diōkō (to pursue)

Meaning

Usually translated “persecuting”, “do pursue” and “are persecuting”. Open the dictionary entry below for the full range of meaning, with the verses it cites.

How it's translated

persecuting 4
do pursue 4
are persecuting 3
pursuing 3
persecuted 2
they may persecute 2
they persecuted 2
will persecute 2

Word-by-word English from the STEPBible tagged text.

Where it's used most

Acts 9
Matthew 6
Romans 5
Galatians 5
Luke 3
1 Corinthians 3

15 books in all.

Related words

Explore in Scripture

Matthew 5:10Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:11Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Matthew 5:12Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Matthew 5:44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Matthew 10:23But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
Matthew 23:34Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:

All 44 verses, by book

Matthew 6: 5:10 5:11 5:12 5:44 10:23 23:34
Luke 3: 11:49 17:23 21:12
John 2: 5:16 15:20
Acts 9: 7:52 9:4 9:5 22:4 22:7 22:8 26:11 26:14 26:15
Romans 5: 9:30 9:31 12:13 12:14 14:19
1 Corinthians 3: 4:12 14:1 15:9
2 Corinthians 1: 4:9
Galatians 5: 1:13 1:23 4:29 5:11 6:12
Philippians 3: 3:6 3:12 3:14
1 Thessalonians 1: 5:15
1 Timothy 1: 6:11
2 Timothy 2: 2:22 3:12
Hebrews 1: 12:14
1 Peter 1: 3:11
Revelation 1: 12:13

Greek dictionary

διώκω diōkō · to pursue

διώκω [in LXX chiefly for רָדַף ;] 1. to put to flight, drive away: Mat.23:34. 2. to pursue; (a) of persons; with accusative, without hostility, to follow after: Luk.17:23; with hostile purpose: Act.26:11, Rev.12:13. Hence, to persecute: Mat.5:10-12, 44 10:23, Luk.11:49 21:12, Jhn.5:16 15:20, Act.7:52 9:4-5 22:4, 7-8 26:14-15 Rom.12:14, 1Co.4:12 15:9, 2Co.4:9, Gal.1:13, 23 4:29 5:11 6:12, Php.3:6, 2Ti.3:12; …

From STEPBible’s Greek lexicon (based on Abbott-Smith).

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

How the English word “pursue” was understood when the King James Version was still the common Bible of English readers.

PURSUE, verb transitive

[Latin sequor; prosequor, or persequor. See Seek.]

To follow; to go or proceed after or in a like direction.
To take and proceed in, without following another.
To follow with a view to overtake; to follow with haste; to chase; as, to pursue a hare; to pursue an enemy.
To seek; to use measures to obtain; as, to pursue a remedy at law.

All definitions and other forms of “pursue”

To prosecute; to continue.“He that pursueth evil, pursueth it to his own death” Proverbs 11:19
To follow as an example; to imitate.
To endeavor to attain to; to strive to reach or gain.
To follow with enmity; to persecute.

PURSUE, verb intransitive

To go on; to proceed; to continue; a Gallicism.

Noah Webster, An American Dictionary of the English Language (1828). Verse references are checked against the KJV. Read the full entry.