Original Word: ἡττάομαι
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: héttaomai
Pronunciation: hayt-tah'-om-ahee
Phonetic Spelling: (hayt-tah'-o)
Definition: To be defeated, to be inferior, to be overcome
Meaning: I am defeated, am overcome, am made inferior.

be inferior, overcome.

From the same as hetton; to make worse, i.e. Vanquish (literally or figuratively); by implication, to rate lower -- be inferior, overcome.

see GREEK hetton

Word Origin
from the same as héssón
Definition
to be inferior
NASB Translation
overcome (2), treated as inferior (1).

STRONGS NT 2274: ἡσσάομαι

ἡσσάομαι, see ἡττάω and under the word Sigma.

STRONGS NT 2274: ἡττάωἡττάω: (ἥττων); to make less, inferior, to overcome (the active is only in Polybius, Diodorus, Josephus, Antiquities 12, 7, 1 (other examples in Veitch, under the word)); passive ἡττάομαι, from (Sophocles and) Herodotus down; perfect ή῾ττημαι; 1 aorist ἡττήθην (ἡσσωθην, 2 Corinthians 12:13 L T Tr WH; in opposed to which form cf. Fritzsche, De conform. N. T. crit. quam Lachmann edition, p. 32 (yet see Kuenen and Cobet, N. T. ad fid. Vat., p. xc.; WHs Appendix, p. 166; Buttmann, 59 (52); Veitch, under the word)); to be made inferior; to be overcome, worsted: in war, ὑπό τίνος, 2 Macc. 10:24; universally, τίνι (cf. Buttmann, 168 (147); Winer's Grammar, 219 (206)), to be conquered by one, forced to yield to one, 2 Peter 2:19; absolutely, 2 Peter 2:20. τί ὑπέρ τινα, equivalent to ἧττον ἔχω τί, to hold a thing inferior, set below (on the accusative (ὁ) cf. Buttmann, § 131, 10; and on the comparitive use of ὑπέρ see ὑπέρ, II. 2 b.), 2 Corinthians 12:13.

Word Origin: Middle voice of a derivative of the same as ἥσσων (hēssōn, Strong's 2276), which means "less" or "inferior."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for ἡττάομαι, similar concepts can be found in Hebrew words that convey defeat or subjugation, such as:
• כָּשַׁל (kashal, Strong's 3782): To stumble, to be feeble, to be overthrown.
• נָפַל (naphal, Strong's 5307): To fall, to be cast down, to fail.

These Hebrew terms, like ἡττάομαι, reflect the broader biblical theme of human frailty and the need for divine assistance to overcome moral and spiritual challenges.

Usage: The term ἡττάομαι is used in the New Testament to describe a state of being defeated or overcome, often in a moral or spiritual sense. It implies a condition of being made lesser or inferior, either through personal failure or external circumstances.

Context: The Greek verb ἡττάομαι appears in the New Testament in contexts that convey the idea of defeat or being overcome, particularly in a moral or spiritual sense. This term is used to describe situations where individuals or groups find themselves in a state of inferiority or subjugation, often due to moral failings or spiritual weaknesses.

In 2 Peter 2:19, the term is used to describe those who promise freedom but are themselves slaves to corruption, highlighting the paradox of being overcome by what one is enslaved to: "They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves to corruption. For a man is a slave to whatever has overcome him." (BSB)

The concept of ἡττάομαι is significant in understanding the Christian perspective on spiritual warfare and moral integrity. It underscores the importance of vigilance and reliance on divine strength to avoid being overcome by sin or worldly influences. The term serves as a warning against complacency and the dangers of succumbing to temptations that lead to spiritual defeat.

ησσωθητε ἡσσώθητε ηττάσθε ηττηθέντες ηττήθη ηττήθησαν ηττηθήσεσθε ηττηθήσεται ηττηθήσονται ηττήθητε ηττήσεις ηττηται ήττηται ἥττηται ηττωνται ηττώνται ἡττῶνται essothete ēssōthēte ettetai ēttētai ettontai ēttōntai hessothete hessṓthete hēssōthēte hēssṓthēte hettetai hēttētai hḗttetai hḗttētai hettontai hettôntai hēttōntai hēttō̂ntaiInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts