G3039 — λικμάω (likmáō)¶

Core Data¶

Strong's: G3039
Original: λικμάω
Transliteration: likmáō
Pronunciation: lik-mah'-o
Part of Speech: Verb
Root: From λικμός likmós, equivalent of λίκνον líknon — a winnowing fan or basket
Occurrences: 2 unique verses (both Future Active Indicative 3rd Singular: λικμήσει)
Books: 2 (Matthew, Luke — parallel passages)
First Occurrence: Mat 21:44 — "it will grind him to powder"
Hapax Legomenon: No (2 occurrences, but both in parallel synoptic versions of the same logion)

Lexicon Definition¶

Thayer's Greek Lexicon: λικμάω, λικμῷ: future λικμήσω; from λικμός, a winnowing-van: 1. To winnow — to cleanse away the chaff from grain by winnowing (Homer, Xenophon, Plutarch; also LXX) 2. To scatter — a sense unknown to secular authors; opposed to συνάγω (Jer 31:10; Isa 17:13; Amos 9:9) 3. To crush to pieces, grind to powder — τινά (Matt 21:44; Luke 20:18; cf. Dan 2:44 Theod.; Wis 11:19)

Note: Sense 3 is unique to biblical Greek — classical authors do not use λικμάω for crushing. The LXX uses it for scattering nations (sense 2); the NT shifts to physical destruction (sense 3), echoing the stone of Dan 2:44.

Louw-Nida Semantic Domain¶

Domain: 19 — Physical Impact
Subdomain: 19.5 — Press
Other words in subdomain: ἀποθλίβω (G598), θλίβω (G2346), καταπατέω (G2662), πατέω (G3961), πιέζω (G4085)

UBS Semantic Domains¶

[019] Physical Impact — striking, crushing, and physical force. Other words: ἀποθλίβω (G598), ἀποκόπτω (G609), δέρω (G1194), διαρρήγνυμι (G1284), διασπάω (G1288), διορύσσω (G1358)

Translation Distribution (KJV)¶

Translation	Verses	%
grind to powder	2	100%

KJV renders the phrase "it will grind him to powder" in both occurrences (split across two translation tokens in the DB).

Distribution by Book¶

Book	Count	Per 100 Verses
Matthew	1	0.1
Luke	1	0.1

Both occurrences are in Synoptic parallels of the same dominical saying about the rejected cornerstone. The word does not appear in Mark's version (Mark 12:1–12), John, or any Epistle.

Semantic Categories¶

1. Eschatological Judgment by the Rejected Stone¶

The word's only NT use is in Jesus' quotation/application of Ps 118:22 — the stone rejected by the builders becomes the cornerstone, and then an instrument of crushing judgment against those who oppose it.

Mat 21:44 — "And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder."
Luke 20:18 — "Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder."

The imagery draws on Dan 2:44 (the stone that smote the image becoming a great mountain, filling the earth). λικμάω captures the total reduction — not merely breaking but pulverizing.

Common Collocations¶

Word	Strong's	Co-occurrences	Typical Pattern
πᾶς (pâs)	G3956	1x	"whosoever" — universal scope of the judgment

Minimal collocations due to only 2 occurrences. The crushing is always the subject's action on a person (τινά, accusative of person).

Word Family / Cognates¶

λικμός (likmós) — the winnowing fan/van; root noun (not in NT)
λίκνον (líknon) — winnowing basket (Luke 3:17 as πτύον, not this word)

Synonyms¶

No direct synonym entries were returned by search_relationships.py for G3039.

Antonyms¶

εἰσδέχομαι (G1523) — listed by the relationship data as an antonymic counterpart: admit or receive in rather than strike down

Easily Confused Words¶

Word	Strong's	Shared Translation	Key Difference
συνθλάω (synthlao)	G4917	both rendered "broken" in same context	synthlao = shatter/break; likmáō = grind to powder (total reduction)
λεπτύνω (leptuno)	—	grind fine	leptuno = make thin/fine; likmáō = violent crushing/winnowing action

Note: Matt 21:44 uses both concepts in one verse: "shall be broken" (συνθλάω / πίπτω sense) for falling on the stone, and λικμήσει for the stone falling on a person — the distinction is intentional: falling on the stone = fracture; stone falling on you = total pulverization.

Hebrew Source (via LXX)¶

Hebrew Source	Strong's	Co-occ	PMI Score	Notes
זָרָה (zârâh)	H2219	10	8.67	to toss/scatter — primary LXX bridge
פּוּץ (pûwts)	H6327	5	6.86	to dash in pieces, scatter

Primary LXX bridge is H2219 zârâh (scatter/winnow), consistent with senses 1–2 above. The NT usage in Matt/Luke connects instead to Dan 2:44's imagery (the stone smiting the image), where Theodotion uses λικμάω for the Aramaic Aphel of סוּף (to end/destroy).