Greek · G25, G2316 · unreviewed
ἀγαπῶσιν τὸν θεόν
To love (in a social or moral sense) · God
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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
ἀγαπάω G25 to love (in a social or moral sense)
Pronunciation agapáō
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θεός G2316 God
Pronunciation theós
The definite article marks God as the one true God; anarthrous form emphasizes His divine nature or character.
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What does ἀγαπῶσιν τὸν θεόν (agapōsin ton theon) mean in the Bible?
ἀγαπάω · θεός is a Greek word meaning "to love (in a social or moral sense)".
Full entry for ἀγαπῶσιν τὸν θεόν (G25, G2316) · Browse the biblical lexicon
Meaning
to love (in a social or moral sense)
Grammatical Forms
How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
Tenses
Voices
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 37×
Present Active John 14:21 · John 14:24 · Rom 13:8 · 2 Cor 12:15 · Eph 5:28 · 1 John 2:10 · 1 John 3:10 · 1 John 3:14 · 1 John 4:7 · 1 John 4:8 · 1 John 4:20 · 1 John 4:21 · 1 John 5:1 · Rom 8:28 · 1 Cor 2:9 · Jas 1:12 23×
Perfect Passive Rom 9:25 · Rev 20:9 · 1 Thess 1:4 · 2 Thess 2:13 · Eph 1:6 · Col 3:12 · Jude 1:1 8×
Aorist Active John 13:1 · 2 Thess 2:16 · 2 Tim 4:10 · Rom 8:37 · Gal 2:20 5×
Perfect Active 2 Tim 4:8 1×
Indicative states a fact or reality 73×
Aorist Active Mark 10:21 · Luke 7:47 · John 3:16 · John 13:1 · John 15:9 · Eph 2:4 · Eph 5:2 · Eph 5:25 · 2 Pet 2:15 · 1 John 4:10 · 1 John 4:11 · 1 John 4:19 · John 13:34 · John 15:12 · Rom 9:13 · Rev 3:9 25×
Present Active Luke 7:5 · Luke 7:47 · John 3:35 · John 10:17 · 1 Cor 8:3 · 2 Cor 9:7 · Eph 5:28 · Heb 12:6 · 1 John 5:1 · John 14:31 · 2 Cor 11:11 · 1 John 4:20 · 2 John 1:1 · 3 John 1:1 · Luke 6:32 · Luke 11:43 23×
Future Active Matt 5:43 · Matt 19:19 · Matt 22:37 · Matt 22:39 · Mark 12:30 · Mark 12:31 · Luke 10:27 · Rom 13:9 · Gal 5:14 · Jas 2:8 · Matt 6:24 · Luke 7:42 · Luke 16:13 · John 14:23 · John 14:21 15×
Imperfect Active John 11:5 · John 13:23 · John 19:26 · John 21:7 · John 21:20 · John 8:42 · John 14:28 7×
Future Passive John 14:21 1×
Present Passive 2 Cor 12:15 1×
Perfect Active 1 John 4:10 1×
Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract 8×
Present Active Mark 12:33 · Rom 13:8 · Eph 5:28 · 1 Thess 4:9 · 1 Pet 3:10 · 1 John 4:11 · 1 John 4:20 8×
Imperative command or strong request 9×
Present Active Matt 5:44 · Luke 6:27 · Luke 6:35 · Eph 5:25 · Col 3:19 · 1 Pet 2:17 · 1 John 2:15 · Eph 5:33 8×
Aorist Active 1 Pet 1:22 1×
Subjunctive possibility, probability, or purpose 16×
Present Active 1 John 3:11 · 1 John 3:18 · 1 John 3:23 · 1 John 4:7 · 1 John 4:12 · 1 John 5:2 · 2 John 1:5 · John 13:34 · John 14:15 · John 15:12 · John 15:17 · John 14:23 · 1 John 2:15 · 1 John 4:21 15×
Aorist Active Matt 5:46 1×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 143 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
present 78 aorist 32 future 16 perfect 10 imperfect 7
Voice
active 133 passive 10
Mood
indicative 73 participle 37 subjunctive 16 imperative 9 infinitive 8
NT Occurrences
Matthew 5:43 Ἀγαπήσεις future active indicative prospective Matthew 5:44 ἀγαπᾶτε present active imperative imperative Matthew 5:46 ἀγαπήσητε aorist active subjunctive subjunctive Matthew 5:46 ἀγαπῶντας present active participle participle Matthew 6:24 ἀγαπήσει future active indicative prospective Matthew 19:19 Ἀγαπήσεις future active indicative prospective Matthew 22:37 Ἀγαπήσεις future active indicative prospective Matthew 22:39 Ἀγαπήσεις future active indicative prospective Mark 10:21 ἠγάπησεν aorist active indicative completed Mark 12:30 ἀγαπήσεις future active indicative prospective Mark 12:31 Ἀγαπήσεις future active indicative prospective Mark 12:33 ἀγαπᾶν present active infinitive infinitive Mark 12:33 ἀγαπᾶν present active infinitive infinitive Luke 6:27 ἀγαπᾶτε present active imperative imperative Luke 6:32 ἀγαπᾶτε present active indicative ongoing Luke 6:32 ἀγαπῶντας present active participle participle Luke 6:32 ἀγαπῶντας present active participle participle Luke 6:32 ἀγαπῶσιν present active indicative ongoing Luke 6:35 ἀγαπᾶτε present active imperative imperative Luke 7:42 ἀγαπήσει future active indicative prospective Luke 7:47 ἠγάπησεν aorist active indicative completed Luke 7:47 ἀγαπᾷ present active indicative ongoing Luke 7:5 ἀγαπᾷ present active indicative ongoing Luke 10:27 Ἀγαπήσεις future active indicative prospective Luke 11:43 ἀγαπᾶτε present active indicative ongoing Luke 16:13 ἀγαπήσει future active indicative prospective John 3:16 ἠγάπησεν aorist active indicative completed John 3:19 ἠγάπησαν aorist active indicative completed John 3:35 ἀγαπᾷ present active indicative ongoing John 8:42 ἠγαπᾶτε imperfect active indicative background John 10:17 ἀγαπᾷ present active indicative ongoing John 11:5 ἠγάπα imperfect active indicative background John 12:43 ἠγάπησαν aorist active indicative completed John 13:1 ἀγαπήσας aorist active participle participle John 13:1 ἠγάπησεν aorist active indicative completed John 13:23 ἠγάπα imperfect active indicative background John 13:34 ἀγαπᾶτε present active subjunctive subjunctive John 13:34 ἠγάπησα aorist active indicative completed John 13:34 ἀγαπᾶτε present active subjunctive subjunctive John 14:15 ἀγαπᾶτέ present active subjunctive subjunctive
+103 more occurrences
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)
Cross-Language Connections
Hebrew roots and equivalents that share conceptual or etymological ground with this Greek word.
Word Pictures (Robertson)
A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.
1 Corinthians 8 — Knowledge, Love, and the Weak Brother in a World of Idols Acts 10 — God Opens the Gospel Door to the Gentiles Acts 14 — Through Many Hardships into the Kingdom Acts 16 — The Gospel Enters Macedonia: Opened Hearts, Broken Chains, and Household Faith Acts 18 — The Lord Strengthens the Mission in Corinth and Beyond Acts 19 — The Word of the Lord Grows Mightily in Ephesus Acts 22 — Paul’s Defense: Christ Appears, Sends, and Preserves His Witness Acts 28 — Paul in Rome: The Kingdom Proclaimed Without Hindrance Acts 6 — Word Ministry, Servant Leadership, and Stephen’s Faithful Witness Acts 7 — Stephen Testifies to Israel’s Resistance and Christ’s Glory Acts 9 — The Risen Christ Converts His Fiercest Persecutor Colossians 3 — Raised with Christ: Putting Off the Old Life and Putting On the New John 10 — The Good Shepherd, the Door, and the Son One with the Father John 11 — The Resurrection and the Life, the Raising of Lazarus, and the Plot to Kill Jesus John 13 — The Servant-Lord, the Washed Disciples, and the New Command of Love John 14 — The Way, the Truth, and the Life, the Father Revealed in the Son, and the Promise of the Spirit John 15 — The True Vine, Abiding Fruitfulness, Christlike Love, and the World’s Hatred John 16 — The Spirit’s Convicting Witness, the Disciples’ Sorrow Turned to Joy, and Christ’s Victory over the World John 17 — The Son’s High Priestly Prayer: Glory, Preservation, Sanctification, Unity, Mission, and Love John 19 — The Crucified King: Behold the Man, Behold Your King, It Is Finished, and the Pierced Son John 20 — The Risen Lord: Empty Tomb, Eyewitness Faith, Peace, Mission, Spirit, Thomas, and the Purpose of the Gospel John 21 — The Risen Lord Restores, Commissions, Shepherds, and Testifies through His Witness John 3 — New Birth, Lifted-Up Son, and the Love of God for the World John 6 — The Bread of Life, the Words of Eternal Life, and the Crisis of True Discipleship John 9 — The Man Born Blind, the Light of the World, and the Blindness of Religious Unbelief Luke 10 — The Kingdom Mission Expanded, Mercy Defined, and the Better Portion Chosen Luke 11 — Prayer, Kingdom Conflict, True Hearing, and the Exposure of Hypocrisy Luke 12 — Fear God, Confess Christ, Seek the Kingdom, and Be Ready Luke 20 — The Rejected Son, the Questioned Authority, and the Lord Who Silences His Opponents Luke 22 — The Passover Betrayal, the New Covenant Meal, and the Suffering Servant King Luke 23 — The Innocent King Condemned, Crucified with Transgressors, and Buried in Hope Luke 24 — The Risen Christ Opens the Scriptures, Commissions Witnesses, and Ascends in Blessing Luke 3 — The Way Prepared, the Son Revealed, and the Lineage Traced Luke 4 — The Spirit-Anointed Son Tested, Rejected, and Proclaiming the Kingdom Luke 5 — The Authority of Jesus to Call, Cleanse, Forgive, and Make New Luke 6 — The Lord of the Sabbath Forms a Kingdom People Luke 7 — The Compassionate Lord Who Heals, Raises, Confirms, and Forgives Luke 8 — The Word Heard, the Kingdom Revealed, and the Lord’s Authority Displayed Luke 9 — The Christ Revealed, the Cross Announced, and the Jerusalem Road Begun Mark 1 — The Beginning of the Gospel: The Servant-King Appears with Authority Mark 10 — The Way of the Servant King: Marriage, Children, Wealth, Cross, Ransom, and Sight Mark 11 — The King Comes to Jerusalem: Fig Tree, Temple Judgment, Faith, Forgiveness, and Authority Mark 12 — The Rejected Son, the Greatest Commandment, the Lord of David, and the Widow’s Offering Mark 14 — The Son of Man Handed Over: Anointing, Supper, Gethsemane, Betrayal, Trial, and Denial Mark 15 — The Crucified King: Condemnation, Mockery, Death, Confession, and Burial Mark 3 — The Servant-King Confronted: Sabbath Mercy, Demonic Accusation, and the Family of God Mark 4 — The Mystery of the Kingdom: Hearing, Fruitfulness, and the Lord over the Storm Mark 5 — The Authority of Jesus over Demons, Disease, and Death Mark 7 — True Defilement and Boundary-Crossing Mercy Mark 9 — Glory, Unbelief, Suffering, Humility, and Radical Discipleship Matthew 12 — The Lord of the Sabbath, the Servant of the Lord, and the Crisis of Unbelief Matthew 14 — The Death of John, the Compassion of Jesus, and the Son of God over Bread, Sea, and Fear Matthew 15 — Tradition, the Heart, Gentile Faith, and the Compassionate Bread of the Messiah Matthew 16 — The Confession of the Christ, the Church Christ Builds, and the Cross-Shaped Way of Discipleship Matthew 19 — Marriage from Creation, Children Received, Riches Renounced, and the Reward of Following Christ Matthew 21 — The King Enters Jerusalem, Judges Fruitless Religion, and Exposes Rejected-Son Leadership Matthew 22 — The Wedding Banquet, the King’s Invitation, and the Messiah Who Is David’s Lord Matthew 26 — The Betrayal, Passover, Gethsemane, Trial, and Denial of Jesus Matthew 27 — Jesus Condemned, Crucified, Dead, Buried, and Guarded Matthew 4 — The Tested Son, the Kingdom Proclaimed, and the First Disciples Called Matthew 5 — Kingdom Blessedness, Fulfilled Law, and Heart-Level Righteousness Matthew 8 — The Authority of Jesus over Uncleanness, Sickness, Discipleship, Storms, and Demons Romans 13 — Submission to Governing Authorities, Love as the Fulfillment of the Law, and Life in the Light of the Coming Day Romans 14 — Receiving One Another, Honoring the Lord, and Pursuing Peace in Matters of Conscience Romans 15 — Bearing with the Weak, Welcoming One Another, and Paul’s Priestly Mission to the Gentiles Romans 16 — Gospel Partnership, Holy Greeting, False-Teacher Warning, and Doxology to the God Who Establishes Romans 8 — No Condemnation, Life in the Spirit, and the Unbreakable Love of God in Christ Romans 9 — God’s Faithfulness, Sovereign Mercy, and Israel’s Stumbling Over Christ
A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain