2967. kóluó
Lexical Summary
kóluó: To hinder, to prevent, to forbid, to restrain

Original Word: κωλύω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: kóluó
Pronunciation: ko-loo'-o
Phonetic Spelling: (ko-loo'-o)
KJV: forbid, hinder, keep from, let, not suffer, withstand
NASB: hinder, prevent, forbid, prevented, forbidden, forbidding, forbids
Word Origin: [from the base of G2849 (κολάζω - punish)]

1. to hinder or forbid, i.e. prevent (by act or word)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
forbid, hinder, prevent

From the base of kolazo; to estop, i.e. Prevent (by word or act) -- forbid, hinder, keep from, let, not suffer, withstand.

see GREEK kolazo

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
probably from the same as kolazó
Definition
to hinder
NASB Translation
forbid (2), forbidden (1), forbidding (1), forbids (1), hinder (5), hindered (1), hindering (1), kept (1), prevent (3), prevented (2), prevents (1), refuse (1), restrained (1), stand in...way (1), withhold (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 2967: κωλύω

κωλύω; imperfect 1 person plural ἐκωλύομεν (Mark 9:38 T Tr text WH); 1 aorist ἐκώλυσα; passive, present κωλύομαι; 1 aorist ἐκωλύθην; (from κόλος, lopped, clipped; properly, to cut off, cut short, hence) to hinder, prevent, forbid; (from Pindar down); the Sept. for כָּלָא, twice (viz. 1 Samuel 25:26; 2 Samuel 13:13) for מָנַע : τινα followed by an infinitive (Winer's Grammar, § 65, 2 β.; cf. Buttmann, § 148,13), Matthew 19:14; Luke 23:2; Acts 16:6; Acts 24:23; 1 Thessalonians 2:16; Hebrews 7:23; τί κωλύει με βαπτισθῆναι; what doth binder me from being (to be) baptized? Acts 8:36; the infinitive is omitted, as being evident from what has gone before, Mark 9:38; Mark 10:14; Luke 9:49; Luke 11:52; Luke 18:16; Acts 11:17; Romans 1:13; 3 John 1:10; αὐτόν is lacking, because it has preceded, Luke 9:50; the accusative is lacking, because easily supplied from the context, 1 Timothy 4:3; as often in Greek writings, construction with τινα τίνος, to keep one from a thing, Acts 27:43; with the accusative of the thing, τήν παραφρονίαν, to restrain, check, 2 Peter 2:16; τό λαλεῖν γλωσαις, 1 Corinthians 14:39; τί, followed by τοῦ μή, can anyone hinder the water (which offers itself), that these should not be baptized? Acts 10:47; in imitation of the Hebrew כָּלָא followed by מִן of the person and the § of the thing, to withhold a thing from anyone, i. e. to deny or refuse one a thing: Luke 6:29 (Buttmann, § 132, 5) (τό μνημεῖον ἀπό σου, Genesis 23:6). (Compare: διακωλύω.)

Topical Lexicon
Range of Biblical Usage

The verb conveys an intentional act of stopping, restraining, or prohibiting someone or something. In the New Testament it can appear in physical, legal, social, or spiritual settings and may be exercised either by people or by God Himself. The contexts fall into three main spheres: (1) hindering entry into the kingdom, (2) obstructing gospel ministry, and (3) rightful prohibition of evil.

Hindering Access to Christ and His Kingdom

The Synoptic Gospels twice record the disciples keeping children away from Jesus. “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:14; Mark 10:14; Luke 18:16). Christ’s rebuke reveals that any obstacle placed between sincere seekers and the Savior contradicts the very nature of His kingdom.

Likewise, Luke 11:52 indicts religious lawyers who “have taken away the key of knowledge. You yourselves did not enter, and you hindered those who were entering.” Religious privilege turned into gate-keeping earns Christ’s severest censure, underscoring that doctrine or tradition becomes toxic when it blocks repentance and faith.

