ἐκλύω

Pronunciation Guide: ek-loo’-oh (with emphasis on the “loo” syllable)

Basic Definition

Strong’s G1590: Ἐκλύω (eklyō) means to loosen out, release, or become weary to the point of collapse or fainting. It describes a state of complete exhaustion where strength has been utterly spent. The term conveys not merely physical tiredness but a profound depletion of internal resources that leaves one vulnerable and helpless. In biblical contexts, it often appears when highlighting the contrast between human frailty and divine strength.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of Speech: Verb
• Root Components: Formed from the preposition ἐκ (ek) meaning “out from” or “away from” + λύω (lyō) meaning “to loosen” or “to release”
• Language Origin: Classical Greek
• Primary Usage: Narrative passages, particularly in contexts of physical needs and spiritual teaching
• Voice: Generally appears in passive voice, emphasizing the state of being exhausted rather than the act of exhausting

Ἐκλύω Morphology:

• ἐκλύω (Present Active Indicative, 1st Person Singular) – I faint/become weary
• ἐκλύομαι (Present Passive Indicative, 1st Person Singular) – I am fainting/becoming weary
• ἐκλυθῶσιν (Aorist Passive Subjunctive, 3rd Person Plural) – they might faint/become weary
• ἐκλυθήσεσθε (Future Passive Indicative, 2nd Person Plural) – you will faint/become weary
• ἐκλελυμένοι (Perfect Passive Participle, Nominative Plural Masculine) – having become exhausted/fainted

Origin & History

The term ἐκλύω has roots in classical Greek literature, where it was used to describe the loosening or undoing of bonds, ropes, or knots. Herodotus employed it when describing physical weariness of soldiers after battle, while Hippocrates used it in medical contexts to describe patients whose strength had been completely depleted by illness.

In the Septuagint (LXX), ἐκλύω appears in contexts of both physical and spiritual exhaustion. In 1 Samuel 14:28 (LXX), it describes the Israelite army’s extreme fatigue during Saul’s ill-conceived battle strategy. The term gains spiritual dimensions in texts like Psalms, where it depicts those whose spirits are failing and need divine restoration. This semantic range carried forward into the New Testament, where the term is used sparingly but powerfully to illustrate human limitation and divine provision.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• To become utterly exhausted or weary, typically to the point of collapse
• To lose heart, becoming discouraged to the point of giving up
• To become faint or weak due to hunger, thirst, or physical exertion
• To have one’s strength completely spent or depleted
• To be loosened from normal function, becoming ineffective

Ἐκλύω Translation Options:

• Faint – Captures the concept of physical collapse but may miss the progressive depletion element
• Become exhausted – Effectively conveys the process of strength depletion but lacks the potential spiritual dimensions
• Grow weary – Highlights the gradual nature of the condition while suggesting both physical and emotional dimensions
• Be utterly spent – Reflects the completeness of the exhaustion state while preserving the metaphorical potential
• Lose heart – Emphasizes the emotional and spiritual aspects when the term is used metaphorically

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, ἐκλύω appears primarily in the Gospels and Hebrews, often in contexts emphasizing human vulnerability and God’s provision. Its first appearance is in Matthew 9:36, where Yeshua (Jesus) sees the crowds as “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” The Messiah’s compassion is stirred precisely because the people are ἐκλελυμένοι (eklelymenoi) – utterly spent and without internal resources.

This theme continues in Matthew 15:32 and Mark 8:3, where Yeshua expresses concern that the crowds who have been with Him for three days might “faint” (ἐκλυθῶσιν) on their way home if sent away hungry. The miracle of provision that follows demonstrates divine compassion for human physical needs. The author of Hebrews employs ἐκλύω metaphorically to address spiritual exhaustion, encouraging believers not to “grow weary” when facing discipline or opposition.

• “When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless [ἐκλελυμένοι], like sheep without a shepherd.” Matthew 9:36
• “I don’t want to send them away hungry, or they may faint [ἐκλυθῶσιν] on the way.” Matthew 15:32
• “If I send them home hungry, they will faint [ἐκλυθῶσιν] on the way, and some of them have come from far away.” Mark 8:3
• “Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary [ἐκλύησθε] and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:3
• “And do not grow weary [ἐκλυόμενοι] in doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9
• “My son, do not despise יהוה’s discipline or grow weary [ἐκλύου] when rebuked by Him.” Hebrews 12:5

Cultural Insights

In the ancient Mediterranean world, physical exhaustion was a common and serious concern. Without modern transportation, medical care, or readily available food and water supplies, the risk of collapse from hunger, thirst, or overexertion was very real. The crowds following Yeshua often traveled for days on foot across rugged terrain, expending significant energy to hear His teaching and witness His miracles. When the Gospels mention Yeshua’s concern that the people might “faint” (ἐκλυθῶσιν) on their journey home, this reflects a genuine life-threatening scenario, not merely minor discomfort.

