2849. kolazó
Lexical Summary
kolazó: To punish, to chastise, to correct

Original Word: κολάζω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: kolazó
Pronunciation: ko-LAH-zo
Phonetic Spelling: (kol-ad'-zo)
KJV: punish
NASB: punish, punishment
Word Origin: [from kolos "dwarf"]

1. (properly) to curtail
2. (figuratively) to chastise (or reserve for infliction)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
punish.

From kolos (dwarf); properly, to curtail, i.e. (figuratively) to chastise (or reserve for infliction) -- punish.

HELPS Word-studies

2849 kolázō – properly, to dwarf, mutilate (curtail); used of punishing slaves to incapacitate them; hence, to punish (cause agony) to curtail ("dock/check," Abbott-Smith), i.e. in a way that restrains (impedes, restricts).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from kolos (docked)
Definition
to chastise
NASB Translation
punish (1), punishment (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 2849: κολαζο

κολαζο: present passive participle κολαζόμενος; 1 aorist middle sub. junc. 3 person plural κολάσωνται; (κόλος lopped); in Greek writings:

1. properly, to lop, prune, as trees, wings.

2. to check, curb, restrain.

3. to chastise, correct, punish: so in the N. T.; passive 2 Peter 2:9, and Lachmann in 4; middle to cause to be punished (3Macc. 7:3): Acts 4:21.

Topical Lexicon
Root Concept

κoλάζω carries the sense of restraining wrongdoing through punitive correction. The stress lies less on vengeance than on the moral and social necessity of curbing evil and safeguarding community order. In Scripture the verb therefore highlights God’s righteous government and the limitations of human authority in executing judgment.

Background in Greek Literature and the Septuagint

Classical writers employ κoλάζω for penalties ranging from fines to corporal punishment, almost always with an educational or deterrent motive. The Septuagint adopts the verb to translate Hebrew roots such as עָנַשׁ (ʿānash, “to penalize”) and נָכָה (nākāh, “to strike”), especially in prophetic warnings (for example, Ezekiel 14:10; Jeremiah 10:24; Zechariah 10:2). This intertestamental usage prepares the New Testament reader to hear κoλάζω as a term of divine, covenantal discipline rather than arbitrary cruelty.

Occurrences in the New Testament

1. Acts 4:21. The Sanhedrin, “finding no basis to punish them,” releases Peter and John. Here κoλάζω describes the threatened civil penalty against Gospel proclamation. Luke contrasts human attempts at suppression with the unstoppable advance of the Word.
2. 2 Peter 2:9. “The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment.” κoλάζω is eschatological, depicting an ongoing, conscious state of divine restraint anticipating final sentencing.

Theological Themes

Divine justice and patience
• God’s punishment is neither impulsive nor capricious; it is a controlled response that defends holiness and extends opportunity for repentance (Romans 2:4–5).
• The present, provisional punishment of the wicked (2 Peter 2:9) guarantees the certainty of a future, climactic judgment (Revelation 20:11–15).

Discipline of believers
• While κoλάζω itself is not used of God’s corrective dealings with His children, its conceptual cousin παιδεύω (Hebrews 12:6) shows that divine discipline toward believers is remedial, not retributive. The distinction warns churches to aim for restoration, not retaliation, when exercising discipline (Galatians 6:1).

Limits of human authority
Acts 4:21 exposes the precariousness of earthly rulers who overstep their mandate. Civil punishment must be consistent with God’s moral order (Romans 13:3–4). When it is not, believers obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29).

Eschatological restraint
2 Peter 2:9 portrays the unrighteous as already “kept under punishment,” echoing Jude 6 regarding angels “kept in eternal chains.” Divine confinement anticipates but does not exhaust final retribution; it underscores God’s sovereign control over evil even in the present age.

Historical Interpretation

Early church writers such as Clement of Alexandria distinguished κoλάζω (corrective) from τιμωρέω (vindictive), teaching that God’s penalties aim at moral purification. Patristic homilies on 2 Peter 2:9 often cite Noah’s flood and the destruction of Sodom as paradigms of provisional judgment awaiting ultimate consummation.

Practical Ministry Application

Preaching
• κoλάζω urges proclamation of both salvation and judgment, balancing grace with the warning that sin invites divine punishment (Acts 10:42).

Counseling and church discipline
• Leaders confront unrepentant sin not to avenge but to protect the flock and invite restoration (1 Corinthians 5:5).

Civic engagement
• Christians advocate for justice systems that reflect God’s character: proportionate, impartial, and tempered by mercy (Micah 6:8).

Related Biblical Terms

παιδεύω – discipline aimed at training (Hebrews 12:7).

τιμωρία – vengeance or penalty emphasizing retribution (2 Corinthians 7:11).

ἐπιτιμία – official censure, especially excommunication (2 Corinthians 2:6).

Summary

κoλάζω presents punishment as a measured, purposeful instrument in the hand of both God and, secondarily, legitimate human authorities. Its two New Testament occurrences frame a theology of judgment that is already operative in history yet awaits its fullest display at the day of the Lord. For the church, κoλάζω stands as a sobering reminder to proclaim Christ faithfully, discipline lovingly, and rest in the assurance that ultimate justice is in God’s hands.

Forms and Transliterations
κολαζομενους κολαζομένους κολάσονται κολασωνται κολάσωνται kolasontai kolasōntai kolásontai kolásōntai kolazomenous kolazoménous
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Acts 4:21 V-ASM-3P
GRK: τὸ πῶς κολάσωνται αὐτούς διὰ
NAS: no basis on which to punish them) on account
KJV: how they might punish them,
INT: the how they might punish them on account of

2 Peter 2:9 V-PPM/P-AMP
GRK: ἡμέραν κρίσεως κολαζομένους τηρεῖν
NAS: the unrighteous under punishment for the day
KJV: the day of judgment to be punished:
INT: a day of judgment to be punished to keep

Strong's Greek 2849
2 Occurrences


κολάσωνται — 1 Occ.
κολαζομένους — 1 Occ.

2848
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