Attempts to Restrain the Works of God

John addressed a man who “prevents those who want to” show hospitality to missionaries (3 John 1:10). Diotrephes’ behavior typifies ecclesiastical power plays that muzzle genuine service. In striking contrast, Jesus refused to curb an unaffiliated exorcist: “Do not stop him… for whoever is not against us is for us” (Mark 9:39; Luke 9:50). Ministry alignment is measured by allegiance to Christ, not institutional membership.

The Ethiopian eunuch asked, “What prevents me from being baptized?” (Acts 8:36). The implied answer is “nothing” where saving faith is present. Peter later echoes the same principle at Caesarea: “Can anyone withhold water to baptize these people?” (Acts 10:47) and defends it in Jerusalem, “Who was I to hinder God?” (Acts 11:17). The verb becomes a rhetorical weapon against prejudice that would deny full inclusion in the body of Christ.

Human Opposition to Apostolic Mission

Paul frequently met with prohibitions:
• “I planned many times to come to you—but was prevented until now” (Romans 1:13).
• Hostile authorities “hinder us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved” (1 Thessalonians 2:16).
• Ananias commanded the centurion not to hinder friends from attending Paul (Acts 24:23).

Yet the gospel advanced. Hindrance, paradoxically, highlighted God’s sovereign overruling. Even shipwreck in Acts 27:43 shows a centurion “preventing” soldiers from killing prisoners so that Paul might reach Rome.

Divine Restraint for Redirection

The same verb describes the Spirit’s strategic leading: “They were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia” (Acts 16:6). Divine hindrance is not opposition to mission but guidance toward prepared fields (in that case, Macedonia). Christians must therefore distinguish between satanic obstruction and providential redirection.

Hebrews 7:23 applies the word to mortality: Levitical priests “were prevented by death from continuing in office.” The limitation of the old order contrasts with the indestructible priesthood of Jesus Christ.

Legitimate Prohibition of Evil

Balaam’s “madness” was checked when his donkey “restrained the prophet” (2 Peter 2:16). Paul orders Corinth, “do not forbid speaking in tongues” (1 Corinthians 14:39), balancing order with freedom. Timothy is warned of false teachers “forbidding marriage” (1 Timothy 4:3); legalistic bans differ from God-given boundaries.

Luke 23:2 records the Sanhedrin’s false accusation that Jesus was “forbidding payment of taxes to Caesar,” illustrating how the term can be misapplied against the righteous. Conversely, Luke 6:29 calls believers not to “withhold” the tunic when the cloak is taken—refusing to let revenge hinder generosity.

Historical and Cultural Setting

In the Greco-Roman world the verb covered civic restrictions—blocking travel, vetoing decisions, denying courtroom access. The New Testament writers adopt this common vocabulary to show how the kingdom confronts and redefines power structures: neither synagogue rulers, imperial magistrates, nor sectarian leaders may stand in the gospel’s path.

Theological Implications

1. Sovereignty: God alone decides when and where His servants may be hindered (Acts 16:6) and when no one may hinder (Acts 11:17).
2. Inclusivity of Grace: Ethnicity, age, or status cannot be used as pretexts to forbid approach to Christ (Matthew 19:14; Acts 10:47).
3. Responsibility: Believers must guard against becoming stumbling blocks, whether through exclusivism (Luke 11:52) or misuse of authority (3 John 1:10).
4. Perseverance: Obstacles underscore mission urgency and reveal authentic faith (Romans 1:13; 1 Thessalonians 2:16).

Practical Applications for the Church Today

• Welcome without partiality; remove cultural or generational barriers that keep people from Jesus.
• Test every prohibition: is it protective of holiness or a human tradition choking spiritual life?
• View closed doors as providential guidance, not defeat; seek the Spirit’s next assignment.
• Encourage every gift God gives, refusing to forbid biblically sound expressions of grace.
• Stand firm when hostile powers attempt to silence gospel proclamation, trusting God to overrule.

Obstruction—whether by human hostility or divine wisdom—cannot thwart the ultimate advance of Christ’s kingdom. The command echoes across generations: “Do not hinder.”

