures shaped by honor-shame dynamics, knowing when to yield and when to stand firm was an essential social skill. Paul’s strategic non-yielding in Galatians 2:5 represents not stubbornness but principled leadership that distinguishes between negotiable cultural practices and non-negotiable gospel truths.
Theological Significance
Paul’s refusal to εἴκω (yield) in Galatians 2:5 embodies a profound theological principle: the unyielding nature of divine truth. Just as יהוה (Yahweh) is described in Scripture as unchanging and faithful to His covenant promises, the gospel that reveals His saving work through the Messiah must remain uncorrupted by human manipulation or compromise. By refusing to yield “even for a moment,” Paul demonstrates that the integrity of God’s revelation must be preserved at all costs.
This stance of non-yielding reflects the character of God Himself, who does not compromise His holiness or righteousness even while extending mercy. The Messiah Jesus demonstrated this divine attribute when He refused to yield to Satan’s temptations in the wilderness, each time standing firmly on the written Word of God. Paul’s application of εἴκω teaches believers that certain foundational truths—particularly the sufficiency of faith in the Messiah without works of the Law for justification—cannot be negotiated away regardless of social pressure or threats.
The theological implications extend to the nature of spiritual warfare, suggesting that believers must discern when flexibility serves love and when steadfastness serves truth. Not yielding on essential doctrines preserves the purity of the faith for future generations, reflecting God’s own faithfulness to His people throughout salvation history.
Personal Application
Understanding εἴκω challenges us to develop spiritual discernment regarding when to stand firm and when to yield. In our pluralistic society, pressure to compromise biblical truth for social acceptance is constant. Like Paul, we must identify the non-negotiable elements of our faith—the deity of the Messiah, salvation by grace through faith, the authority of Scripture—and refuse to yield on these essentials, even while showing flexibility in cultural expressions of our faith.
At the same time, we must guard against confusing personal preferences with divine mandates. True spiritual maturity involves distinguishing between hills worth dying on and matters where yielding serves unity and love. When we refuse to yield on gospel essentials, we follow in the footsteps of the apostles, prophets, and ultimately the Messiah Himself, who did not yield to the temptation to avoid the cross but remained obedient to the Father’s will, securing our salvation through His unwavering commitment to truth and love.
Related Words
- ὑποτάσσω (hypotassō, hoo-po-TASS-oh) – to arrange under, to subject oneself, to obey. While εἴκω refers to yielding generally, ὑποτάσσω specifically denotes submission within an ordered hierarchy, emphasizing proper authority relationships. See G5293
- παραχωρέω (parachōreō, para-kho-REH-oh) – to give place, withdraw, retire. This term describes physical withdrawal or making room for another, whereas εἴκω more often addresses submission to pressure or authority. See G3879
- ὑπείκω (hypeikō, hoo-PIE-koh) – to yield, give way, submit. A compound form related to εἴκω but with the prefix ὑπό (under), emphasizing submission to legitimate authority, particularly in Hebrews 13:17 regarding church leadership. See G5226
- ἐνδίδωμι (endidōmi, en-DID-oh-mi) – to give in, yield. This term conveys the sense of surrendering to pressure after resistance, particularly in contexts of persuasion or wearing down opposition. See G1761
- πείθομαι (peithomai, PIE-tho-mai) – to be persuaded, to believe, to obey. Unlike εἴκω which focuses on the act of yielding, πείθομαι emphasizes the inner conviction leading to compliance or trust. See G3982
Did you Know?
- Did you know that the negative use of εἴκω in Galatians 2:5 represents one of the strongest statements of principle in Paul’s writings? While he often encouraged flexibility in disputable matters (Romans 14), his refusal to yield “even for an hour” regarding circumcision of Gentile believers demonstrates his clear understanding of the difference between cultural accommodation and gospel compromise. This principled stand arguably preserved Christianity as a faith open to all peoples rather than becoming merely a sect within Judaism.
- Did you know that εἴκω shares linguistic roots with the Greek word εἰκών (eikōn), meaning “image” or “likeness”? While not directly related in meaning, this etymological connection creates an interesting theological juxtaposition: believers are called to be transformed into the εἰκών (image) of the Messiah (Romans 8:29) precisely by knowing when not to εἴκω (yield) to worldly pressures that would distort that image.
- Did you know that in modern Greek, derivatives of εἴκω survive in legal and political contexts? The concept of “yielding right-of-way” in traffic (παραχώρηση προτεραιότητας) and diplomatic “concessions” (παραχωρήσεις) between nations preserve the ancient sense of strategically deciding when to stand firm and when to give way—a wisdom Paul exemplified in his apostolic ministry.
Remember This
The legacy of εἴκω reminds us that in a world of constant pressure to compromise, unwavering commitment to essential truths reflects the unchanging character of God Himself, preserving the transformative power of the gospel for generations to come.
