Greek · G1843

ἐξομολογέω

To acknowledge or (by implication, of assent) agree fully

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ἐξομολογέωG1843
Pronunciationexomologéō

What does ἐξομολογέω (exomologéō) mean in the Bible?

G1843 describes open acknowledgment or full agreement and can express confession of sin, public assent, agreement to a promise, or praise directed to God. The content and object of the acknowledgment determine whether English should render the verb confess, admit, promise, or praise; no single gloss fits every occurrence.

Reader summary

Full entry for ἐξομολογέω (G1843) · Open the biblical lexicon

Questions this entry answers

What does ἐξομολογέω (exomologéō) mean in the Bible?

G1843 describes open acknowledgment or full agreement and can express confession of sin, public assent, agreement to a promise, or praise directed to God. The content and object of the acknowledgment determine whether English should render the verb confess, admit, promise, or praise; no single gloss fits every occurrence.

How does the BSB render G1843?

The BSB source-word alignment has 10 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include Confessing (3), confess (2), I praise (2), [Judas] consented (1), I will praise (1).

Where does ἐξομολογέω (exomologéō) appear in Scripture?

The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Matthew 3:6. Its strongest book concentrations include Luke (2), Matthew (2), Romans (2), Acts (1).

What This Word Actually Means

G1843 describes open acknowledgment or full agreement and can express confession of sin, public assent, agreement to a promise, or praise directed to God. The content and object of the acknowledgment determine whether English should render the verb confess, admit, promise, or praise; no single gloss fits every occurrence. In Matt. 11. 25, jesus openly praises the Father as Lord of heaven and earth for revealing what was hidden from the self-wise.

In Jas. 5. 16, james joins mutual confession of sins with prayer for one another in a community seeking healing and restoration. G1843 opens teaching on speech that brings truth into the open before God and neighbor, including confession, praise, covenant acknowledgment, and public allegiance. It corrects both secretive spirituality that refuses accountable truth and coercive confession practices that demand unsafe disclosure, spectacle, or institutional self-protection.

G1843 keeps acknowledgment relational and content-specific: Jesus praises the Father, James joins mutual confession with prayer, and Paul cites the promise that every tongue will confess God. For G1843, responsible teaching keeps lexical meaning, passage context, canonical synthesis, and present application distinguishable. The verb does not authorize forced testimony, public naming of every private sin, or words detached from repentance, justice, worship, and changed allegiance.

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