Abarim Publications' online Biblical Greek Dictionary
τριβω
The verb τριβω (tribo) means to rub, but that mostly in a rather rough way. It stems from a huge Proto-Indo-European root that also yields the words trauma (τραυμα, trauma), tragedy (τραγωδια, tragodia), and via Latin words like tribulation and contrition.
In the classics, this verb could describe the threshing of grain under the hoofs of oxen (or of dead Trojans under Achilles' whole-hoofed horses; Il.20.496), or the rubbing of gold on a touchstone (βασανος, basanos) to prove its genuineness. In the classics our verb often features in scenes of considerable violence, and then tends to be translated into English with to bruise, pound or crush.
Our verb also often tells of a rubbing down to the nub, or a very smooth surface where there was once a profile. It may tell of wholly wearing out of clothes, or wearing a road shiny smooth, of a time tarried, a war prolonged, a country wasted or an estate squandered. Our verb may tell of people worn out by prolonged ills, struggles or oppression. Or it may emphasize some (unhealthy) obsession that will ultimately wear someone out (or possibly make him a weary expert in something).
Note the accidental similarity with the unrelated noun τριβολος (tribolos), meaning three-pronged, and descriptive of some nasty device with spikes that would cripple horses.
This verb τριβω (tribo) is not used independently in the New Testament, but from it derive:
- Together with the preposition δια (dia), meaning through or throughout: the verb διατριβω (diatribo), which in general would mean to (forcefully) rub in or rub away (hence the English noun diatribe). In the Greek classics, as well as in the New Testament, this verb is predominantly used with the meaning of to abide, to thoroughly spend time, to pass all one's time, and thus to be prolonged busy or occupied. On occasion, this verb might be used in the sense of to waste time, or even more specific: to delay or thwart some proceeding. This verb is used 10 times; see full concordance.
- Together with the preposition συν (sun), meaning together or with: the verb συντριβω (suntribo), meaning to rub (violently) together (for instance of sticks, to make fire). In the classics this verb is mostly used to describe an extremely violent smashing together, a shattering or crushing, a banging to powder or a beating to pulp. It's used 8 times in the New Testament; see full concordance. From it in turn comes:
- The noun συντριμμα (suntrimma), which describes a violent crushing, a shattering, a smashing together (Romans 3:16 only).
- The noun τριβος (tribos), which denotes any sort of thing or situation that is marked by the effects of the verb: the smoothness of something worn smooth or down to the nub or bare threads (Matthew 3:3, Mark 1:3 and Luke 3:4 only). This wonderful noun is used in the New Testament solely to describe the making of the "smoothness" of the highway for the Lord in the desert. The pun, of course, is that this highway is made so smooth not by bulldozers or committees but by the beautiful feet of the vast and decentralized multitudes that walk toward their Lord.
- Together with the noun χρονος (chronos), meaning time: the verb χρονοτριβεω (chronotribeo), meaning to waste lengthy periods, to loiter or protract (Acts 20:16 only).