To govern
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
G2233 can describe leadership and the act of considering, regarding, or counting something as valuable. In its New Testament settings, the word is used with the range and pressure described by its local passages rather than by a bare gloss alone.
Reader summary
Full entry for ἡγέομαι (G2233) · Open the biblical lexicon
G2233 can describe leadership and the act of considering, regarding, or counting something as valuable. In its New Testament settings, the word is used with the range and pressure described by its local passages rather than by a bare gloss alone.
The BSB source-word alignment has 28 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include leaders (3), consider (2), I thought [it] (2), [two] leaders (1), a ruler (1).
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Matthew 2:6. Its strongest book concentrations include Hebrews (6), Philippians (6), 2 Peter (4), Acts (4).
G2233 can describe leadership and the act of considering, regarding, or counting something as valuable. In its New Testament settings, the word is used with the range and pressure described by its local passages rather than by a bare gloss alone. Paul uses it for humble regard and Christ-centered revaluation; Hebrews uses leadership language for those who guide the church.
The word asks what judgment is being made. This companion therefore treats the word as a Scripture-governed guide, not as a shortcut around exegesis. It helps teachers address pride, ambition, value, and accountable leadership. It should help readers ask better questions of the passage: who is speaking or acting, what covenant or gospel reality is in view, and how the surrounding context limits or strengthens the claim.
It should not be forced into the leadership sense in every passage.
G2233 moves between evaluation and leadership, asking what is being counted valuable and who is being esteemed.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.
Believers are to regard others above themselves, reshaping value around humility.
More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ
Paul counts all things loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ.
Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
Believers are to remember leaders and consider the outcome of their way of life.
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. To this end, allow them to lead with joy and not with grief, for that would be of no advantage to you.
Leaders keep watch as those who will give account, so authority is tied to care.
Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to select men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, two leaders among the brothers,
Judas and Silas are recognized as leading men among the brothers.
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders ItA compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
Greek word. To lead as a ruler or to regard/consider something as having a certain value or status.
Textus Receptus witness, full corpus Greek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
16 of 28 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
I lead, think
Read verseI lead, think
Read verseI lead, think
Read verseI lead, think
Read verseI lead, think
Read verseI lead, think
Read verseI lead, think
Read verseI lead, think
Read verseI lead, think
Read verseI lead, think
Read verseI lead, think
Read verseI lead, think
Read verseI lead, think
Read verseI lead, think
Read verseI lead, think
Read verseI lead, think
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
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.
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
How this verb appears across 28 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
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)
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Showing 1 selected witness from 28 lexical occurrence verses.
ἡγέομαι is built from this root:
Teach G2233 as the grammar of spiritual evaluation. A faithful teacher should begin with the nearest passage, observe who acts, what is being named, what problem or promise is in view, and what response the text calls for, then move carefully to related passages. It helps people ask what they count as gain, whom they esteem, and whether leadership is measured by faithful care.
The entry should help readers read Scripture more carefully, not replace the work of tracing the sentence, paragraph, book, and covenant setting. This keeps the word useful for shepherds, teachers, leaders, groups, families, and disciples without letting the word carry claims that belong to the whole passage or canon.
Php.2.3
The verb can mean to lead, regard, consider, count, or esteem.
Old Testament leadership ideals of watchful care and wisdom stand behind calls to faithful leadership under the Lord.
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain