Word
λέγω
légō · G3004 · Greek · 2,255 occurrences
Meanings
-
to say, to talk, to tell, to speak
To speak or talk, with apparent focus upon the content of what is said
ExamplesMatthew 1:20 But when he had thought this over, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 2:8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.”
Matthew 2:13 Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.”
-
to call, to name
To speak of a person or object by means of a proper name
ExamplesMatthew 1:16 Jacob fathered Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah.
Matthew 2:23 and came and settled in a city called Nazareth. This happened so that what was spoken through the prophets would be fulfilled: “He will be called a Nazarene.”
Matthew 4:18 Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.
-
to call, to name
To use an attribution in speaking of a person
ExamplesMatthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
Matthew 27:17 So when the people gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?”
Matthew 27:22 Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Crucify Him!”
-
to mean
To mark the correspondence in the meaning of foreign expressions
ExamplesJohn 1:38 And Jesus turned and saw them following, and said to them, “What are you seeking?” They said to Him, “Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?”
John 20:16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher).
Acts 9:36 Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which when translated means Dorcas); this woman was excelling in acts of kindness and charity which she did habitually.
-
to mean, to imply
To say something in order to explain more fully the implications or intent of what has been said
ExamplesJohn 1:22 Then they said to him, “Who are you? Tell us, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
Acts 17:18 And some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers as well were conversing with him. Some were saying, “What could this scavenger of tidbits want to say?” Others, “He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities,”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection.
1 Corinthians 1:12 Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, “I am with Paul,” or “I am with Apollos,” or “I am with Cephas,” or “I am with Christ.”
-
(An idiom, literally: to speak to oneself) To think about something without communicating the content to others (to think to oneself, to say to oneself (often used to introduce a direct quotation of one’s thoughts))
ExamplesMatthew 3:9 and do not assume that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father’; for I tell you that God is able, from these stones, to raise up children for Abraham.
Matthew 9:21 for she was saying to herself, “If I only touch His cloak, I will get well.”
Matthew 21:38 “But when the vine-growers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let’s kill him and take possession of his inheritance!’
How it’s used In 14 roles
Every occurrence, grouped by the words it is grammatically related to.
the word studied the word it goes with
Who or what does itSubject
1,288 occurrences in 93 groups
- Not stated (participle) 387
- Not stated: he, she or it 206
- Not stated: I 197
- ἸησοῦςJesus 69
- Not stated: they 69
- Not stated (infinitive) 37
- Other words · 54 groups that occur once or twice (68) 68
What it acts on, or what is saidObject
1,051 occurrences in 386 groups
- εἰμίto be 179
- ποιέωto do, to make 32
- τίςwho? what?, why? for what reason? 32
- εἴδωto know 30
- ἔχωto have 27
- οὗτοςthis 26
- Other words · 282 groups that occur once or twice (347) 347
To or for whomIndirect object
534 occurrences in 49 groups
- αὐτόςhe, she, it, same 264
- σύyou 174
- ἐγώI, we 17
- μαθητήςdisciple 9
- ἐκκλησίαcongregation, church 7
- ΠέτροςPeter 5
- Other words · 38 groups that occur once or twice (42) 42
Second objectAs in “call him Lord”
25 occurrences in 24 groups
- θεόςGod 3
- Other words · 23 groups that occur once or twice (25) 25
With prepositionsPrepositional phrases
115 occurrences in 80 groups
- πρόςto, toward, with+ αὐτόςhe, she, it, same 13
- διάthrough+ οὗτοςthis 5
- περίconcerning, about, for+ αὐτόςhe, she, it, same 5
- ἐκfrom+ οὐρανόςheaven, sky 4
- ἐνin+ ἑαυτοῦhimself, herself, itself 4
- πρόςto, toward, with+ ἀλλήλωνeach other, one another 4
- Other words · 73 groups that occur once or twice (82) 82
With adverbsAdverbs
82 occurrences in 28 groups
- τότεthen 15
- πάλινagain, and, also 12
- πῶςhow? by what means? 7
- καίand 6
- οὐnot 5
- μήnot 4
- Other words · 18 groups that occur once or twice (23) 23
Named alongside itApposition
42 occurrences in 28 groups
- ἸησοῦςJesus 4
- Θωμᾶςthe twin 3
- Other words · 26 groups that occur once or twice (35) 35
What it doesIt is the subject
8 occurrences in 8 groups
- εἰμίto be 1
- εἰσέρχομαιto enter, to go into, to come into 1
- ἐμφανίζωto make appear 1
- ἐπιτρέπωto allow, to let, to permit 1
- κοινωνέωto share 1
- λαλέωto speak 1
What is done to itIt is the object
156 occurrences in 33 groups
- ἔπωto say 38
- ἀκούωto hear 32
- λέγωto say 20
- ἄρχωto be first 16
- ἀποκρίνομαιto answer 9
- εἴδωto know 8
- Other words · 24 groups that occur once or twice (27) 27
It is given or told toIndirect object
1 occurrences in 2 groups
- ἔπωto say 1
- ἀποκρίνομαιto answer 1
Second object ofSecond object
3 occurrences in 3 groups
- ἔπωto say 1
- λέγωto say 1
- ἀποκρίνομαιto answer 1
What it is said to bePredicate
7 occurrences in 6 groups
- τίςwho? what?, why? for what reason? 2
- νῦνnow 1
- οὐnot 1
- οὐρανόςheaven, sky 1
- σκοτίαdarkness 1
- ψεύστηςliar 1
What is said to be itIt is the predicate
1 occurrences in 1 groups
- ὅςwho, which, that 1
After prepositionsPrepositional phrases
12 occurrences in 8 groups
- ἐνin 6
- ἐπίon 4
- διάthrough 3
- εἰςto 2
- ἐκfrom 1
- ἀντίfor, instead of 1
When two words share a role, as in “Paul and Barnabas said”, the verse appears under each, so a section’s counts can add up to more than the number of occurrences.
MACULA Greek Linguistic Datasets, available at https://github.com/Clear-Bible/macula-greek/, licensed CC BY 4.0; MACULA Hebrew Linguistic Datasets © 2022-2024 by Biblica, Inc., CC BY 4.0. Westminster Leningrad Codex (tanach.us). OpenScriptures Hebrew Bible morphology (hb.openscriptures.org), CC BY 4.0.
Near synonyms 2 words
- λαλέω laléō · G2980 · to speak, to say, to talk
- While both refer to verbal expression, λέγω typically denotes systematic or formal discourse and extends to naming and semantic content ('to mean'), whereas λαλέω focuses more narrowly on the act of uttering or producing speech sounds. The two overlap substantially in narrative and dialogue contexts but are not fully interchangeable across their complete ranges.
- φημί phēmí · G5346 · to say, to talk, to tell
- Both verbs denote verbal communication and the expression of thoughts or statements. While λέγω is the more common and general term for speaking or saying (often with more systematic discourse), φημί frequently introduces direct quotations or assertions, the two function as near synonyms in contexts where straightforward speech or declaration is in view.
In the other Testament 2 words
- אָמַר ʼâmar · H559 · to say, to speak, to tell
- Hebrew אָמַר is the primary Hebrew verb for 'to say' or 'to speak,' and serves as the direct cross-linguistic equivalent of Greek λέγω, the primary Greek verb for 'to say.' Both verbs cover the full range of speech acts, from direct quotation to formal discourse, reflecting systematic translation equivalence.
- נְאֻם nᵉʼum · H5002 · declaration, utterance
- נְאֻם (nᵉʼum, H5002) נְאֻם functions as a specialized prophetic/oracular utterance formula ("oracle of [the LORD]"), typically rendered by λέγω in LXX prophetic discourse where Greek lacks a direct formal equivalent for this Hebrew technical term.
Semantic domains 6 entries
- To think to oneself, to say to oneself (often used to introduce a direct quotation of one’s thoughts).31.5
- λέγω can introduce a person's silent, inward reasoning. Luke 16:3 recounts that the dishonest manager, weighing his crisis, “said to himself, ‘What am I to do, since my master is taking the management away from me?’” the εἶπεν naming this inward self-address preceding his decision.
- To call, to name33.129
- The verb frequently denotes giving a name to a person. Matthew 10:2 lists the apostles, beginning with “Simon, who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew,” the λεγόμενος naming this by-name Simon was known by among the Twelve.
- To call, to name33.131
- λέγω is likewise used to give a name to a place. Matthew 27:33 recounts that “when they came to a place called Golgotha, which means Place of a Skull,” the λεγόμενον naming this site by its familiar designation.
- To mean33.138
- The verb can also introduce an explanation of what a statement is intended to convey. 1 Corinthians 1:12 states, “Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, ‘I am with Paul,’ or ‘I am with Apollos,’” the λέγω naming this clarifying intent behind Paul's remark about the Corinthians' factions.
- To mean, to imply33.140
- λέγω can further introduce the interpretation or translation of a foreign word or phrase. John 20:16 recounts that Mary turned and said to Jesus in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher),” the λέγεται naming this translated meaning of her Aramaic address.
- To say, to talk, to tell, to speak33.69
- In its ordinary, most frequent sense, λέγω is simply the verb of speaking. John 11:3 recounts that the sisters of Lazarus sent word to Jesus, “saying, ‘Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick,’” the λέγουσαι naming this plain act of speaking their message to Him.
Word family 46 words
Words formed from the same root. They share a form, not always a meaning.
λέγωlégō · G3004λόγος lógos · G3056 · word, saying, message · 331×εὐλογέω eulogéō · G2127 · to praise, to speak well of, to bless · 42×λογίζομαι logízomai · G3049 · to think about, to reason about, to ponder · 40×ἐκλέγομαι eklégomai · G1586 · to choose, to select, to prefer · 22×ἐκλεκτός eklektós · G1588 · chosen · 22×διαλογίζομαι dialogízomai · G1260 · to think out carefully, to reason thoroughly, to consider carefully · 16×εὐλογία eulogía · G2129 · to praise, to speak well of, flattery · 16×προλέγω prolégō · G4302 · to say already, to quote above (in written discourse), to tell ahead of time · 15×διαλογισμός dialogismós · G1261 · to think out carefully, to reason thoroughly, to consider carefully · 14×διαλέγομαι dialégomai · G1256 · to argue, to dispute, argument · 13×ἀντιλέγω antilégō · G483 · to oppose, to speak in opposition to · 11×ἀπολογέομαι apologéomai · G626 · to defend oneself · 10×ἀπολογία apología · G627 · to defend oneself, defense, what is said in defense · 8×εὐλογητός eulogētós · G2128 · one to be praised · 8×συλλέγω syllégō · G4816 · to pick, to pluck · 8×ἐκλογή eklogḗ · G1589 · to choose, choice, chosen · 7×διάλεκτος diálektos · G1258 · language · 6×ἀντιλογία antilogía · G485 · dispute, contradictory statements, contradiction · 4×λόγιον lógion · G3051 · sayings, oracles, message · 4×ἄλογος álogos · G249 · without reason, not able to reason, unreasonable · 3×ἀναπολόγητος anapológētos · G379 · to be without excuse, to have no excuse · 2×ἐλλογέω ellogéō · G1677 · to record, to list, to charge · 2×ἐνευλογέω eneulogéō · G1757 · to act kindly toward, to bless · 2×ἐπιλέγομαι epilégomai · G1951 · to call, to name, to choose · 2×λογία logía · G3048 · collection · 2×λογικός logikós · G3050 · rational, genuine, true · 2×λογισμός logismós · G3053 · to think about, to reason about, to ponder · 2×παραλέγομαι paralégomai · G3881 · to sail along the coast, to sail along the shore · 2×παραλογίζομαι paralogízomai · G3884 · to deceive · 2×ἀναλογία analogía · G356 · in relation to, in proportion to · 1×ἀναλογίζομαι analogízomai · G357 · to think out carefully, to reason thoroughly, to consider carefully · 1×βαττολογέω battologéō · G945 · to use many words, to speak for a long time, to babble · 1×καταλέγω katalégō · G2639 · to put one’s name on a list, to enter someone on a list · 1×λόγιος lógios · G3052 · eloquent, learned, cultured · 1×λογομαχέω logomachéō · G3054 · to quarrel about words, arguing about words · 1×λογομαχία logomachía · G3055 · quarreling about words, arguing about words · 1×συλλογίζομαι syllogízomai · G4817 · to talk with, to speak with, to converse · 1×συνεκλεκτός syneklektós · G4899 · one who is also chosen, what is chosen together with · 1×
Also from the root λέγω
συναρμολογέω synarmologéō · G4883 · to fit together, to be joined together · 2×ματαιολόγος mataiológos · G3151 · empty talker, foolish babbler · 1×μωρολογία mōrología · G3473 · foolish talk, stupid talk · 1×σπερμολόγος spermológos · G4691 · ignorant show-off, charlatan, foolish babbler · 1×στρατολογέω stratologéō · G4758 · to enlist soldiers, to be an army commander, to be an army officer · 1×χρηστολογία chrēstología · G5542 · attractive speech, fine language · 1×ψευδολόγος pseudológos · G5573 · liar · 1×
Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon 2 aorist active from an obsolete present ἘΠΩ (late epic and in composition; see Veitch)…
2 aorist active from an obsolete present ἘΠΩ (late epic and in composition; see Veitch) (cf. ἔπος (Curtius, § 620)), Ionic ἘΙΠΩ (like ἐρωτάω, εἰρωτάω; ἑλίσσω, εἱλίσσω; subjunctive εἴπω, imperative εἶπε, infinitive εἰπεῖν, prcp. εἰπών; 1 aorist εἶπα (Jn 10:34 R G T Tr WH, from Ps 81:6; Acts 26:15 L T Tr WH; Heb 3:10 Lachmann from Ps 94:10; add (Mk 9:18 T WH Tr text); Job 29:18; Job 32:8, etc.; Sir. 24:31 (29); 1 Macc. 6:11, etc.; cf. Kühner, 1:817 (especially Veitch, under the word, pp. 232; 233)), 2 person εἶπας (Mt 26:25,(64); Mk 12:32 (not T WH; Jn 4:17 where T WH again εἶπες; Lk 20:39)), 3 person plural εἶπαν (often in L T Tr WH (i. e. out of the 127 instances in which the choice lies between 3 person plural εἶπον of the Rec. and εἶπαν, the latter ending has been adopted by L in 56, by T in 82, by Tr in 74, by WH in 104, cf. Tdf. Proleg., p. 123), e. g. Mt 12:2; Mt 27:6; Jn 18:30, etc.); impv: εἶπον (Mk 13:4 L T Tr WH; Lk 10:40 T WH Tr marginal reading; Acts 28:26 G L T Tr WH (also Mt 4:3 WH; T WH; T WH Tr marginal reading; WH; Lk 20:2 T Tr WH; 22:() T Tr WH; Jn 10:24 T WH), for the Attic εἶπον, cf. W § 6, 1 k.; (Chandler § 775); Fritzsche on Mark, p. 515ff; (but Winer's (p. 85 (81)) regards εἶπον as imperative of the 2nd aorist; cf., too, Lob. ad Phryn., p. 348; Buttmann, 57 (50); especially Fritzsche, the passage cited)), in the remaining persons εἰπάτω (Rev 22:17), ἐιπατα (Matt. (Mt 10:27; ); Mt 22:4; , etc.; Mark (); Mk 14:14; ; (Lk 10:10; Lk 13:32; Lk 20:3; Col 4:17)), εἰπάτωσαν (Acts 24:20) also frequent in Attic (Veitch, under the word; WH's Appendix, p. 164; Rutherford, New Phryn., p. 219); participle, after the form chiefly Ionic, εἶπας ((Jn 11:28 Tr WH); Acts 7:37 L T Tr WH (also Acts 22:24; Acts 24:22; )); the future ἐρῶ is from the epic present εἴρω (cf. Lob. Technol., p. 137); on the other hand, from Ρ᾽ΑΩ come perfect εἴρηκα, 3 person plural εἰρήκασιν (Acts 17:28), εἴρηκαν (Rev 19:3; see γίνομαι), infinitive εἰρηκέναι, Heb 10:15 L T Tr WH; passive, perfect 3 person singular εἴρηται, preposition εἰρημένον; pluperfect ἐιρήκειν 1 aorist ἐρρέθην (Rev 6:11; Rev 9:4 and R G T WH in Mt 5:21ff; L T Tr WH in Rom 9:12, Rom 9:26; Gal 3:16) (strict (cf. Veitch, p. 575)) Attic ἐρρήθην (Mt 5:21ff L Tr; R G in Rom 9:12, Rom 9:26; Gal 3:16; (cf. Buttmann, 57 (50); WH's Appendix, p. 166)), participle ῤηθείς, ῤηθέν; the Sept. for אָמַר; to speak, say, whether orally or by letter;
1. with an accusative of the object;
a. with the accusative of the thing: εἰπεῖν λόγον, Mt 8:8 Rec.; Jn 2:22 (L T Tr WH); Jn 7:36; Jn 18:9, Jn 18:32; ῤῆμα, Mk 14:72 (Knapp, et al.); εἰπεῖν λόγον εἰς τινα, equivalent to βλασφημεῖν, Lk 12:10; also κατά τίνος, Mt 12:32; ὡς ἔπος εἰπεῖν, so to say (a phrase frequent in classical Greek, cf. Weiske, De pleonasmis gr., p. 47; Matthiae, § 545; Delitzsch on Heb. as below; (Kühner, § 585, 3; Krüger, § 55, 1, 2; Goodwin § 100; Winer's Grammar, 449 (419); 317 (298))), Heb 7:9 (opposed to ἀκριβεῖ λόγῳ, Plato, rep. 1, 311 b.); τήν ἀλήθειαν, Mk 5:33; ἀλήθειαν ἐρῶ, 2 Cor 12:6; τοῦτο ἀληθές εἴρηκας, Jn 4:18 (Winer's Grammar, 464 (433) n.); τί εἴπω; what shall I say? (the expression of one who is in doubt what to say), Jn 12:27; πῶς ἐρεῖ τό ἀμήν;... 1 Cor 14:16; τί ἐροῦμεν; or τί οὖν ἐροῦμεν; what shall we say? i. e. what reply can we make? or, to what does that bring us? only in the Epistle to the Romans (Winer's Grammar, § 40, 6) viz., Rom 3:5; Rom 6:1; Rom 7:7; Rom 9:14, Rom 9:30; with πρός ταῦτα added, Rom 8:31; εἰπεῖν τί περί τίνος, Jn 7:39; Jn 10:41. Sayings from the O. T. which are quoted in the New are usually introduced as follows: τό ῤηθέν ὑπό τοῦ (L T Tr WH omit τοῦ) κυρίου διά τοῦ προφήτου, Mt 1:22; Mt 2:15; ὑπό τοῦ Θεοῦ, Mt 22:31; ὑπό τοῦ προφήτου Rec. Mt 27:35, cf. Mt 2:17; τό ῤηθέν διά τίνος, Mt 2:17 L T Tr WH, Mt 2:23; Mt 4:14; Mt 8:17; Mt 12:17; Mt 13:35; Mt 21:4; Mt 27:9; τό εἰρημένον διά τοῦ προφήτου. Acts 2:16; τό εἰρημένον, Lk 2:24; Acts 13:40; Rom 4:18; ἐρρέθη, Mt 5:21, etc.; καθώς εἴρηκεν, Heb 4:3.
b. with the accusative of the person to speak of, designate by words: ὅν εἶπον, Jn 1:15 ((not WH text); Buttmann, 377 (323); cf. Rom 4:1 WH text (say of)); ὁ ῤηθείς, Mt 3:3. εἰπεῖν τινα καλῶς, to speak well of one, praise him, Lk 6:26 (ἐν εἰπεῖν τινα, Homer, Odyssey 1, 302); κακῶς, to speak ill of one, Acts 23:5 from Ex 22:28; cf. Kühner, § 409, 2; 411, 5; (Winer's Grammar, § 32, 1 b. β.; Buttmann, 146 (128)).
c. with an ellipsis of the accusative αὐτό (see αὐτός, II. 3): Lk 22:67; Jn 9:27; Jn 21:4, etc. σύ εἶπας (namely, αὐτό), i. e. you have just expressed it in words; that's it; it is just as you say: Mt 26:25, Mt 26:64 (a rabbinical formula; for examples cf. Schoettgen or Wetstein on Mt 26:25; others seem to regard the answer as noncommittal, e. g. Origen on Mt 26:64 (Works, 3:910 De la Rue edition); Wunsche, Erlaut. der Evang. aus Talmud, as above, with on Mt 26:25; but cf. the ἐγώ εἰμί of Mk 14:62; in Mt 26:64 WH marginal reading take it interrogatively).
2. the person, to whom a thing is said, is indicated a. by a dative: εἰπεῖν τί τίνι, Lk 7:40, and very often; εἶπον ὑμῖν namely, αὐτό, I (have just) told it you; this is what I mean; let this be the word: Mt 28:7; cf. Bernhardy (1829), p. 381; (Jelf, § 403, 1; Godwin § 19, 5; especially (for examples) Herm. Vig., p. 746). τίνι περί τίνος (cf. Winer's Grammar, § 47, 4), Mt 17:13; Jn 18:34. to say anything to one by way of censure, Mt 21:3; to cast in one's teeth, ἐρεῖτε μοι τήν παραβολήν Lk 4:23. to tell what anything means, e. g. τό μυστήριον, Rev 17:7.
b. by the use of a preposition: πρός τινα (cf. Buttmann, 172 (150); Krüger, § 48, 7, 13), to say (a thing) to one, as Lk 4:23; Lk 5:4; Lk 12:16, and many other places in Luke; to say a thing in reference to one (Winer's Grammar, 405 (378)), Mk 12:12; Lk 18:9; Lk 20:19.
3. εἶπον, to say, speak, simply and without an accusative of the object, i. e. merely to declare in words, to use language;
a. with the addition of an adverb or of some other adjunct: ὁμοίως, Mt 26:35; ὡσαύτως, Mt 21:30; καθώς, Mt 28:6; Lk 24:24; Jn 1:23; Jn 7:38; εἶπε διά παραβολῆς, making use of a parable (see διά, A. III. 3) he spake, Lk 8:4; ἐν παραβολαῖς, Mt 22:1; with an instrumental dative: εἶπε λόγῳ, say in (using only) a (single) word, namely, that my servant shall be healed, Mt 8:8 (where Rec. λόγον); Lk 7:7.
b. with the words spoken added in direct discourse; so a hundred times in the historical books of the N. T., as Mt 9:4; Mt 8:32; ( L Tr WH), etc.; 1 Cor 12:15; (2 Cor 4:6 L text T Tr WH (cf. 4 below)); Heb 1:5; Heb 3:10; Heb 10:7 ( L T Tr WH), ; ; Jas 2:3, Jas 2:11; Jude 1:9; Rev 7:14; πέμψας εἶπεν he said by a messenger or messengers, Mt 11:2f The following and other phrases are frequent in the Synoptic Gospels: ὁ δέ ἀποκριθείς εἶπεν, as Mt 4:4; Mt 15:13; καί ἀποκριθείς εἶπεν Mt 24:4; ἀποκριθεῖσα ἡ μήτηρ εἶπεν, Lk 1:60; ἀποκριθείς ὁ Σίμων εἶπεν, Lk 7:43, etc.; ἀποκριθέντες δέ εἶπον (εἶπαν T Tr WH), Lk 20:24; but John usually writes ἀπεκρίθη καί εἶπεν: Jn 1:48 (); Jn 2:19; Jn 3:10; Jn 4:10, Jn 4:13, Jn 4:17, Jn 6:26, Jn 4:29, Jn 7:16, Jn 4:20 (R G), ; (R G L brackets), Jn 9:30, Jn 9:36 (L Tr marginal reading omit; WH brackets καί εἶπεν); Jn 13:7; Jn 14:23; ; — (εἶπαν αὐτῷ λέγοντες, Mk 8:28 T WH Tr marginal reading, cf. ).
c. followed by ὅτι: Mt 28:7; Mk 16:7; Jn 6:36; Jn 7:42; Jn 8:55; Jn 11:40; Jn 16:15; Jn 18:8; 1 Jn 1:6, 1 Jn 1:8, 1 Jn 1:10; 1 Cor 1:15; 1 Cor 14:23; 1 Cor 15:27 (L brackets; WH marginal reading omits ὅτι.
d. followed by an accusative and infinitive: τί οὖν ἐροῦμεν Ἀβραάμ τόν πατέρα ἡμῶν εὑρηκέναι (WH text omits; Tr marginal reading brackets εὑρηκέναι; cf. 1 b. above) κατά σάρκα; Rom 4:1.
4. εἰπεῖν sometimes involves in it the idea of commanding (cf. Buttmann, 27f (237)): followed by the infinitive, εἶπε δοθῆναι αὐτῇ φαγεῖν, Mk 5:43; εἶπε τῷ ἀδελφῷ μου μερίσασθαι μετ' ἐμοῦ τήν κληρονομίαν, Lk 12:13; ὅσα ἄν εἴπωσιν ὑμῖν (namely, τηρεῖν (inserted in R G)), τηρεῖτε, Mt 23:3 (Wis. 9:8). followed by the accusative and infinitive, ὁ εἶπον ἐκ σκότους φῶς λάμψαι, 2 Cor 4:6 (R G L marginal reading, cf. Buttmann, 273f (235); but L text T Tr WH read λάμψει, thus changing the construction from the accusative with an infinitive to direct discourse, see 3 b. above); εἶπεν αὐτῷ (for ἑαυτῷ, see αὑτοῦ) φωνηθῆναι τούς δούλους τούτους, be commanded to be called for him (i. e., to him) these servants, Lk 19:15; cf. Winers Grammar, § 44, 3 b.; Krüger, § 55, 3, 13. followed by ἵνα with the subjunctive: Mt 4:3; Mt 20:21; Lk 4:3; to εἰπεῖν is added a dative of the person bidden to do something, Mk 3:9; Lk 10:40 cf. 4:3; Rev 6:11; Rev 9:4. "Moreover, notice that ἵνα and ὄφρα are often used by the later poets after verbs of commanding;" Hermann ad Vig., p. 849; cf. Winers Grammar, § 44, 8; (Buttmann, 237 (204)). 5 B a Hebraism εἰπεῖν ἐν ἑαυτῷ (בְּלִבּו אָמַר, Deut 8:17; Ps 10:6 (Ps. 9:27>); Ps 13:1; Est 6:6) is equivalent to to think (because thinking is a silent soliloquy): Mt 9:3; Lk 7:39; Lk 16:3; Lk 18:4 (elsewhere also λέγειν ἐν ἑαυτῷ); and εἰπεῖν ἐν τῇ καρδία αὐτοῦ amounts to the same, Lk 12:45; Rom 10:6; but in other passages εἶπον, ἔλεγον, ἐν ἑαυτοῖς is, equivalent to ἐν ἀλλήλοις: Mt 21:38; see λέγω, II. 1 d.
6. εἰπεῖν τινα with a predicate accusative, to call, style, one:ἐκείνους εἶπε Θεούς, Jn 10:35; ὑμᾶς εἴρηκα φίλους, Jn 15:15; (Homer, Odyssey 19, 334; Xenophon, Apology Socrates § 15; Lucian, Tim. § 20). (Compare: ἀντεῖπον, ἀπεῖπον, προεῖπον.)
G3004 — εἴρω
, future ἐρῶ, see εἶπον.
G3004 — ἐρῶ
, see εἶπον.
G3004 — λέγω
(in the N. T. only the present and imperfect active and present passive are in use; 3 person plural imperfect ἐλεγαν, Jn 11:56 Tdf. (cf. ἔχω, at the beginning));
I. in its earliest use in Homer to lay (like Latinlego, German legen; cf. J. G. Müller in Theol. Studien und Kritiken for 1835, p. 127ff; Curtius, § 538); to cause to lie down, put to sleep;
1. to collect, gather; to pick out.
2. to lay with, count with; to enumerate, recount, narrate. describe; (cf. English tale, German zählen).
II. to put word to word in speaking, join words together, i. e. "to say (how it differs from λαλεῖν, see under that word at the beginning); once so by Homer in Iliad 2, 222 (yet cf. Schmidt, Syn. 1:1, §§ 20; 48, 2; Liddell and Scott, under the word, B. II. 2); often in Pindar, and by far the most common use in Attic; the Sept. more than thirteen hundred times for אָמַר; often also for נְאֻם (saying,dictum); very rarely for דִּבֵּר; and so in N. T.
1. universally,
a. absolutely, to speak: Acts 13:15; Acts 24:10; to say, foll. by direct discourse, Mt 9:34; Mt 12:44; Mt 16:2 (here T brackets WH reject the passage); Mk 3:30; Lk 5:39 (WH brackets the clause); Jn 1:29, Jn 1:38; (1 Cor 12:3 L T Tr WH); Jas 4:13, and very often; the direct discourse is preceded by ὅτι recitative, Mt 9:18 (T omits ὅτι); Mk 1:15 (T omits; WH brackets λέγων); Mk 2:12 (L and WH brackets λέγοντας); Mk 3:21; Mk 5:28; Mk 6:14f, 35; Mk 7:20; Lk 1:24; Lk 4:41; Lk 17:10; Jn 6:14; Jn 7:12; Jn 8:33; Jn 9:9, Jn 9:41; Jn 16:17; Acts 2:13; Acts 11:3; Heb 10:8; Rev 3:17, etc.; followed by the accusative with an infinitive, Lk 11:18; Lk 24:23; Jn 12:29; Acts 4:32; Acts 28:6, etc.; followed by ὅτι, Lk 22:70; Jn 8:48; Jn 18:31; 1 Tim 4:1 (for other examples see 2 a. below); followed by an indirect question, Mt 21:27; Mk 11:33; Lk 20:8.
b. The N. T. writers, particularly the historical, are accustomed to add the verb λέγειν followed by direct discourse to another verb which already contains the idea of speaking, or which states an opinion concerning some person or thing; as τό ῤηθέν... προφήτου λέγοντος, Mt 2:17; Mt 8:17; Mt 12:17; Mt 13:35; κηρύσσων... καί (L T WH omit; Tr brackets καί) λέγων, Mt 3:2; κράζειν λέγειν, Mt 9:27; Mt 21:15; Mk 10:47; Lk 4:41 (here L T Tr marginal reading κραυγάζειν); Acts 14:15; προσφώνειν καί λέγειν, Mt 11:17; Lk 7:32; ἀπεκρίθη καί λέγει, Mk 7:28; αἰνεῖν τόν Θεόν καί λέγειν, Lk 2:13; γογγύζειν καί λέγειν, Jn 6:42. to verbs of speaking, judging, etc., and those which denote in general the nature or the substance of the discourse reported, the participle λέγων is added (often so in the Sept. for לֵאמֹר (Winer's Grammar, 535f (499), cf. 602 (560))) followed by direct discourse: ἀπεκρίθη λέγων, Mt 25:9, Mt 25:44; Mk 9:38 (T WH omit λέγων); Acts 15:13; Rev 7:13, etc. (see ἀποκρίνομαι, 1 c.); εἶπαν... λέγοντες, Mark (Mk 8:28 T WH Tr marginal reading); ; Lk 20:2 (in Greek writings ἔφη λέγων); ἐλάλησε λέγων (see λαλῶ, 5); ἐμαρτύρησε, Jn 1:32; κέκραγεν λέγων, Jn 1:15; ἐδίδασκεν... λέγων, Mt 5:2; (ἐβόησεν or) ἀνεβόησεν... λέγων, Mt 27:46; Lk 9:38; ἀνέκραξεν λέγων, Mk 1:24; Lk 4:34 (T WH omit; Tr brackets λέγων); also after ᾄδειν, Rev 5:9; Rev 15:3; αἴρειν (or ἐπαίρειν) φωνήν, Lk 17:13; Acts 14:11; θαυμάζειν, Mt 8:27; Mt 9:33; Mt 21:20; after προφητεύειν, Mt 15:7; γογγύζειν, Mt 20:12; εἶπεν ἐν παραβολαῖς, Mt 22:1; παρέθηκε παραβολήν, Mt 13:24; διεμαρτύρατο, Heb 2:6; ἐπήγγελται, Heb 12:26, and a great many other examples It is likewise added to verbs of every kind which denote an act conjoined with speech; as ἐφάνη, φαίνεται λέγων, Mt 1:20; Mt 2:13; προσεκύνει λέγων, Mt 8:2; Mt 9:18; Mt 14:33; Mt 15:25; add, Mt 8:3; Mt 9:29; Mt 14:15; Mk 5:35 Lk 1:66; Lk 5:8; Lk 8:38; Lk 10:17; Lk 15:9; Lk 18:3; Lk 19:18; Acts 8:10, Acts 8:18; Acts 12:7; Acts 27:23; 1 Cor 11:25, etc. On the other hand, the verb λέγω in its finite forms is added to the participles of other verbs: Mt 27:41; Mk 8:12; Mk 14:45, Mk 14:63, Mk 14:67; Mk 15:35; Lk 6:20; Jn 1:36; Jn 9:8; Acts 2:13 Heb 8:8; ἀποκριθείς λέγει, Mk 8:29; Mk 9:5, Mk 9:19; Mk 10:24, Mk 10:51; Mk 11:22, Mk 11:33 (L Tr marginal reading brackets T Tr WH omit ἀποκριθείς); Lk 3:11; Lk 11:45; Lk 13:8 (nowhere so in Acts, nor in Matt. nor in John); κράξας λέγει, Mk 5:7 (Rec. εἶπε); Mk 9:24. ἔγραψε λέγων (לֵאמֹר יִכְתֹּב 2 Kgs 10:6; 2 Sam 11:15, etc.), he wrote in these words, or he wrote these words (A. V. retains the idiom, he wrote saying (cf.
e. below)): Lk 1:63; Lk 1:1 Macc. 8:31 1 Macc. 11:57; Josephus, Antiquities 11, 2, 2; 13, 4, 1; examples from the Syriac are given by Gesenius in Rosenmüller's Repertor. i., p. 135. ἔπεμψε or ἀπέστειλε λέγων, i. e. he ordered it to be said by a messenger: Mt 22:16; Mt 27:19; Lk 7:19; Lk 19:14; Jn 11:3; Acts 13:15; Acts 16:35 (see in εἶπον, 3 b.); otherwise in Mt 21:37; Mk 12:6.
c. ἡ φωνή λέγουσα: Mt 3:17; Mt 17:5; Lk 3:22 (G L T Tr WH omit λέγουσα); Rev 6:6; Rev 10:4, Rev 10:8; Rev 12:10; Rev 14:13, etc. λέγειν φωνή μεγάλη, Rev 5:12; Rev 8:13; ἐν φωνή μεγάλη, Rom 14:7, Rom 14:9.
d. In accordance with the Hebrew conception which regards thought as internal speech (see εἶπον, 5), we find λέγειν ἐν ἑαυτῷ, to say within oneself, i. e. to think with oneself: Mt 3:9; Mt 9:21; Lk 3:8; ἐν τῇ καρδία αὐτοῦ, Rev 18:7.
e. One is said to speak, λέγειν, not only when he uses language orally, but also when he expresses himself in writing ((cf.
b. sub at the end)): 2 Cor 7:3; 2 Cor 8:8; 2 Cor 9:3, 2 Cor 9:4; 2 Cor 11:16, 2 Cor 11:21; Phm 4:11, and often in Paul; so of the writers of the O. T.: Rom 10:16, Rom 10:20; Rom 11:9; Rom 15:12; λέγει ἡ γραφή, Rom 4:3; Rom 10:11; Rom 11:2; Jas 2:23, etc.; and simply λέγει, namely, ἡ λέγουσα, i. e. ἡ γραφή (our it is said): Rom 15:10 (11 L Tr marginal reading); Gal 3:16; Eph 4:8; Eph 5:14; cf. Winers Grammar, 522 (486f) and 588 (547); Buttmann, § 129, 16; λέγει, namely, ὁ Θεός, 2 Cor 6:2; λέγει, Δαυίδ ἐν ψαλμῷ, Acts 13:35; λέγει ὁ Θεός, Heb 5:6; ἐν τῷ ὡσεη, Rom 9:25; ἐν Ἠλίᾳ, Rom 11:2; ἐν Δαυίδ, Heb 4:7; λέγει τό πνεῦμα τό ἅγιον, Heb 3:7; ὁ νόμος λέγει, 1 Cor 14:34; τί, 1 Cor 9:8; Rom 3:19.
f. λέγειν is used of every variety of speaking: as of inquiry, Mt 9:14; Mt 15:1; Mt 17:25; Mt 18:1; Mk 2:18; Mk 5:30; Lk 4:22; Lk 7:20; Jn 7:11; Jn 9:10; Jn 19:10; Rom 10:18; Rom 11:1, Rom 11:11, etc.; followed by εἰ interrogative (see εἰ, II. 2), Acts 21:37; λέγει, τίς, equivalent to one bids the question be asked, Mk 14:14; Lk 22:11; of reply, Mt 17:25; Mt 20:7; Mk 8:24 (L marginal reading εἶπεν); Jn 1:21; Jn 18:17; of acclaim, Rev 4:8, Rev 4:10; of exelamation, Rev 18:10, Rev 18:16; of entreaty, Mt 25:11; Lk 13:25; equivalent to to set forth in language, make plain, Heb 5:11.
g. λέγω with the accusative of the thing. to say a thing: ὁ, Lk 9:33 (i. e. not knowing whether what he said was appropriate or not); Lk 22:60; to express in words, Phm 1:21; τοῦτο, Jn 8:6; Jn 12:33; τοιαῦτα, Heb 11:14; ταῦτα, Lk 8:8; Lk 11:27, Lk 11:45; Lk 13:17; Jn 5:34; Acts 14:18; 1 Cor 9:8; τάδε (referring to what follows), Acts 21:11; Rev 2:1, Rev 2:8, Rev 2:12, Rev 2:18; Rev 3:1, Rev 3:7, Rev 3:14; τί, what? Rom 10:8; Rom 11:4; Gal 4:30; 1 Cor 14:16; πολλά, Jn 16:12; τά λεγόμενα, Lk 18:34; Acts 28:24; Heb 8:1; ὑπό τίνος, Acts 8:6; Acts 13:45 (L T Tr WH λαλουμένοις); Acts 27:11; λέγω ἀλήθειαν, Jn 8:45; Rom 9:1; 1 Tim 2:7; ἀληθῆ, Jn 19:35; ἀνθρώπινον, Rom 6:19; σύ λέγεις, namely, αὐτό, properly, thou sayest, i. e. thou grantest what thou askest, equivalent to it is just as thou sayest; to be sure, certainly (see εἶπον, 1 c.): Mt 27:11; Mk 15:2; Lk 23:3, cf. Lk 22:70; Jn 18:37 ((all these passages WH marginal reading punctuate interrogatively)); παραβολήν, to put forth, Lk 14:7; τό αὐτό, to profess one and the same thing, 1 Cor 1:10 cf. 1 Cor 1:12. h. with the dative of the person to whom anything is said: followed by direct discourse, Mt 8:20; Mt 14:4; Mt 18:32; Mt 19:10; Mk 2:17, Mk 2:27; Mk 7:9; Mk 8:1; Jn 1:43 (); , and scores of other examples; λέγειν τίνι. κύριε, κύριε, to salute anyone as lord, Mt 7:21; imperative λέγε μοι, Acts 22:27 (generally εἶπε μοι, ἡμῖν); plural Lk 10:9; ἀμήν λέγω ὑμῖν, I solemnly declare to you (in the Gospels of Matt. Mark and Luke); for which the Greek said ἐπ' ἀληθείας λέγω ὑμῖν, Lk 4:25, and λέγω ὑμῖν ἀληθῶς, Lk 9:27; in John everywhere (twenty-five times, and always uttered by Christ) ἀμήν ἀμήν λέγω σοι (ὑμῖν), I most solemnly declare to thee (you), Jn 1:51 (Jn 1:52); , etc.; with the force of an asseveration λέγω τίνι, without ἀμήν: Mt 11:22; Mt 12:36; Mt 23:39; Lk 7:9, Lk 7:28; Lk 10:12; Lk 12:8; Lk 17:34; Lk 18:8, Lk 18:14; ναί λέγω ὑμῖν, Mt 11:9; Lk 7:26; Lk 11:51; Lk 12:5; λέγω σοι, Lk 12:59. with a dative of the thing, in the sense of commanding (see 2 c. below), Mt 21:19; Lk 17:6; in the sense of asking, imploring, Lk 23:30; Rev 6:16. λέγω τίνι τί, to tell a thing to one: Mt 10:27; 2 Thess 2:5; τήν ἀλήθειαν, Jn 16:7; μυστήριον, 1 Cor 15:51; παραβολήν, Lk 18:1; of a promise, Rev 2:7, Rev 2:11, Rev 2:17, Rev 2:29; Rev 3:6; equivalent to to unfold, explain, Mk 10:32; followed by indirect discourse, Mt 21:27; Mk 11:33; Lk 20:8; τίνι τινα, to speak to one about one, Jn 8:27; Phm 3:18. i.:λέγω followed by prepositions: πρός τινα, which denotes — either to one (equivalent to the dative): followed by direct discourse, Mk 4:41; Mk 10:26; Lk 8:25; Lk 9:23; Lk 16:1; Jn 2:3; Jn 3:4; Jn 4:15; Jn 6:5; Jn 8:31; Acts 2:7 (R G),; Acts 28:4, Acts 28:17; followed by ὅτι recitative, Lk 4:21; πρός τινα τί, Lk 11:53 R G L Tr marginal reading; Lk 24:10; — or as respects one, in reference to one (cf. Buttmann, § 133, 3; Winers Grammar, § 31, 5; 405 (378); Krüger, § 48, 7, 13; Bleek on Heb 1:7: Meyer on Rom 10:21): Lk 12:41; Heb 1:7. (others add Heb 1:8, ; ); μετά τίνος, to speak with one, Jn 11:56, περί τίνος, of, concerning, one (cf. Winer's Grammar, § 47, 4), Mt 21:45; Jn 1:47 (); Jn 2:21; Jn 11:13; Jn 13:18, Jn 13:22; Heb 9:5; περί τίνος, ὅτι, Lk 21:5; τί περί τίνος, Jn 1:22; Jn 9:17; Acts 8:34; Tit 2:8; τίνι περί τίνος, Mt 11:7; Mk 1:30; Mk 8:30 (Lachmann εἴπωσιν); πρός τινα περί τίνος, Lk 7:24; ὑπέρ τίνος, to speak for, on behalf of, one, to defend one, Acts 26:1 (L T Tr WH marginal reading περί); ἐπί τινα, to speak in reference to, of (see ἐπί. C. L 2 g. γγ.; Buttmann, § 147, 23), one, Heb 7:13; εἰς τινα (τί βλασφημων), against one, Lk 22:65; in speaking to have reference to one, speak with respect to one, Acts 2:25 (cf. Winer's Grammar, 397 (371)); in speaking to refer (a thing) to one, with regard to, Eph 5:32; εἰς τόν κόσμον, to the world (see εἰς, A. I. 5 b.), Jn 8:26 (L T Tr WH λαλῶ). k. with adverbs, or with phrases having adverbial force: καλῶς, rightly, Jn 8:48; Jn 13:13; ὡσαύτως, Mk 14:31; τί κατά συγγνώμην, ἐπιταγήν, by way of advice (concession (see συγγνώμη)), by way of command, 1 Cor 7:6; 2 Cor 8:8; κατά ἄνθρωπον (see ἄνθρωπος, 1 c.), Rom 3:5; Gal 3:15; 1 Cor 9:8; Λυκαονιστί, Acts 14:11. In conformity with the several contexts where it is used, λέγω, like the Latindico, is
2. specifically,
a. equivalent to to asseverate, affirm, aver, maintains: followed by an accusative with an infinitive, Mt 22:23; Mk 12:18; Lk 20:41; Lk 23:2; Lk 24:23; Acts 5:36; Acts 8:9; Acts 17:7; Acts 28:6; Rom 15:8; 2 Tim 2:18; Rev 2:9; Rev 3:9; with the included idea of insisting on, περιτέμνεσθαι (that you must be (cf. Winers Grammar, § 44, 3 b.; Buttmann, § 141, 2)), Acts 15:24 Rec.; with the simple infinitive without a subject-accusative, Lk 24:23; Jas 2:14; 1 Jn 2:6, 1 Jn 2:9; followed by ὅτι (where the accusative with an infinitive might have been used), Mt 17:10; Mk 9:11; Mk 12:35; Lk 9:7; Jn 4:20; Jn 12:34; 1 Cor 15:12; λέγω τίνι ὅτι, etc. to declare to one that etc. (cf. Buttmann, § 141, 1): Mt 3:9; Mt 5:20, Mt 5:22; Mt 12:36; Mt 13:17; Mt 17:12; Mt 21:43 (WH marginal reading omits ὅτι); ; Mk 9:13; Mk 14:18, Mk 14:25, Mk 14:30; Lk 3:8; Lk 10:12; Lk 13:35 (Tr WH omit; L brackets ὅτι); Lk 14:24; Lk 18:8; Lk 19:26, Lk 19:40 (WH text omits; Tr brackets ὅτι); Lk 21:3; Lk 22:16, Lk 22:37, etc.; Jn 3:11; Jn 5:24; Jn 8:34; Jn 10:7 (Tr WH omits; L brackets ὅτι); ; Gal 5:2; λέγω τινα, ὅτι, by familiar attraction (cf. Winers Grammar, § 66, 5 a.; Buttmann, § 151, 1) for λέγω, ὅτι τίς: Jn 8:54; Jn 9:19; Jn 10:36 (where for ὑμεῖς λέγετε, ὅτι οὗτος, ὅν... ἀπέστειλε, βλασφημεῖ; the indirect discourse passes into the direct, and βλασφημεῖς is put for βλασφημεῖ; (Buttmann, § 141, 1)).
b. equivalent to to teach: with the dative of person followed by direct discourse, 1 Cor 7:8, 1 Cor 7:12; τί τίνι, Jn 16:12; Acts 1:3; τοῦτο followed by ὅτι, 1 Thess 4:15.
c. to exhort, advise; to command, direct: with an accusative of the thing, Lk 6:46; λέγουσιν (namely, αὐτά)... καί οὐ ποιοῦσιν, Mt 23:3; τί τίνι, Mk 13:37; Jn 2:5; τίνι followed by an imperative, Mt 5:44; Mk 2:11; Lk 7:14; Lk 11:9; Lk 12:4; Lk 16:9; Jn 2:8; Jn 13:29; 1 Cor 7:12; λέγω with an infinitive of the thing to be done or to be avoided (cf. Winers Grammar, § 44, 3 b.; Buttmann, § 141, 2): Mt 5:34, Mt 5:39; Acts 21:4, Acts 21:21; Rom 2:22; Rom 12:3; followed by ἵνα, Acts 19:4; περί τίνος (the genitive of the thing) followed by ἵνα, 1 Jn 5:16 (see ἵνα, II. 2 b.); followed by μή with subjunctive 2 Cor 11:16. in the sense of asking, seeking, entreating: with the dative of person followed by an imperative, 1 Cor 10:15; 2 Cor 6:13; followed by an infinitive (Winers Grammar, 316 (296f); Buttmann, as above), Rev 10:9 (Rec. imperative). χαίρειν τίνι λέγω, to give one a greeting, bid him welcome, salute him, 2 Jn 1:10f (see χαίρω, at the end).
d. to point out with words, intend, mean, mean to say (often so in Greek writings; cf. Passow, under the word, p. 30a; (Liddell and Scott, under the word, C. 10)): τινα, Mk 14:71; Jn 6:71; τί, 1 Cor 10:29; τοῦτο followed by direct discourse, Gal 3:17; τοῦτο followed by ὅτι, 1 Cor 1:12.
e. to call by a name, to call, name; equivalent to καλῷ τινα with the accusative of predicate: τί με λέγεις ἀγαθόν; Mk 10:18; Lk 18:19; add, Mk 12:37; Jn 5:18; Jn 15:15; Acts 10:28; (1 Cor 12:3 R G); Rev 2:20; passive with predicate nominative: Mt 13:55; 1 Cor 8:5; Eph 2:11; 2 Thess 2:4; Heb 11:24; ὁ λεγόμενος, with predicate nominative he that is surnamed, Mt 1:16 (so ); ; Jn 20:24; Col 4:11; he that is named: Mt 9:9; Mt 26:3, Mt 26:14; Mt 27:16; Mk 15:7; Lk 22:47; Jn 9:11; cf. Fritzsche on Matthew, p. 31f; of things, places, cities, etc.: τό ὄνομα λέγεται, Rev 8:11; participle called, Mt 2:23; Mt 26:36; Mt 27:33; Jn 4:5; Jn 11:54; Jn 19:13; Acts 3:2; Acts 6:9; Heb 9:3; with Ἑβραϊστί added, Jn 19:13, Jn 19:17; (cf. Jn 5:2 Tdf.); applied to foreign words translated into Greek, in the sense that is: Mt 27:33; Jn 4:25; Jn 11:16; Jn 21:2; also ὁ λέγεται, Jn 20:16; ὁ λέγεται ἑρμηνευόμενον (L Tr WH μεθερμηνευόμενον), Jn 1:38(39); διερμηνευομένη λέγεται, Acts 9:36.
f. to speak out, speak of, mention: τί, Eph 5:12 (with which cf. ό᾿κνω καί λέγειν, Plato, rep. 5, p. 465 c.); (Mk 7:36 T Tr text WH. On the apparent ellipsis of λέγω in 2 Cor 9:6, cf. Winers Grammar, 596f (555); Buttmann, 394 (338). Compare: ἀντιλέγω, διαλέγω (διαλέγομαι), ἐκλέγω, ἐπιλέγω, καταλέγω, παραλέγω (παραλέγομαι), προλέγω, συλλέγω; cf. the catalog of comp. in Schmidt, Syn., chapter 1, 60.)
1. with an accusative of the object;
a. with the accusative of the thing: εἰπεῖν λόγον, Mt 8:8 Rec.; Jn 2:22 (L T Tr WH); Jn 7:36; Jn 18:9, Jn 18:32; ῤῆμα, Mk 14:72 (Knapp, et al.); εἰπεῖν λόγον εἰς τινα, equivalent to βλασφημεῖν, Lk 12:10; also κατά τίνος, Mt 12:32; ὡς ἔπος εἰπεῖν, so to say (a phrase frequent in classical Greek, cf. Weiske, De pleonasmis gr., p. 47; Matthiae, § 545; Delitzsch on Heb. as below; (Kühner, § 585, 3; Krüger, § 55, 1, 2; Goodwin § 100; Winer's Grammar, 449 (419); 317 (298))), Heb 7:9 (opposed to ἀκριβεῖ λόγῳ, Plato, rep. 1, 311 b.); τήν ἀλήθειαν, Mk 5:33; ἀλήθειαν ἐρῶ, 2 Cor 12:6; τοῦτο ἀληθές εἴρηκας, Jn 4:18 (Winer's Grammar, 464 (433) n.); τί εἴπω; what shall I say? (the expression of one who is in doubt what to say), Jn 12:27; πῶς ἐρεῖ τό ἀμήν;... 1 Cor 14:16; τί ἐροῦμεν; or τί οὖν ἐροῦμεν; what shall we say? i. e. what reply can we make? or, to what does that bring us? only in the Epistle to the Romans (Winer's Grammar, § 40, 6) viz., Rom 3:5; Rom 6:1; Rom 7:7; Rom 9:14, Rom 9:30; with πρός ταῦτα added, Rom 8:31; εἰπεῖν τί περί τίνος, Jn 7:39; Jn 10:41. Sayings from the O. T. which are quoted in the New are usually introduced as follows: τό ῤηθέν ὑπό τοῦ (L T Tr WH omit τοῦ) κυρίου διά τοῦ προφήτου, Mt 1:22; Mt 2:15; ὑπό τοῦ Θεοῦ, Mt 22:31; ὑπό τοῦ προφήτου Rec. Mt 27:35, cf. Mt 2:17; τό ῤηθέν διά τίνος, Mt 2:17 L T Tr WH, Mt 2:23; Mt 4:14; Mt 8:17; Mt 12:17; Mt 13:35; Mt 21:4; Mt 27:9; τό εἰρημένον διά τοῦ προφήτου. Acts 2:16; τό εἰρημένον, Lk 2:24; Acts 13:40; Rom 4:18; ἐρρέθη, Mt 5:21, etc.; καθώς εἴρηκεν, Heb 4:3.
b. with the accusative of the person to speak of, designate by words: ὅν εἶπον, Jn 1:15 ((not WH text); Buttmann, 377 (323); cf. Rom 4:1 WH text (say of)); ὁ ῤηθείς, Mt 3:3. εἰπεῖν τινα καλῶς, to speak well of one, praise him, Lk 6:26 (ἐν εἰπεῖν τινα, Homer, Odyssey 1, 302); κακῶς, to speak ill of one, Acts 23:5 from Ex 22:28; cf. Kühner, § 409, 2; 411, 5; (Winer's Grammar, § 32, 1 b. β.; Buttmann, 146 (128)).
c. with an ellipsis of the accusative αὐτό (see αὐτός, II. 3): Lk 22:67; Jn 9:27; Jn 21:4, etc. σύ εἶπας (namely, αὐτό), i. e. you have just expressed it in words; that's it; it is just as you say: Mt 26:25, Mt 26:64 (a rabbinical formula; for examples cf. Schoettgen or Wetstein on Mt 26:25; others seem to regard the answer as noncommittal, e. g. Origen on Mt 26:64 (Works, 3:910 De la Rue edition); Wunsche, Erlaut. der Evang. aus Talmud, as above, with on Mt 26:25; but cf. the ἐγώ εἰμί of Mk 14:62; in Mt 26:64 WH marginal reading take it interrogatively).
2. the person, to whom a thing is said, is indicated a. by a dative: εἰπεῖν τί τίνι, Lk 7:40, and very often; εἶπον ὑμῖν namely, αὐτό, I (have just) told it you; this is what I mean; let this be the word: Mt 28:7; cf. Bernhardy (1829), p. 381; (Jelf, § 403, 1; Godwin § 19, 5; especially (for examples) Herm. Vig., p. 746). τίνι περί τίνος (cf. Winer's Grammar, § 47, 4), Mt 17:13; Jn 18:34. to say anything to one by way of censure, Mt 21:3; to cast in one's teeth, ἐρεῖτε μοι τήν παραβολήν Lk 4:23. to tell what anything means, e. g. τό μυστήριον, Rev 17:7.
b. by the use of a preposition: πρός τινα (cf. Buttmann, 172 (150); Krüger, § 48, 7, 13), to say (a thing) to one, as Lk 4:23; Lk 5:4; Lk 12:16, and many other places in Luke; to say a thing in reference to one (Winer's Grammar, 405 (378)), Mk 12:12; Lk 18:9; Lk 20:19.
3. εἶπον, to say, speak, simply and without an accusative of the object, i. e. merely to declare in words, to use language;
a. with the addition of an adverb or of some other adjunct: ὁμοίως, Mt 26:35; ὡσαύτως, Mt 21:30; καθώς, Mt 28:6; Lk 24:24; Jn 1:23; Jn 7:38; εἶπε διά παραβολῆς, making use of a parable (see διά, A. III. 3) he spake, Lk 8:4; ἐν παραβολαῖς, Mt 22:1; with an instrumental dative: εἶπε λόγῳ, say in (using only) a (single) word, namely, that my servant shall be healed, Mt 8:8 (where Rec. λόγον); Lk 7:7.
b. with the words spoken added in direct discourse; so a hundred times in the historical books of the N. T., as Mt 9:4; Mt 8:32; ( L Tr WH), etc.; 1 Cor 12:15; (2 Cor 4:6 L text T Tr WH (cf. 4 below)); Heb 1:5; Heb 3:10; Heb 10:7 ( L T Tr WH), ; ; Jas 2:3, Jas 2:11; Jude 1:9; Rev 7:14; πέμψας εἶπεν he said by a messenger or messengers, Mt 11:2f The following and other phrases are frequent in the Synoptic Gospels: ὁ δέ ἀποκριθείς εἶπεν, as Mt 4:4; Mt 15:13; καί ἀποκριθείς εἶπεν Mt 24:4; ἀποκριθεῖσα ἡ μήτηρ εἶπεν, Lk 1:60; ἀποκριθείς ὁ Σίμων εἶπεν, Lk 7:43, etc.; ἀποκριθέντες δέ εἶπον (εἶπαν T Tr WH), Lk 20:24; but John usually writes ἀπεκρίθη καί εἶπεν: Jn 1:48 (); Jn 2:19; Jn 3:10; Jn 4:10, Jn 4:13, Jn 4:17, Jn 6:26, Jn 4:29, Jn 7:16, Jn 4:20 (R G), ; (R G L brackets), Jn 9:30, Jn 9:36 (L Tr marginal reading omit; WH brackets καί εἶπεν); Jn 13:7; Jn 14:23; ; — (εἶπαν αὐτῷ λέγοντες, Mk 8:28 T WH Tr marginal reading, cf. ).
c. followed by ὅτι: Mt 28:7; Mk 16:7; Jn 6:36; Jn 7:42; Jn 8:55; Jn 11:40; Jn 16:15; Jn 18:8; 1 Jn 1:6, 1 Jn 1:8, 1 Jn 1:10; 1 Cor 1:15; 1 Cor 14:23; 1 Cor 15:27 (L brackets; WH marginal reading omits ὅτι.
d. followed by an accusative and infinitive: τί οὖν ἐροῦμεν Ἀβραάμ τόν πατέρα ἡμῶν εὑρηκέναι (WH text omits; Tr marginal reading brackets εὑρηκέναι; cf. 1 b. above) κατά σάρκα; Rom 4:1.
4. εἰπεῖν sometimes involves in it the idea of commanding (cf. Buttmann, 27f (237)): followed by the infinitive, εἶπε δοθῆναι αὐτῇ φαγεῖν, Mk 5:43; εἶπε τῷ ἀδελφῷ μου μερίσασθαι μετ' ἐμοῦ τήν κληρονομίαν, Lk 12:13; ὅσα ἄν εἴπωσιν ὑμῖν (namely, τηρεῖν (inserted in R G)), τηρεῖτε, Mt 23:3 (Wis. 9:8). followed by the accusative and infinitive, ὁ εἶπον ἐκ σκότους φῶς λάμψαι, 2 Cor 4:6 (R G L marginal reading, cf. Buttmann, 273f (235); but L text T Tr WH read λάμψει, thus changing the construction from the accusative with an infinitive to direct discourse, see 3 b. above); εἶπεν αὐτῷ (for ἑαυτῷ, see αὑτοῦ) φωνηθῆναι τούς δούλους τούτους, be commanded to be called for him (i. e., to him) these servants, Lk 19:15; cf. Winers Grammar, § 44, 3 b.; Krüger, § 55, 3, 13. followed by ἵνα with the subjunctive: Mt 4:3; Mt 20:21; Lk 4:3; to εἰπεῖν is added a dative of the person bidden to do something, Mk 3:9; Lk 10:40 cf. 4:3; Rev 6:11; Rev 9:4. "Moreover, notice that ἵνα and ὄφρα are often used by the later poets after verbs of commanding;" Hermann ad Vig., p. 849; cf. Winers Grammar, § 44, 8; (Buttmann, 237 (204)). 5 B a Hebraism εἰπεῖν ἐν ἑαυτῷ (בְּלִבּו אָמַר, Deut 8:17; Ps 10:6 (Ps. 9:27>); Ps 13:1; Est 6:6) is equivalent to to think (because thinking is a silent soliloquy): Mt 9:3; Lk 7:39; Lk 16:3; Lk 18:4 (elsewhere also λέγειν ἐν ἑαυτῷ); and εἰπεῖν ἐν τῇ καρδία αὐτοῦ amounts to the same, Lk 12:45; Rom 10:6; but in other passages εἶπον, ἔλεγον, ἐν ἑαυτοῖς is, equivalent to ἐν ἀλλήλοις: Mt 21:38; see λέγω, II. 1 d.
6. εἰπεῖν τινα with a predicate accusative, to call, style, one:ἐκείνους εἶπε Θεούς, Jn 10:35; ὑμᾶς εἴρηκα φίλους, Jn 15:15; (Homer, Odyssey 19, 334; Xenophon, Apology Socrates § 15; Lucian, Tim. § 20). (Compare: ἀντεῖπον, ἀπεῖπον, προεῖπον.)
G3004 — εἴρω
, future ἐρῶ, see εἶπον.
G3004 — ἐρῶ
, see εἶπον.
G3004 — λέγω
(in the N. T. only the present and imperfect active and present passive are in use; 3 person plural imperfect ἐλεγαν, Jn 11:56 Tdf. (cf. ἔχω, at the beginning));
I. in its earliest use in Homer to lay (like Latinlego, German legen; cf. J. G. Müller in Theol. Studien und Kritiken for 1835, p. 127ff; Curtius, § 538); to cause to lie down, put to sleep;
1. to collect, gather; to pick out.
2. to lay with, count with; to enumerate, recount, narrate. describe; (cf. English tale, German zählen).
II. to put word to word in speaking, join words together, i. e. "to say (how it differs from λαλεῖν, see under that word at the beginning); once so by Homer in Iliad 2, 222 (yet cf. Schmidt, Syn. 1:1, §§ 20; 48, 2; Liddell and Scott, under the word, B. II. 2); often in Pindar, and by far the most common use in Attic; the Sept. more than thirteen hundred times for אָמַר; often also for נְאֻם (saying,dictum); very rarely for דִּבֵּר; and so in N. T.
1. universally,
a. absolutely, to speak: Acts 13:15; Acts 24:10; to say, foll. by direct discourse, Mt 9:34; Mt 12:44; Mt 16:2 (here T brackets WH reject the passage); Mk 3:30; Lk 5:39 (WH brackets the clause); Jn 1:29, Jn 1:38; (1 Cor 12:3 L T Tr WH); Jas 4:13, and very often; the direct discourse is preceded by ὅτι recitative, Mt 9:18 (T omits ὅτι); Mk 1:15 (T omits; WH brackets λέγων); Mk 2:12 (L and WH brackets λέγοντας); Mk 3:21; Mk 5:28; Mk 6:14f, 35; Mk 7:20; Lk 1:24; Lk 4:41; Lk 17:10; Jn 6:14; Jn 7:12; Jn 8:33; Jn 9:9, Jn 9:41; Jn 16:17; Acts 2:13; Acts 11:3; Heb 10:8; Rev 3:17, etc.; followed by the accusative with an infinitive, Lk 11:18; Lk 24:23; Jn 12:29; Acts 4:32; Acts 28:6, etc.; followed by ὅτι, Lk 22:70; Jn 8:48; Jn 18:31; 1 Tim 4:1 (for other examples see 2 a. below); followed by an indirect question, Mt 21:27; Mk 11:33; Lk 20:8.
b. The N. T. writers, particularly the historical, are accustomed to add the verb λέγειν followed by direct discourse to another verb which already contains the idea of speaking, or which states an opinion concerning some person or thing; as τό ῤηθέν... προφήτου λέγοντος, Mt 2:17; Mt 8:17; Mt 12:17; Mt 13:35; κηρύσσων... καί (L T WH omit; Tr brackets καί) λέγων, Mt 3:2; κράζειν λέγειν, Mt 9:27; Mt 21:15; Mk 10:47; Lk 4:41 (here L T Tr marginal reading κραυγάζειν); Acts 14:15; προσφώνειν καί λέγειν, Mt 11:17; Lk 7:32; ἀπεκρίθη καί λέγει, Mk 7:28; αἰνεῖν τόν Θεόν καί λέγειν, Lk 2:13; γογγύζειν καί λέγειν, Jn 6:42. to verbs of speaking, judging, etc., and those which denote in general the nature or the substance of the discourse reported, the participle λέγων is added (often so in the Sept. for לֵאמֹר (Winer's Grammar, 535f (499), cf. 602 (560))) followed by direct discourse: ἀπεκρίθη λέγων, Mt 25:9, Mt 25:44; Mk 9:38 (T WH omit λέγων); Acts 15:13; Rev 7:13, etc. (see ἀποκρίνομαι, 1 c.); εἶπαν... λέγοντες, Mark (Mk 8:28 T WH Tr marginal reading); ; Lk 20:2 (in Greek writings ἔφη λέγων); ἐλάλησε λέγων (see λαλῶ, 5); ἐμαρτύρησε, Jn 1:32; κέκραγεν λέγων, Jn 1:15; ἐδίδασκεν... λέγων, Mt 5:2; (ἐβόησεν or) ἀνεβόησεν... λέγων, Mt 27:46; Lk 9:38; ἀνέκραξεν λέγων, Mk 1:24; Lk 4:34 (T WH omit; Tr brackets λέγων); also after ᾄδειν, Rev 5:9; Rev 15:3; αἴρειν (or ἐπαίρειν) φωνήν, Lk 17:13; Acts 14:11; θαυμάζειν, Mt 8:27; Mt 9:33; Mt 21:20; after προφητεύειν, Mt 15:7; γογγύζειν, Mt 20:12; εἶπεν ἐν παραβολαῖς, Mt 22:1; παρέθηκε παραβολήν, Mt 13:24; διεμαρτύρατο, Heb 2:6; ἐπήγγελται, Heb 12:26, and a great many other examples It is likewise added to verbs of every kind which denote an act conjoined with speech; as ἐφάνη, φαίνεται λέγων, Mt 1:20; Mt 2:13; προσεκύνει λέγων, Mt 8:2; Mt 9:18; Mt 14:33; Mt 15:25; add, Mt 8:3; Mt 9:29; Mt 14:15; Mk 5:35 Lk 1:66; Lk 5:8; Lk 8:38; Lk 10:17; Lk 15:9; Lk 18:3; Lk 19:18; Acts 8:10, Acts 8:18; Acts 12:7; Acts 27:23; 1 Cor 11:25, etc. On the other hand, the verb λέγω in its finite forms is added to the participles of other verbs: Mt 27:41; Mk 8:12; Mk 14:45, Mk 14:63, Mk 14:67; Mk 15:35; Lk 6:20; Jn 1:36; Jn 9:8; Acts 2:13 Heb 8:8; ἀποκριθείς λέγει, Mk 8:29; Mk 9:5, Mk 9:19; Mk 10:24, Mk 10:51; Mk 11:22, Mk 11:33 (L Tr marginal reading brackets T Tr WH omit ἀποκριθείς); Lk 3:11; Lk 11:45; Lk 13:8 (nowhere so in Acts, nor in Matt. nor in John); κράξας λέγει, Mk 5:7 (Rec. εἶπε); Mk 9:24. ἔγραψε λέγων (לֵאמֹר יִכְתֹּב 2 Kgs 10:6; 2 Sam 11:15, etc.), he wrote in these words, or he wrote these words (A. V. retains the idiom, he wrote saying (cf.
e. below)): Lk 1:63; Lk 1:1 Macc. 8:31 1 Macc. 11:57; Josephus, Antiquities 11, 2, 2; 13, 4, 1; examples from the Syriac are given by Gesenius in Rosenmüller's Repertor. i., p. 135. ἔπεμψε or ἀπέστειλε λέγων, i. e. he ordered it to be said by a messenger: Mt 22:16; Mt 27:19; Lk 7:19; Lk 19:14; Jn 11:3; Acts 13:15; Acts 16:35 (see in εἶπον, 3 b.); otherwise in Mt 21:37; Mk 12:6.
c. ἡ φωνή λέγουσα: Mt 3:17; Mt 17:5; Lk 3:22 (G L T Tr WH omit λέγουσα); Rev 6:6; Rev 10:4, Rev 10:8; Rev 12:10; Rev 14:13, etc. λέγειν φωνή μεγάλη, Rev 5:12; Rev 8:13; ἐν φωνή μεγάλη, Rom 14:7, Rom 14:9.
d. In accordance with the Hebrew conception which regards thought as internal speech (see εἶπον, 5), we find λέγειν ἐν ἑαυτῷ, to say within oneself, i. e. to think with oneself: Mt 3:9; Mt 9:21; Lk 3:8; ἐν τῇ καρδία αὐτοῦ, Rev 18:7.
e. One is said to speak, λέγειν, not only when he uses language orally, but also when he expresses himself in writing ((cf.
b. sub at the end)): 2 Cor 7:3; 2 Cor 8:8; 2 Cor 9:3, 2 Cor 9:4; 2 Cor 11:16, 2 Cor 11:21; Phm 4:11, and often in Paul; so of the writers of the O. T.: Rom 10:16, Rom 10:20; Rom 11:9; Rom 15:12; λέγει ἡ γραφή, Rom 4:3; Rom 10:11; Rom 11:2; Jas 2:23, etc.; and simply λέγει, namely, ἡ λέγουσα, i. e. ἡ γραφή (our it is said): Rom 15:10 (11 L Tr marginal reading); Gal 3:16; Eph 4:8; Eph 5:14; cf. Winers Grammar, 522 (486f) and 588 (547); Buttmann, § 129, 16; λέγει, namely, ὁ Θεός, 2 Cor 6:2; λέγει, Δαυίδ ἐν ψαλμῷ, Acts 13:35; λέγει ὁ Θεός, Heb 5:6; ἐν τῷ ὡσεη, Rom 9:25; ἐν Ἠλίᾳ, Rom 11:2; ἐν Δαυίδ, Heb 4:7; λέγει τό πνεῦμα τό ἅγιον, Heb 3:7; ὁ νόμος λέγει, 1 Cor 14:34; τί, 1 Cor 9:8; Rom 3:19.
f. λέγειν is used of every variety of speaking: as of inquiry, Mt 9:14; Mt 15:1; Mt 17:25; Mt 18:1; Mk 2:18; Mk 5:30; Lk 4:22; Lk 7:20; Jn 7:11; Jn 9:10; Jn 19:10; Rom 10:18; Rom 11:1, Rom 11:11, etc.; followed by εἰ interrogative (see εἰ, II. 2), Acts 21:37; λέγει, τίς, equivalent to one bids the question be asked, Mk 14:14; Lk 22:11; of reply, Mt 17:25; Mt 20:7; Mk 8:24 (L marginal reading εἶπεν); Jn 1:21; Jn 18:17; of acclaim, Rev 4:8, Rev 4:10; of exelamation, Rev 18:10, Rev 18:16; of entreaty, Mt 25:11; Lk 13:25; equivalent to to set forth in language, make plain, Heb 5:11.
