Lexical Summary kóluó: To hinder, to prevent, to forbid, to restrain Original Word: κωλύω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance forbid, hinder, preventFrom 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 Originprobably 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: κωλύωκωλύω; 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: 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). Practical Applications for the Church Today • Welcome without partiality; remove cultural or generational barriers that keep people from Jesus. 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 kōlythéntesLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 19:14 V-PMA-2PGRK: 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 Mark 9:39 V-PMA-2P Mark 10:14 V-PMA-2P Luke 6:29 V-ASA-2S Luke 9:49 V-IIA-1P Luke 9:50 V-PMA-2P Luke 11:52 V-AIA-2P Luke 18:16 V-PMA-2P Luke 23:2 V-PPA-AMS Acts 8:36 V-PIA-3S Acts 10:47 V-ANA Acts 11:17 V-ANA Acts 16:6 V-APP-NMP Acts 24:23 V-PNA Acts 27:43 V-AIA-3S Romans 1:13 V-AIP-1S 1 Corinthians 14:39 V-PMA-2P 1 Thessalonians 2:16 V-PPA-GMP 1 Timothy 4:3 V-PPA-GMP Hebrews 7:23 V-PNM/P 2 Peter 2:16 V-AIA-3S 3 John 1:10 V-PIA-3S Strong's Greek 2967 |
    |