verb
kōluamō
Strong’sG2967
I prevent, hinder
stem kōlu-23 times in the New Testamentin 11 of 27 books13 forms occur
What it means
A plain-English reading of the word, with the lexicons it draws on — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, and Liddell-Scott-Jones — right below it, in full.
AI Summary
κωλύω means to hinder, prevent, or forbid — to stop someone from doing something or to withhold something from them 1234. It is used with a person and what they are prevented from doing, with the thing withheld alone, or absolutely without stating what is hindered 13. It also occurs in the specific construction of withholding a thing from someone or something 13.
Sources: 1 Abbott-Smith 2 Strong's 3 LSJ 4 Dodson. Condensed by anthropic/claude-sonnet-5 on 2026-09-23 — it may still misstate what these say; check them yourself if it matters to you.
The lexicons it was drawn from, in full:
Abbott-Smith — the 1922 lexicon entry, in full
κωλύω
(< κόλος), [in LXX for כּלא, מנע, etc.;]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G2967 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidko-loo'-o
to estop, i.e. prevent (by word or act)
Fromfrom the base of G2849;
King Jamesforbid, hinder, keep from, let, not suffer, withstand.
James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1890 — public domain. The numbers in it link to the entries here.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — the classical dictionary this word appears in
future -ύσω Refs 5th c.BC+: aorist ἐκώλῡσα Refs 5th c.BC+; perfect κεκώλῡκα Refs 5th c.BC+:—passive, future κωλυθήσομαι LXX+2nd c.AD+: also in middle form -ύσομαι Refs 5th c.BC+: aorist ἐκωλύθην Refsperfect κεκώλῡμαιRefs. [ῡ always before a consonant: common before a vowel, κωλῡόμεσθα Refs 7th c.BC+.]:—hinder, prevent:—Constr.:
1 with accusative et infinitive, κ. ἐκρέειν τὸν Νεῖλον Refs 5th c.BC+; κώλυεν [μιν] μεῖναι Pi.[same place]; τί δῆτα καὶ σὲ κωλύει <λαβεῖν> κέρδο; Refs 5th c.BC+:— passive, χρημάτων σπάνει Refs 5th c.BC+; τοῦ ὕδατος πιεῖν from drinking the water, Refs 5th c.BC+
1.b rarely with participle pro infinitive, κ. τινὰ πόλεμον εἰσάγοντα Refs:—passive, μὴ κωλύωνται περαιούμενοι Refs 5th c.BC+
1.c with relative clause, κωλύειν εἴ τις ἐπαγγέλλεται, = {τινὰ μὴ ἐπαγγέλλεσθαι}, Refs 4th c.BC+; ἐκωλύσαμεν, ἵνα γένησθε.. Refs 1st c.AD+
2 with genitive of things, κ. τινά τινος hinder one from a thing, Refs 5th c.BC+:—passive, τῆς ὁρμῆς ἐκωλύθησαν Refs 2nd c.BC+
3 with accusative of things, prevent, Refs 5th c.BC+:—passive, ἐν τούτῳ κεκωλῦσθαι ἐδόκει τὰ πράγματα Refs 5th c.BC+; μηδὲ.. δαπάνῃ κεκωλύσθω let there be no hindrance by reason of expense, Refs
3.b withhold, τι ἀπό τινος LXX+NT
4 with accusative person, hinder, Refs 5th c.BC+
5 absolutely, οὐδ᾽ ὁ κωλύσων παρῆν Refs 5th c.BC+; of the tribune's intercessio, Refs 1st c.AD+; τὸ κωλῦον hindrance, Refs 5th c.BC+infinitive may be supplied, εἶτα τίς σε κωλύει (i.e. γεωργεῖν); Refs 5th c.BC+; αὐτοὶ ὠφελούμενοι τοὺς πολεμίους κωλύσετε [ὠφελεῖσθαι] Refs 5th c.BC+
6 frequently in Refs there is nothing to hinder, with accusative et infinitive, ὁμόψηφον τὸν Ἀργεῖον εἶναι κ. οὐδέν Refs 5th c.BC+; τί κ. ἡμᾶς διελθεῖ; Refs 5th c.BC+; οὐδὲν κ., absolutely, as a form of assent, be it so, Refs 5th c.BC+; τί γὰρ κ.; Refs 5th c.BC+; οὔτε ἐκεῖνο κωλύει ἐν ταῖς σπονδαῖς neither is that any hindrance, Refs 5th c.BC+; οὔτε μίαν δυοῖν τὴν αὐτὴν εἶναι κ. nor is there any hindrance to one of two being the same, Refs 4th c.BC+
H. G. Liddell, R. Scott, H. S. Jones, A Greek-English Lexicon (9th ed., 1925–1940) — digitised by the Perseus Digital Library and corrected and expanded by Tyndale House, Cambridge, via STEPBible-Data's TFLSJ table, CC BY 4.0. Covers all of Greek literature, not just the Bible.