g. λέγω with the accusative of the thing. to say a thing: ὁ, Lk 9:33 (i. e. not knowing whether what he said was appropriate or not); Lk 22:60; to express in words, Phm 1:21; τοῦτο, Jn 8:6; Jn 12:33; τοιαῦτα, Heb 11:14; ταῦτα, Lk 8:8; Lk 11:27, Lk 11:45; Lk 13:17; Jn 5:34; Acts 14:18; 1 Cor 9:8; τάδε (referring to what follows), Acts 21:11; Rev 2:1, Rev 2:8, Rev 2:12, Rev 2:18; Rev 3:1, Rev 3:7, Rev 3:14; τί, what? Rom 10:8; Rom 11:4; Gal 4:30; 1 Cor 14:16; πολλά, Jn 16:12; τά λεγόμενα, Lk 18:34; Acts 28:24; Heb 8:1; ὑπό τίνος, Acts 8:6; Acts 13:45 (L T Tr WH λαλουμένοις); Acts 27:11; λέγω ἀλήθειαν, Jn 8:45; Rom 9:1; 1 Tim 2:7; ἀληθῆ, Jn 19:35; ἀνθρώπινον, Rom 6:19; σύ λέγεις, namely, αὐτό, properly, thou sayest, i. e. thou grantest what thou askest, equivalent to it is just as thou sayest; to be sure, certainly (see εἶπον, 1 c.): Mt 27:11; Mk 15:2; Lk 23:3, cf. Lk 22:70; Jn 18:37 ((all these passages WH marginal reading punctuate interrogatively)); παραβολήν, to put forth, Lk 14:7; τό αὐτό, to profess one and the same thing, 1 Cor 1:10 cf. 1 Cor 1:12. h. with the dative of the person to whom anything is said: followed by direct discourse, Mt 8:20; Mt 14:4; Mt 18:32; Mt 19:10; Mk 2:17, Mk 2:27; Mk 7:9; Mk 8:1; Jn 1:43 (); , and scores of other examples; λέγειν τίνι. κύριε, κύριε, to salute anyone as lord, Mt 7:21; imperative λέγε μοι, Acts 22:27 (generally εἶπε μοι, ἡμῖν); plural Lk 10:9; ἀμήν λέγω ὑμῖν, I solemnly declare to you (in the Gospels of Matt. Mark and Luke); for which the Greek said ἐπ' ἀληθείας λέγω ὑμῖν, Lk 4:25, and λέγω ὑμῖν ἀληθῶς, Lk 9:27; in John everywhere (twenty-five times, and always uttered by Christ) ἀμήν ἀμήν λέγω σοι (ὑμῖν), I most solemnly declare to thee (you), Jn 1:51 (Jn 1:52); , etc.; with the force of an asseveration λέγω τίνι, without ἀμήν: Mt 11:22; Mt 12:36; Mt 23:39; Lk 7:9, Lk 7:28; Lk 10:12; Lk 12:8; Lk 17:34; Lk 18:8, Lk 18:14; ναί λέγω ὑμῖν, Mt 11:9; Lk 7:26; Lk 11:51; Lk 12:5; λέγω σοι, Lk 12:59. with a dative of the thing, in the sense of commanding (see 2 c. below), Mt 21:19; Lk 17:6; in the sense of asking, imploring, Lk 23:30; Rev 6:16. λέγω τίνι τί, to tell a thing to one: Mt 10:27; 2 Thess 2:5; τήν ἀλήθειαν, Jn 16:7; μυστήριον, 1 Cor 15:51; παραβολήν, Lk 18:1; of a promise, Rev 2:7, Rev 2:11, Rev 2:17, Rev 2:29; Rev 3:6; equivalent to to unfold, explain, Mk 10:32; followed by indirect discourse, Mt 21:27; Mk 11:33; Lk 20:8; τίνι τινα, to speak to one about one, Jn 8:27; Phm 3:18. i.:λέγω followed by prepositions: πρός τινα, which denotes — either to one (equivalent to the dative): followed by direct discourse, Mk 4:41; Mk 10:26; Lk 8:25; Lk 9:23; Lk 16:1; Jn 2:3; Jn 3:4; Jn 4:15; Jn 6:5; Jn 8:31; Acts 2:7 (R G),; Acts 28:4, Acts 28:17; followed by ὅτι recitative, Lk 4:21; πρός τινα τί, Lk 11:53 R G L Tr marginal reading; Lk 24:10; — or as respects one, in reference to one (cf. Buttmann, § 133, 3; Winers Grammar, § 31, 5; 405 (378); Krüger, § 48, 7, 13; Bleek on Heb 1:7: Meyer on Rom 10:21): Lk 12:41; Heb 1:7. (others add Heb 1:8, ; ); μετά τίνος, to speak with one, Jn 11:56, περί τίνος, of, concerning, one (cf. Winer's Grammar, § 47, 4), Mt 21:45; Jn 1:47 (); Jn 2:21; Jn 11:13; Jn 13:18, Jn 13:22; Heb 9:5; περί τίνος, ὅτι, Lk 21:5; τί περί τίνος, Jn 1:22; Jn 9:17; Acts 8:34; Tit 2:8; τίνι περί τίνος, Mt 11:7; Mk 1:30; Mk 8:30 (Lachmann εἴπωσιν); πρός τινα περί τίνος, Lk 7:24; ὑπέρ τίνος, to speak for, on behalf of, one, to defend one, Acts 26:1 (L T Tr WH marginal reading περί); ἐπί τινα, to speak in reference to, of (see ἐπί. C. L 2 g. γγ.; Buttmann, § 147, 23), one, Heb 7:13; εἰς τινα (τί βλασφημων), against one, Lk 22:65; in speaking to have reference to one, speak with respect to one, Acts 2:25 (cf. Winer's Grammar, 397 (371)); in speaking to refer (a thing) to one, with regard to, Eph 5:32; εἰς τόν κόσμον, to the world (see εἰς, A. I. 5 b.), Jn 8:26 (L T Tr WH λαλῶ). k. with adverbs, or with phrases having adverbial force: καλῶς, rightly, Jn 8:48; Jn 13:13; ὡσαύτως, Mk 14:31; τί κατά συγγνώμην, ἐπιταγήν, by way of advice (concession (see συγγνώμη)), by way of command, 1 Cor 7:6; 2 Cor 8:8; κατά ἄνθρωπον (see ἄνθρωπος, 1 c.), Rom 3:5; Gal 3:15; 1 Cor 9:8; Λυκαονιστί, Acts 14:11. In conformity with the several contexts where it is used, λέγω, like the Latindico, is
2. specifically,
a. equivalent to to asseverate, affirm, aver, maintains: followed by an accusative with an infinitive, Mt 22:23; Mk 12:18; Lk 20:41; Lk 23:2; Lk 24:23; Acts 5:36; Acts 8:9; Acts 17:7; Acts 28:6; Rom 15:8; 2 Tim 2:18; Rev 2:9; Rev 3:9; with the included idea of insisting on, περιτέμνεσθαι (that you must be (cf. Winers Grammar, § 44, 3 b.; Buttmann, § 141, 2)), Acts 15:24 Rec.; with the simple infinitive without a subject-accusative, Lk 24:23; Jas 2:14; 1 Jn 2:6, 1 Jn 2:9; followed by ὅτι (where the accusative with an infinitive might have been used), Mt 17:10; Mk 9:11; Mk 12:35; Lk 9:7; Jn 4:20; Jn 12:34; 1 Cor 15:12; λέγω τίνι ὅτι, etc. to declare to one that etc. (cf. Buttmann, § 141, 1): Mt 3:9; Mt 5:20, Mt 5:22; Mt 12:36; Mt 13:17; Mt 17:12; Mt 21:43 (WH marginal reading omits ὅτι); ; Mk 9:13; Mk 14:18, Mk 14:25, Mk 14:30; Lk 3:8; Lk 10:12; Lk 13:35 (Tr WH omit; L brackets ὅτι); Lk 14:24; Lk 18:8; Lk 19:26, Lk 19:40 (WH text omits; Tr brackets ὅτι); Lk 21:3; Lk 22:16, Lk 22:37, etc.; Jn 3:11; Jn 5:24; Jn 8:34; Jn 10:7 (Tr WH omits; L brackets ὅτι); ; Gal 5:2; λέγω τινα, ὅτι, by familiar attraction (cf. Winers Grammar, § 66, 5 a.; Buttmann, § 151, 1) for λέγω, ὅτι τίς: Jn 8:54; Jn 9:19; Jn 10:36 (where for ὑμεῖς λέγετε, ὅτι οὗτος, ὅν... ἀπέστειλε, βλασφημεῖ; the indirect discourse passes into the direct, and βλασφημεῖς is put for βλασφημεῖ; (Buttmann, § 141, 1)).
b. equivalent to to teach: with the dative of person followed by direct discourse, 1 Cor 7:8, 1 Cor 7:12; τί τίνι, Jn 16:12; Acts 1:3; τοῦτο followed by ὅτι, 1 Thess 4:15.
c. to exhort, advise; to command, direct: with an accusative of the thing, Lk 6:46; λέγουσιν (namely, αὐτά)... καί οὐ ποιοῦσιν, Mt 23:3; τί τίνι, Mk 13:37; Jn 2:5; τίνι followed by an imperative, Mt 5:44; Mk 2:11; Lk 7:14; Lk 11:9; Lk 12:4; Lk 16:9; Jn 2:8; Jn 13:29; 1 Cor 7:12; λέγω with an infinitive of the thing to be done or to be avoided (cf. Winers Grammar, § 44, 3 b.; Buttmann, § 141, 2): Mt 5:34, Mt 5:39; Acts 21:4, Acts 21:21; Rom 2:22; Rom 12:3; followed by ἵνα, Acts 19:4; περί τίνος (the genitive of the thing) followed by ἵνα, 1 Jn 5:16 (see ἵνα, II. 2 b.); followed by μή with subjunctive 2 Cor 11:16. in the sense of asking, seeking, entreating: with the dative of person followed by an imperative, 1 Cor 10:15; 2 Cor 6:13; followed by an infinitive (Winers Grammar, 316 (296f); Buttmann, as above), Rev 10:9 (Rec. imperative). χαίρειν τίνι λέγω, to give one a greeting, bid him welcome, salute him, 2 Jn 1:10f (see χαίρω, at the end).
d. to point out with words, intend, mean, mean to say (often so in Greek writings; cf. Passow, under the word, p. 30a; (Liddell and Scott, under the word, C. 10)): τινα, Mk 14:71; Jn 6:71; τί, 1 Cor 10:29; τοῦτο followed by direct discourse, Gal 3:17; τοῦτο followed by ὅτι, 1 Cor 1:12.
e. to call by a name, to call, name; equivalent to καλῷ τινα with the accusative of predicate: τί με λέγεις ἀγαθόν; Mk 10:18; Lk 18:19; add, Mk 12:37; Jn 5:18; Jn 15:15; Acts 10:28; (1 Cor 12:3 R G); Rev 2:20; passive with predicate nominative: Mt 13:55; 1 Cor 8:5; Eph 2:11; 2 Thess 2:4; Heb 11:24; ὁ λεγόμενος, with predicate nominative he that is surnamed, Mt 1:16 (so ); ; Jn 20:24; Col 4:11; he that is named: Mt 9:9; Mt 26:3, Mt 26:14; Mt 27:16; Mk 15:7; Lk 22:47; Jn 9:11; cf. Fritzsche on Matthew, p. 31f; of things, places, cities, etc.: τό ὄνομα λέγεται, Rev 8:11; participle called, Mt 2:23; Mt 26:36; Mt 27:33; Jn 4:5; Jn 11:54; Jn 19:13; Acts 3:2; Acts 6:9; Heb 9:3; with Ἑβραϊστί added, Jn 19:13, Jn 19:17; (cf. Jn 5:2 Tdf.); applied to foreign words translated into Greek, in the sense that is: Mt 27:33; Jn 4:25; Jn 11:16; Jn 21:2; also ὁ λέγεται, Jn 20:16; ὁ λέγεται ἑρμηνευόμενον (L Tr WH μεθερμηνευόμενον), Jn 1:38(39); διερμηνευομένη λέγεται, Acts 9:36.
f. to speak out, speak of, mention: τί, Eph 5:12 (with which cf. ό᾿κνω καί λέγειν, Plato, rep. 5, p. 465 c.); (Mk 7:36 T Tr text WH. On the apparent ellipsis of λέγω in 2 Cor 9:6, cf. Winers Grammar, 596f (555); Buttmann, 394 (338). Compare: ἀντιλέγω, διαλέγω (διαλέγομαι), ἐκλέγω, ἐπιλέγω, καταλέγω, παραλέγω (παραλέγομαι), προλέγω, συλλέγω; cf. the catalog of comp. in Schmidt, Syn., chapter 1, 60.)
Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (1889), public domain
Topical studies with this word 4 entries
Have an Opinion, Hold a View4 occurrencesSpeak, Talk1,290 occurrencesName45 occurrencesInterpret, Mean, Explain10 occurrences
Meanings adapted from the UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament, © United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0 and the UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew (from the Semantic Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew), © United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0; MACULA Greek Linguistic Datasets, available at https://github.com/Clear-Bible/macula-greek/, licensed CC BY 4.0; MACULA Hebrew Linguistic Datasets © 2022-2024 by Biblica, Inc., CC BY 4.0. Westminster Leningrad Codex (tanach.us). OpenScriptures Hebrew Bible morphology (hb.openscriptures.org), CC BY 4.0.
Sources
eRhema lexical overview, based on the UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew and the UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament (© United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0) and Macula Hebrew and Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0); released under CC BY-SA 4.0
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