Forms and Transliterations
εκωλύθη εκωλυθην εκωλύθην ἐκωλύθην εκωλυομεν ἐκωλύομεν εκώλυσα εκωλύσαμεν εκωλυσατε εκωλύσατε ἐκωλύσατε εκώλυσε εκώλυσέ εκωλυσεν εκώλυσεν ἐκώλυσεν κώλυε κωλυει κωλύει κωλυειν κωλύειν κωλυεσθαι κωλύεσθαι κωλυετε κωλύετε κωλυθεντες κωλυθέντες κωλυοντα κωλύοντα κωλυοντων κωλυόντων κωλυσαι κωλύσαι κωλῦσαι κωλῦσαί κωλύσει κωλύση κωλυσης κωλύσης κωλύσῃς κώλυσον κωλύσω κωλύων κωμάρχας ekoluomen ekōluomen ekolusate ekōlusate ekolusen ekōlusen ekoluthen ekōluthēn ekolyomen ekolýomen ekōlyomen ekōlýomen ekolysate ekolýsate ekōlysate ekōlýsate ekolysen ekōlysen ekṓlysen ekolythen ekolýthen ekōlythēn ekōlýthēn koluei kōluei koluein kōluein koluesthai kōluesthai koluete kōluete koluonta kōluonta koluonton kōluontōn kolusai kōlusai koluses kōlusēs koluthentes kōluthentes kolyei kolýei kōlyei kōlýei kolyein kolýein kōlyein kōlýein kolyesthai kolýesthai kōlyesthai kōlýesthai kolyete kolýete kōlyete kōlýete kolyonta kolýonta kōlyonta kōlýonta kolyonton kolyónton kōlyontōn kōlyóntōn kolysai kolŷsai kolŷsaí kōlysai kōlŷsai kōlŷsaí kolýseis kōlýsēis kolyses kōlysēs kolythentes kolythéntes kōlythentes kōlythéntes
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Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 19:14 V-PMA-2P
GRK: καὶ μὴ κωλύετε αὐτὰ ἐλθεῖν
NAS: alone, and do not hinder them from coming
KJV: little children, and forbid them not,
INT: and not do forbid them to come

Mark 9:38 V-IIA-1P
GRK: δαιμόνια καὶ ἐκωλύομεν αὐτόν ὅτι
NAS: in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because
KJV: us: and we forbad him, because
INT: demons and we forbade him because

Mark 9:39 V-PMA-2P
GRK: εἶπεν Μὴ κωλύετε αὐτόν οὐδεὶς
NAS: said, Do not hinder him, for there is no one
KJV: Jesus said, Forbid him not:
INT: said not Forbid him no one

Mark 10:14 V-PMA-2P
GRK: με μὴ κωλύετε αὐτά τῶν
NAS: to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom
KJV: me, and forbid them not:
INT: me not do hinder them to the

Luke 6:29 V-ASA-2S
GRK: χιτῶνα μὴ κωλύσῃς
NAS: your coat, do not withhold your shirt
KJV: cloke forbid not
INT: tunic not do withhold

Luke 9:49 V-IIA-1P
GRK: δαιμόνια καὶ ἐκωλύομεν αὐτὸν ὅτι
NAS: in Your name; and we tried to prevent him because
KJV: name; and we forbad him, because
INT: demons and we forbade him because

Luke 9:50 V-PMA-2P
GRK: Ἰησοῦς Μὴ κωλύετε ὃς γὰρ
NAS: said to him, Do not hinder [him]; for he who
KJV: unto him, Forbid [him] not: for
INT: Jesus not Forbid who indeed

Luke 11:52 V-AIA-2P
GRK: τοὺς εἰσερχομένους ἐκωλύσατε
NAS: did not enter, and you hindered those
KJV: them that were entering in ye hindered.
INT: those who were entering you hindered

Luke 18:16 V-PMA-2P
GRK: καὶ μὴ κωλύετε αὐτά τῶν
NAS: to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom
KJV: me, and forbid them not:
INT: and not do forbid them of the