Translated as
Every occurrence, sorted by the English it was actually given — the evidence for what the word means, not a gloss of it.
2 rarer renderings are not shown; every occurrence below carries the English it was given there.
Berean Standard Bible (BSB), dedicated to the public domain — berean.bible.
Biblang forms
What the New Testament actually uses, first — the whole system this verb is built from is one click further down.
| Form and the Greek behind it | What it is | Usually | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| kōluatōκωλύει | happening now · he/she/itpresent active indicative 3rd person singular | stops | 2× |
| kōluaneἐκωλύομεν | was happening · weimperfect active indicative 1st person plural | stop | 2× |
| kōluataἐκώλυσεν | happened · he/she/itaorist active indicative 3rd person singular | kept | 2× |
| kōluavaἐκωλύσατε | happened · yeaorist active indicative 2nd person plural | hindered | 1× |
| kōluimaἐκωλύθην | happened · Iaorist passive indicative 1st person singular | prevented | 1× |
| kōluaseiaκωλύσῃς | happened · youaorist active subjunctive 2nd person singular | withhold | 1× |
| kōluavōrκωλύετε | happening now · yepresent active imperative 2nd person plural | hinder | 6× |
| kōluarōκωλύειν | happening now · the “to …” formpresent active infinitive | prevent | 1× |
| kōluorōκωλύεσθαι | happening now · the “to …” formpresent middle or passive infinitive | prevented | 1× |
| kōluaraκωλῦσαί | happened · the “to …” formaorist active infinitive | hinder | 2× |
| kōluarōntonκωλύοντα | happening now · objectpresent active participle accusative singular masculine | forbidding | 1× |
| kōluarōntoiuκωλυόντων | happening now · of, belonging topresent active participle genitive plural masculine | forbid | 2× |
| kōluirantoisκωλυθέντες | happened · subjectaorist passive participle nominative plural masculine | forbidden | 1× |
Every form the New Testament uses, in paradigm order. What the system can build beyond them — the whole of this verb, whether the text happens to use it or not — is in the tables below.
Every form the system can build — all 172, by mood, including the ones the New Testament never uses
Statements — indicative mood, 8 occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | kōluamō | kōluame | kōluami | kōluama | kōluamē | kōluamelē |
| you 2nd person singular | kōluasō | kōluase | kōluasi | kōluasa | kōluasē | kōluaselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kōluatō2×κωλύει | kōluate | kōluati | kōluata2×ἐκώλυσεν | kōluatē | kōluatelē |
| we 1st person plural | kōluanō | kōluane2×ἐκωλύομεν | kōluani | kōluana | kōluanē | kōluanelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | kōluavō | kōluave | kōluavi | kōluava1×ἐκωλύσατε | kōluavē | kōluavelē |
| they 3rd person plural | kōlualō | kōluale | kōluali | kōluala | kōlualē | kōlualelē |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | kōluomō | kōluome | kōluomē | kōluomelē |
| you 2nd person singular | kōluosō | kōluose | kōluosē | kōluoselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kōluotō | kōluote | kōluotē | kōluotelē |
| we 1st person plural | kōluonō | kōluone | kōluonē | kōluonelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | kōluovō | kōluove | kōluovē | kōluovelē |
| they 3rd person plural | kōluolō | kōluole | kōluolē | kōluolelē |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | will happen future | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | kōluimi | kōluima1×ἐκωλύθην |
| you 2nd person singular | kōluisi | kōluisa |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kōluiti | kōluita |
| we 1st person plural | kōluini | kōluina |
| ye 2nd person plural | kōluivi | kōluiva |
| they 3rd person plural | kōluili | kōluila |
May, might — subjunctive mood, 1 occurrence
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | kōluameiō | kōluameia | kōluameiē |
| you 2nd person singular | kōluaseiō | kōluaseia1×κωλύσῃς | kōluaseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kōluateiō | kōluateia | kōluateiē |
