What does ἐλπίζω · θεός mean in the Bible?
ἐλπίζω · θεός is a Greek phrase meaning "to set hope on God".
Greek · G1679, G2316
ἠλπικέναι ... ἐπὶ θεῷ
To expect or confide · God
Reading a lexicon entry
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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
ἐλπίζωG1679to expect or confide
Pronunciationelpízō
To look forward with confident expectation, often directed toward God's promised fulfillment.
Open lexicon entry →θεόςG2316God
Pronunciationtheós
The definite article marks God as the one true God; anarthrous form emphasizes His divine nature or character.
Open lexicon entry →What does ἠλπικέναι ... ἐπὶ θεῷ (ēlpikenai ... epi theō) mean in the Bible?
ἐλπίζω · θεός is a Greek phrase meaning "to set hope on God".
Full entry for ἠλπικέναι ... ἐπὶ θεῷ (G1679, G2316) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How many biblical occurrences are listed for G1679, G2316?
G1679, G2316 is connected to 31 lexical occurrence verses in the lexicon data.
Evidence Summary
Greek phrase. to set hope on God
Source Gloss
to set hope on God
Grammatical Forms
How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups4Aligned forms31TensesPresent, Future, Perfect, Imperfect, AoristVoicesActive, Passive
Tenses
Voices
Indicativestates a fact or reality24×
Present ActiveRom 15:24 · 1 Cor 16:7 · 2 Cor 1:13 · 2 Cor 5:11 · 2 Cor 13:6 · Phil 2:19 · Phil 2:23 · Phlm 1:22 · 2 John 1:12 · 3 John 1:14 · Acts 26:7 · Rom 8:24 · 1 Cor 13:7 · Luke 6:34 · Rom 8:2515×
Perfect Active2 Cor 1:10 · 1 Tim 4:10 · John 5:45 · 1 Tim 5:54×
Future ActiveMatt 12:21 · Rom 15:122×
Imperfect ActiveLuke 23:8 · Luke 24:212×
Aorist Active2 Cor 8:51×
Participleverbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality5×
Present ActiveActs 24:26 · 1 Tim 3:14 · 1 Pet 3:53×
Perfect Active1 Cor 15:191×
Present PassiveHeb 11:11×
Infinitiveverbal noun — the action in abstract1×
Perfect Active1 Tim 6:171×
Imperativecommand or strong request1×
Aorist Active1 Pet 1:131×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 30 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
present19perfect5aorist2imperfect2future2
Voice
active29passive1
Mood
indicative24participle4imperative1infinitive1
NT Occurrences
Matthew 12:21ἐλπιοῦσινfuture active indicativeprospectiveLuke 6:34ἐλπίζετεpresent active indicativeongoingLuke 23:8ἤλπιζένimperfect active indicativebackgroundLuke 24:21ἠλπίζομενimperfect active indicativebackgroundJohn 5:45ἠλπίκατεperfect active indicativeresultantActs 24:26ἐλπίζωνpresent active participleparticipleActs 26:7ἐλπίζειpresent active indicativeongoingRomans 8:24ἐλπίζειpresent active indicativeongoingRomans 8:25ἐλπίζομενpresent active indicativeongoingRomans 15:12ἐλπιοῦσινfuture active indicativeprospectiveRomans 15:24ἐλπίζωpresent active indicativeongoing1 Corinthians 13:7ἐλπίζειpresent active indicativeongoing1 Corinthians 16:7ἐλπίζωpresent active indicativeongoing2 Corinthians 1:10ἠλπίκαμενperfect active indicativeresultant2 Corinthians 1:13ἐλπίζωpresent active indicativeongoing2 Corinthians 5:11ἐλπίζωpresent active indicativeongoing2 Corinthians 8:5ἠλπίσαμενaorist active indicativecompleted2 Corinthians 13:6ἐλπίζωpresent active indicativeongoingPhilippians 2:19Ἐλπίζωpresent active indicativeongoingPhilippians 2:23ἐλπίζωpresent active indicativeongoing1 Timothy 3:14ἐλπίζωνpresent active participleparticiple1 Timothy 4:10ἠλπίκαμενperfect active indicativeresultant1 Timothy 5:5ἤλπικενperfect active indicativeresultant1 Timothy 6:17ἠλπικέναιperfect active infinitiveinfinitivePhilemon 1:22ἐλπίζωpresent active indicativeongoingHebrews 11:1ἐλπιζομένωνpresent passive participleparticiple1 Peter 1:13ἐλπίσατεaorist active imperativeimperative1 Peter 3:5ἐλπίζουσαιpresent active participleparticiple2 John 1:12ἐλπίζωpresent active indicativeongoing3 John 1:14ἐλπίζωpresent active indicativeongoing
Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.
Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)
Word Origins
ἠλπικέναι ... ἐπὶ θεῷ is built from this root: