"to make to rock, to shake, Mt. 11:7; 24:29; Mk. 13:25; Lk. 6:38, 48; 7:24; 21:26; Acts 4:31; 16:26; Heb. 12:26; met. to stir up, excite the people, Acts 17:13; to agitate, disturb mentally, Acts 2:25; 2 Thess. 2:2; pass. impl. to totter, be ready to fall, be near to ruin, met. He..."
Definition and meaning
to make to rock, to shake, Mt. 11:7; 24:29; Mk. 13:25; Lk. 6:38, 48; 7:24; 21:26; Acts 4:31; 16:26; Heb. 12:26; met. to stir up, excite the people, Acts 17:13; to agitate, disturb mentally, Acts 2:25; 2 Thess. 2:2; pass. impl. to totter, be ready to fall, be near to ruin, met. Heb. 12:36, 27*
In the original Greek the word is written: σαλεύω
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of saleuo (G4531) across the King James Bible.
And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
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Common questions
Strong's G4531 (saleuo) is a Greek word that means: to make to rock, to shake, Mt. 11:7; 24:29; Mk. 13:25; Lk. 6:38, 48; 7:24; 21:26; Acts 4:31; 16:26; Heb. 12:26; met. to stir up, excite the people, Acts 17:13; to agitate, disturb mentally, Acts 2:25;... It appears 14 times in the King James Bible.
The word saleuo (G4531) appears 14 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4531 is saleuo, a Greek word defined as: to make to rock, to shake, Mt. 11:7; 24:29; Mk. 13:25; Lk. 6:38, 48; 7:24; 21:26; Acts 4:31; 16:26; Heb. 12:26; met. to stir up, excite the people, Ac. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
saleuo is a Greek word found in the New Testament.