Luke 23:2 V-PPA-AMS
GRK: ἡμῶν καὶ κωλύοντα φόρους Καίσαρι
NAS: our nation and forbidding to pay
KJV: and forbidding to give
INT: of us and forbidding tribute to Ceasar

Acts 8:36 V-PIA-3S
GRK: ὕδωρ τί κωλύει με βαπτισθῆναι
NAS: What prevents me from being baptized?
KJV: what doth hinder me
INT: water what prevents me to be baptized

Acts 10:47 V-ANA
GRK: ὕδωρ δύναται κωλῦσαί τις τοῦ
NAS: one can refuse the water for these
KJV: Can any man forbid water, that these
INT: water can forbid any one that

Acts 11:17 V-ANA
GRK: ἤμην δυνατὸς κωλῦσαι τὸν θεόν
NAS: was I that I could stand in God's
KJV: I, that I could withstand God?
INT: was I [to be] able to forbid God

Acts 16:6 V-APP-NMP
GRK: Γαλατικὴν χώραν κωλυθέντες ὑπὸ τοῦ
NAS: region, having been forbidden by the Holy
KJV: of Galatia, and were forbidden of
INT: the Galatian region having been forbidden by the

Acts 24:23 V-PNA
GRK: καὶ μηδένα κωλύειν τῶν ἰδίων
NAS: [some] freedom, and not to prevent any
KJV: and that he should forbid none
INT: and not to forbid the own

Acts 27:43 V-AIA-3S
GRK: τὸν Παῦλον ἐκώλυσεν αὐτοὺς τοῦ
NAS: safely through, kept them from their intention,
KJV: Paul, kept them
INT: Paul hindered them of

Romans 1:13 V-AIP-1S
GRK: ὑμᾶς καὶ ἐκωλύθην ἄχρι τοῦ
NAS: to come to you (and have been prevented so
KJV: you, (but was let hitherto,) that
INT: you and was hindered until the

1 Corinthians 14:39 V-PMA-2P
GRK: λαλεῖν μὴ κωλύετε γλώσσαις
NAS: to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak
KJV: to prophesy, and forbid not to speak
INT: to speak not do forbid with tongues

1 Thessalonians 2:16 V-PPA-GMP
GRK: κωλυόντων ἡμᾶς τοῖς
NAS: hindering us from speaking
KJV: Forbidding us to speak
INT: forbidding us to the

1 Timothy 4:3 V-PPA-GMP
GRK: κωλυόντων γαμεῖν ἀπέχεσθαι
NAS: [men] who forbid marriage
KJV: Forbidding to marry,
INT: forbidding to marry [bidding] to abstain

Hebrews 7:23 V-PNM/P
GRK: τὸ θανάτῳ κωλύεσθαι παραμένειν
NAS: because they were prevented by death
KJV: priests, because they were not suffered to continue
INT: by death being hindered from continuing

2 Peter 2:16 V-AIA-3S
GRK: φωνῇ φθεγξάμενον ἐκώλυσεν τὴν τοῦ
NAS: of a man, restrained the madness
KJV: voice forbad the madness
INT: voice having spoken forbade the of the

3 John 1:10 V-PIA-3S
GRK: τοὺς βουλομένους κωλύει καὶ ἐκ
NAS: either, and he forbids those
KJV: and forbiddeth them that would,
INT: those who would he forbids and from

Strong's Greek 2967
23 Occurrences


ἐκωλύομεν — 2 Occ.
ἐκωλύσατε — 1 Occ.
ἐκώλυσεν — 2 Occ.
ἐκωλύθην — 1 Occ.
κωλύει — 2 Occ.
κωλύειν — 1 Occ.
κωλύεσθαι — 1 Occ.
κωλύετε — 6 Occ.
κωλύοντα — 1 Occ.
κωλυόντων — 2 Occ.
κωλῦσαί — 2 Occ.
κωλύσῃς — 1 Occ.
κωλυθέντες — 1 Occ.

2966
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