ἑλκύω (Helkuo)

MEANINGTo draw or drag. Strong's G1670: 'to drag (literally or figuratively)'. The force of the drawing is not settled by the word alone: it covers a net hauled in (John 21:6) and a wooing draw.

GRAMMARG1670. In John 6:44 the subjunctive helkuse follows 'except the Father... draw him'; in John 12:32 the future helkuso, 'will draw all men unto me'.

SIGNIFICANCEJohn 6:44 does not settle the force of the drawing by the word; Jesus settles it in 6:45, where the drawing is hearing and learning, taught, not compelled. And the same word in the same Gospel is universal in scope: 'I, if I be lifted up... will draw all men unto me' (John 12:32). The Father draws through the gospel taught; the drawn are those who hear and learn and come. It is real drawing and it can be resisted (Acts 7:51).

KEY VERSE / SCRIPTURESJohn 6:44 (except the Father draw him); John 6:45 (hath heard, and hath learned, cometh); John 12:32 (will draw all men unto me); John 21:6 (a net, the literal sense); Acts 7:51 (ye do always resist).

CROSS-REFERENCESמָשַׁךְ mashakh (the OT drawing) · /john-6-44 · /answers/helkuo