| we 1st person plural | kōluaneiō | kōluaneia | kōluaneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | kōluaveiō | kōluaveia | kōluaveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | kōlualeiō | kōlualeia | kōlualeiē |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | kōluomeiō | kōluomeiē |
| you 2nd person singular | kōluoseiō | kōluoseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kōluoteiō | kōluoteiē |
| we 1st person plural | kōluoneiō | kōluoneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | kōluoveiō | kōluoveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | kōluoleiō | kōluoleiē |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | kōluimeia |
| you 2nd person singular | kōluiseia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kōluiteia |
| we 1st person plural | kōluineia |
| ye 2nd person plural | kōluiveia |
| they 3rd person plural | kōluileia |
Commands — imperative mood, 6 occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | kōluasōr | kōluasar | kōluasēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kōluatōr | kōluatar | kōluatēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | kōluavōr6×κωλύετε | kōluavar | kōluavēr |
| they 3rd person plural | kōlualōr | kōlualar | kōlualēr |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | kōluosōr | kōluosēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kōluotōr | kōluotēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | kōluovōr | kōluovēr |
| they 3rd person plural | kōluolōr | kōluolēr |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | kōluisar |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kōluitar |
| ye 2nd person plural | kōluivar |
| they 3rd person plural | kōluilar |
Wishes — optative mood, no occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | kōluamoiō | kōluamoia |
| you 2nd person singular | kōluasoiō | kōluasoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kōluatoiō | kōluatoia |
| we 1st person plural | kōluanoiō | kōluanoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | kōluavoiō | kōluavoia |
| they 3rd person plural | kōlualoiō | kōlualoia |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | kōluomoiō |
| you 2nd person singular | kōluosoiō |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kōluotoiō |
| we 1st person plural | kōluonoiō |
| ye 2nd person plural | kōluovoiō |
| they 3rd person plural | kōluoloiō |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | kōluimoia |
| you 2nd person singular | kōluisoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kōluitoia |
| we 1st person plural | kōluinoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | kōluivoia |
| they 3rd person plural | kōluiloia |
The “to …” form — infinitive, 4 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | kōluarō1×κωλύειν | kōluari | kōluara2×κωλῦσαί | kōluarē |
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | kōluorō1×κωλύεσθαι | kōluorē | ||
| acted on passive voice | kōluiri | kōluira |
Used as an adjective — participle, 4 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | kōluarōntos3× | kōluarintos | kōluarantos | kōluarēntos |
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | kōluorōntos | kōluorēntos | ||
| acted on passive voice | kōluirintos | kōluirantos1× |
Each is given in the form it takes as a subject. From there a participle carries the ordinary noun endings, in every case, number and gender — so these four columns are the whole of what the verb contributes.
How every form is built — the slots that make them
kōlu is this word in every one of its forms. The slots after it make all the rest.
same in every form varies — every value shown
Where it appears
Every verse the word appears in, filed under the form it takes there.
23 occurrences, every one of them listed
kōluatō“stops”happening now · he/she/itpresent active indicative 3rd person singular2×
Acts 8:36“prevents”… fēatō tos eunouchos; Idou hudem, tinem kōluatō min baptizira?… some water, the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is there to prevent me from being baptized?”