This physical reality served as a powerful metaphor in Jewish spirituality. In rabbinic tradition, Torah study and righteous living were often described as a journey requiring sustenance and strength. The term used in Hebrew that corresponds to aspects of ἐκλύω is עָיֵף (ayef), which appears in texts like Isaiah 40:29-31, where יהוה “gives strength to the weary.” This cultural backdrop enriches our understanding of how the New Testament uses ἐκλύω to connect physical and spiritual exhaustion, suggesting that just as God provides for physical needs, He also sustains the spiritually depleted.

Theological Significance

The use of ἐκλύω in Scripture reveals profound theological truths about human frailty and divine sufficiency. When Yeshua sees the crowds as “harassed and helpless” (ἐκλελυμένοι), we glimpse the Messiah’s deep compassion for human limitation. This reflects the heart of God toward His creation – not condemning weakness but responding to it with provision and care. The parallel accounts of feeding the multitudes demonstrate that God’s response to human exhaustion (ἐκλύω) is abundant provision that exceeds the need.

In the epistle to the Hebrews, ἐκλύω takes on additional significance in the context of spiritual endurance. Believers are encouraged not to “grow weary” (ἐκλύω) when facing discipline or persecution, pointing to a theology of perseverance grounded in God’s faithfulness rather than human strength. This usage reveals that while human exhaustion is real and acknowledged, it need not be final because divine resources are available to the believer. The contrast between ἐκλύω (human exhaustion) and God’s refreshing strength establishes a core theological principle: our limitations become the stage upon which God’s unlimited power is displayed.

Personal Application

When we recognize the places in our lives where we experience ἐκλύω – complete exhaustion physically, emotionally, or spiritually – we stand at a crucial decision point. These moments of depletion can either drive us to despair or become invitations to experience God’s sustaining power. Just as Yeshua didn’t merely sympathize with the exhausted crowds but provided abundantly for their needs, He offers substantive provision for all our areas of depletion.

This understanding of ἐκλύω challenges us to be honest about our limitations while simultaneously trusting God’s unlimited resources. When facing situations that drain our strength – whether challenging relationships, work pressures, health struggles, or spiritual battles – we can acknowledge our exhaustion without being defined by it. The next time you feel utterly spent, remember that this very experience connects you to the biblical narrative where human exhaustion becomes the setting for divine provision. Your ἐκλύω moment can become the precise point where God’s strength is perfectly displayed.

Related Words

• ἀσθενέω (astheneō) – to be weak or sick, focusing on lack of strength rather than exhaustion from expended energy. While ἐκλύω emphasizes the depletion of existing strength, ἀσθενέω often indicates an inherent weakness or illness. See G770
• κοπιάω (kopiaō) – to labor to the point of exhaustion, emphasizing the work that leads to weariness rather than the resulting state. Unlike ἐκλύω, which focuses on the condition of being spent, κοπιάω highlights the exertion that causes fatigue. See G2872
• κάμνω (kamnō) – to grow weary or sick, with connotations of losing motivation. While similar to ἐκλύω, κάμνω often carries more emphasis on the psychological dimensions of weariness. See G2577
• παραλύω (paralyō) – to be paralyzed or disabled, representing a more permanent condition than the temporary exhaustion of ἐκλύω. See G3886
• ἀτονέω (atoneō) – to be weak or feeble, lacking tension or tone, representing a general state rather than the specific exhaustion captured by ἐκλύω. See G814

Did You Know?

• In ancient medical texts by Hippocrates and Galen, ἐκλύω was a technical term used to describe patients whose bodily systems were failing, often preceding death if intervention didn’t occur. This medical background adds urgency to Yeshua’s concern that the crowds might “faint” (ἐκλυθῶσιν) on their journey home – He wasn’t merely preventing discomfort but potentially saving lives.
• The concept embodied in ἐκλύω has a fascinating parallel in modern sports medicine, where the term “hitting the wall” describes the sudden fatigue and loss of energy that occurs when an athlete’s glycogen stores are depleted. Just as ancient people understood the life-threatening nature of complete exhaustion, modern science recognizes that this state requires immediate attention and replenishment.
• The Hebrew concept most closely related to ἐκλύω is found in the term עָיֵף (ayef), which appears in one of the most beloved passages about renewal, Isaiah 40:28-31. When the Septuagint translators rendered this passage, they used forms related to ἐκλύω, creating a theological bridge that early Jewish believers would have recognized when encountering the term in the New Testament.

Remember This

Ἐκλύω reveals the beautiful paradox at the heart of faith: it is precisely in our moments of complete exhaustion that we become most receptive to God’s unlimited strength, transforming our depletion into the perfect canvas for displaying His abundant provision.