3 John 1:10“stops”… epidechotō toin adelfoin kai toin boulorōntoin kōluatō kai ek tau ekklēsau ekbalatō.… refuses to welcome the brothers and forbids those who want to do so, even putting them out of the church.
kōluane“stop”was happening · weimperfect active indicative 1st person plural2×
Mark 9:38… te onome su ekbalarōnton daimoneim, kai kōluane auton, hoti ouk akolouthate ni.… Your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not accompany …
Luke 9:49… te onome su ekbalarōnton daimoneim, kai kōluane auton hoti ouk akolouthatō meta nu.… Your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not accompany …
kōluata“kept”happened · he/she/itaorist active indicative 3rd person singular2×
Acts 27:43“kept”… de hekatontarchēos boulorōntos diasōzara ton Paulon kōluata autoin teu boulēmeu, keleuata tē toin …But the centurion, wanting to spare Paul’s life, thwarted their plan. He commanded those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to …
2 Peter 2:16… hupozugiem afōnem en anthrōpou fōna fthengerantem kōluata tan tou profētou parafronian.… spoke with a man’s voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.
kōluava“hindered”happened · yeaorist active indicative 2nd person plural1×
Luke 11:52… autois ouk eiserchava kai toin eiserchorōntoin kōluava.… have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.”
kōluima“prevented”happened · Iaorist passive indicative 1st person singular1×
Romans 1:13… pollakis protithema erchara pros vin, kai kōluima achri tou deuro, hina tinon karpon …… come to you (but have been prevented from visiting until now), in order …
kōluaseia“withhold”happened · youaorist active subjunctive 2nd person singular1×
Luke 6:29… tem himatiem kai ton chitōnon mē kōluaseia.… someone takes your cloak, do not withhold your tunic as well.
kōluavōr“hinder”happening now · yepresent active imperative 2nd person plural6×
Matthew 19:14… legata; Afiēkavar teim paidieim kai mē kōluavōr auteim erchara pros min, teiu gar …… come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of heaven …
Mark 9:39tos de Iēsus legata; Mē kōluavōr auton, oudenos gar atō hos poiati …“Do not stop him,” Jesus replied. “For no one …
Mark 10:14… teim paidieim erchorō pros min, mē kōluavōr auteim, teiu gar toiouteiu atō tas …… come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God …
Luke 9:50… de pros auton tos Iēsus; Mē kōluavōr, hos gar ouk atō kata vu …“Do not stop him,” Jesus replied, “for whoever is …
Luke 18:16… paidieim erchorō pros min kai mē kōluavōr auteim, teiu gar toiouteiu atō tas …… come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God …
1 Corinthians 14:39… tem profēteuarō, kai tem lalarō mē kōluavōr glōssai;… eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
kōluarō“prevent”happening now · the “to …” formpresent active infinitive1×
Acts 24:23“prevent”… auton echarō tē anesian kai mēdenon kōluarō toiu idioiu autou hupēretarō auto.… to allow him some freedom and permit his friends to minister to his needs.
kōluorō“prevented”happening now · the “to …” formpresent middle or passive infinitive1×
Hebrews 7:23… alō genarēntois hierevois dia tem thanato kōluorō paramenarō;… been many other priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office.
kōluara“hinder”happened · the “to …” formaorist active infinitive2×
Acts 10:47Mēti tem hudem dunotō kōluara tinos teu mē baptizira houtoin hotinois …“Can anyone withhold the water to baptize these people …
Acts 11:17… Iēsun Christon, mis tinos ome dunatos kōluara ton theon?… Jesus Christ, who was I to hinder the work of God?”
kōluarōnton“forbidding”happening now · objectpresent active participle accusative singular masculine1×
Luke 23:2… heuriskana diastrefarōnton tem ethnem nu kai kōluarōnton foroin Kaisaro dōarō kai legarōnton heauton …… found this man subverting our nation, forbidding payment of taxes to Caesar, and …
kōluarōntoiu“forbid”happening now · of, belonging topresent active participle genitive plural masculine2×
1 Thessalonians 2:16kōluarōntoiu nin tei ethnei lalara hina sōzileia, …hindering us from telling the Gentiles how …
1 Timothy 4:3“forbid”kōluarōntoiu gamarō, apechorō brōmeiu heim tos theos …… will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from certain foods that God has created …
kōluirantois“forbidden”happened · subjectaorist passive participle nominative plural masculine1×
Acts 16:6“forbidden”… de tan Frugian kai Galatikan chōran, kōluirantois hupo teu hagieu pneumeu lalara ton …After the Holy Spirit had prevented them from speaking the word in the province of Asia, they traveled through the region of Phrygia and Galatia.